Food Science Major
Love of science, love of food.
The science and practice of manufacturing food and beverages that are nutritious, delicious, and safe to eat. Students learn in a hands-on, small-classroom setting and step immediately into rewarding careers in industry and government or continue on to graduate and professional schools.
Small-school feel. Big-university opportunities.
Penn State Food Science is a tight-knit community united by the common passions of food and science. We want you here.
In Food Science, you'll get the personalized attention you need to thrive academically and excel in your career. Our faculty conduct critical research in areas ranging from safeguarding our food supply to wine making—and everything in between. But cultivating your talent and producing the next generation of world-class food scientists is priority number one.
Employers want to hire Penn State Food Science grads.
The biggest and best companies routinely tell us that our students are prepared to get right to work leading the industry. Regardless of economic ups and downs, people have to eat. The food industry is consistently recession proof, and food scientists are always in high demand.
Food Science is the right major if you’re:
- a solid science student with a focused interest in food production and nutrition
- seeking an academic path with extremely encouraging career potential
- in search of practical, marketable credentials
- interested in developing new products, supervising manufacturing operations, or ensuring food quality and safety
- aspiring to work for government agencies enforcing regulations that keep our food supply safe
See the University Bulletin for details on program requirements, suggested academic plan, and more.
The classroom is only the beginning.
You’ll study with professors who are leaders in their specialties, but they’ll be the first to tell you that the classroom and lab are just the beginning of your Food Science experience. You bring the interest, and we’ll help find you a faculty-guided club, internship, externship, or hands-on research opportunity. The learning doesn’t stop on campus, or in Pennsylvania for that matter. Wine making in Napa Valley? Cheese production in France? We visit—and we learn.
Craft your experience.
Related clubs and teams
- Food Science Club
- Food Product Development Competitions
- Beekeepers Club
- Dairy Science Club
- Dairy Judging Teams
- Fermentation Club
- Student Farm Club
- Sustainable Agriculture Club
- See all clubs and teams
Recent internships
- Food inspector
- Microbiologist
- Product development
- Research and development, quality, and innovation
Popular study abroad
- Agriculture and Food Systems in India
- Brewing and Malting in Europe
- Comparing French and U.S. Food Systems in France
- Exploring Food Production in Italy
A practical, workforce-ready degree—and a college experience you’ll love.
Penn State Food Science alumni walk off the stage at graduation, and walk into stellar careers all over the world. You can harness the awesome power of a truly unique education at one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
Our alumni out in the world
- Product research and development
- Industry sales and marketing
- Federal and state regulatory agencies
- Graduate school
- Sensory and evaluation labs
- Food processing operations
- Quality assurance and inspection
- Food safety
- Manufacturing
- Procurement
- Trade associations
- Universities and extension
- Technical sales and service
Food Science Career Options
What can I do with a Food Science degree? Check out a few career examples below!
Food scientist
A food scientist applies core sciences like chemistry, biology, and math to ensure the safety, quality, nutrition, and pleasurable sensory experience of food. They most often work in food production facilities, agriculture enterprises, and laboratories.
What will I do?
- Assure the nutritional content of food
- Ensure compliance with government regulations
- Lead product development
- Research new and better ways of selecting, preserving, processing, packaging, and distributing food
Government food quality agent
Professionals in this area work at the state or federal government level with agencies such as the PA Department of Agriculture, USDA, FDA, and EPA.
What will I do?
- Develop policy
- Enforce food sanitation and labeling regulations
- Sample for and identify bacterial and other threats to food safety
Manufacturing manager
Managers play a key leadership role in food manufacturing facilities, and their work can span a wide variety of fulfilling responsibilities.
What will I do?
- Influence organizational structure and operations
- Ensure effective outcomes of food processing standards
- Manage day-to-day operations in a modern food factory
- Oversee and guide the professional development of employees
Product developer
Professionals in this arena are involved in developing new food products or improving the quality, performance, and/or safety of existing products.
What will I do?
- Use creativity in formulating new culinary concepts
- Apply sensory evaluation expertise to assess products
- Work with others to solve complex problems or unearth innovations
Food Science Students in the News
November 3, 2023
Food Science Club spotlight: A community-based program
The Food Science Club is a student-based group in the College of Agricultural Sciences that offers opportunities for students to advance their academic and professional careers.
Read MoreMarch 2, 2023
Heinz ketchup bottle innovator creates food packaging program endowment
After a successful career in food packaging, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences alumnus Doug Peck has committed $200,000 from his future estate to create the Douglas R. Peck Food Packaging Endowment in Food Science. The program endowment will support opportunities and efforts in the Department of Food Science related to food packaging programming.
Read MoreDecember 5, 2022
College of Ag Sciences minority alumni return to campus, discuss their journeys
Four graduates of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recently returned to campus to discuss success in class to success in life as guest speakers on a minority alumni panel, hosted by the college’s Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Read MoreDecember 2, 2022
Internships earn awards for College of Agricultural Sciences students
Twelve Penn State students have been selected as College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society 2022 Internship Award winners. The award, which includes a $1,000 stipend, was established to encourage students to participate in a credit or noncredit educational internship program related to their field of study.
Read More