Click on these links for YouTube videos about Food Science at Penn State

What is Food Science and Technology?

Food Scientists study the chemical composition of food and food ingredients; their physical, biological and biochemical properties; the microbiology of foods; and the interaction of food constituents with each other and their environment.

To learn more about food science and technology, visit Introduction to the Food Industry - a self study learning tool from the Institute of Food Technologists. For links to fun food science activities, books, TV shows, and experiments for home or school, visit Food Science Experiments and Learning Opportunities for Students of All Ages!

Employment can be found with companies that manufacture retail food products as well as companies supporting food manufacturers by supplying food ingredients, processing equipment and packaging materials, or providing services related to institutional feeding. Technical and administrative positions are also available in various government agencies and with independent testing laboratories.

Food scientists with an interest in teaching and research may find rewarding scholarly careers in educational institutions.

An academic career usually requires an advanced degree and research specialization in a particular area, such as food chemistry, microbiology, toxicology, engineering or nutrition.

Alumni Profiles

• Jill Kuzo. Every college student dreams of getting the opportunity to create his or her own career. And, as Penn State graduate Jill Kuzo found out, sometimes opportunity comes from the most unexpected of places [Read More].
• Aimee Taylor. Aimee Taylor always liked science, but she didn’t want to work in a traditional lab. Then, undergraduate internships with Häagen-Dazs and Hershey Foods Corporation opened her eyes to product development [Read More].

Learn more about professional food science activities at the Institute for Food Technologists web site http://www.ift.org or visit web sites of government, industry, university, and trade organizations that employ food scientists at http://www.foodinstitute.com/otherlink.cfm

Because of the heavy demand for Food Scientist in industry, government agencies and research institutions, the majority of Penn State Food Science graduates have job offers before graduation with excellent starting salaries.

According to a recent survey done by the Institute of Food Technologists, a student right out of school with B.S. degree in Food Science can expect to make $48,000. With a Masters of Science degree, students start with an average salary of $55,000 with significant increases likely in just a few years.

Source: Food Technology Magazine February 2006, Volume 60, No.2, Read the entire article here.

A recent survey of current Food Science students reveals the things they like most about their major.

Students get to know and work closely with their professors, interact with their peers in the Food Science Club, and enjoy small classes.

Scholarships and financial aid

Undergraduate scholarships awarded through the food science department last year exceeded $100,000. Food Science students are also eligible to apply for grants and scholarships from the College of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Food Technologists, American Association of Cereal Chemists, or National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, among others.

Innovative classes

Food Science courses provide opportunities for hands-on activity, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem solving. To learn more, visit "A New Way to learn"

Over 80 percent of our students take advantage of a paid noncredit internship. Students also have the opportunity to work with international companies or do six-month co-ops.

International Experiences!

The Penn State Department of Food Science offers a variety of international experiences in Europe and Latin America. For example, undergraduate students from Food Science and Agricultural Business Management recently traveled to Costa Rica to tour several food production and processing facilities. Both faculty and students agreed that international learning experiences provide valuable lessons in the complexities of the global food system. For more on the last Costa Rica tour and information on the upcoming March 2007 trip, click here.

Click on the picture on the right to take a "virtual tour" of the Penn State Campus.

And when not studying, there are plenty of leisure activities.

Fall brings the excitement and energy of Penn State Football and the serenity of travels through spectacular fall foliage and fall festivals.

Winter brings glistening snowflakes, skiing, winter sports weekend packages and community holiday events. Spring brings the beauty of new flowers, trout season and many town festivals.

Summer brings glorious sunshine for swimming, golfing and for our world famous arts festival and 4th of July fireworks display.

Learn more about Penn State and State College at these web sites:

http://www.psu.edu/
http://www.visitpennstate.org/
http://www.happyvalley.com/
http://www.townandgown.com (Town and Gown Magazine)

Interactive Campus Maps