Regulatory Science (Food Safety), MS
FDA, Food, REGULATORY, SAFETY, Science
Are you ready to dive into the dynamic field of regulations and food safety? Through this program's global perspective and solutions, you'll learn about current food safety regulations and compliance, and gain knowledge and insight that will enable you to contribute to a safer and more secure food supply.
The MS program in regulatory science with a concentration in food safety is an online program that covers contamination concerns and regulations throughout the food supply chain, from growing to distributing to selling. Courses analyze food safety regulations from local, state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Students also gain an understanding of the ethical and legal challenges of food safety and regulation.
Food safety regulation is a science focused on the safe handling, distribution, selling and preparation of food. Various aspects of food safety are covered, including inspections, hazard analysis, safe food practices and the handling of food emergencies. Students learn how to identify food safety issues through the use of videos and simulations and to write reports on their findings. Applied learning experiences directly relate to the type of food safety problems that most frequently occur in the preparation, storage and processing of food.
Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation highly recommends, but does not require, introductory chemistry (3 credits + 1 credit lab) and introductory biology (3 credits).
- College/school:
Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation
- Location: Online
33 credit hours including the required applied project course (HCR 593)
Required Core (18 credit hours) Concentration (12 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
HCR 553 Quality Assurance and Clinical Research (3)
HCR 561 Responsible Conduct of Clinical Research (3)
HCR 563 Fundamentals of Regulatory Affairs (3)
HCR 576 Drug Discovery, Development and Regulations (3)
HCR 577 Global Regulatory Affairs (3)
HCR 578 Legal Aspects of Clinical Research (3)
HCR 543 Food Safety and Protection (3)
HCR 544 Assessing Food Safety and Developing Policy Procedures and Training (3)
HCR 550 Quality Assurance and Safety in Food and Dietary Supplements (3)
HCR 558 Technical Writing for the Regulatory Professional (3)
HCR 593 Applied Project (3)
The culminating experience is an applied project course that includes a project based on a food topic studied during the degree program. Students choose a scientific, technical or regulatory project that includes a research protocol or professional presentation to industry professionals.
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in science or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
Applicants are required to submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- two letters of recommendation
- professional resume
- written statement
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
Graduates from the program are in high demand for a variety of jobs in food safety and regulatory science. In particular, they are prepared for local, state and federal regulatory careers in agencies such as the FDA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and county health departments, as well as food manufacturers.
Professionals in the food safety industry conduct site inspections, assess food safety hazards, develop preventive food safety procedures, create food safety policies and more, depending on the position. No matter the job, the goal in food safety and regulation positions is always to protect the consumer.
Regulatory science and food safety careers include:
- environmental health specialist
- facility manager
- food inspector
- food-safe chemical supplier
- quality assurance manager
- quality control manager
- registered sanitarian
- regulatory investigator
ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.
The program aligns with the content on the Certified Professional Food Manager certification exam from the National Environmental Health Association and helps prepare students to take the NEHA exam. To successfully acquire professional certifications and credentials, and to even be eligible to test for these, students may need prior work experience, additional coursework, fieldwork and background checks. Students should refer to the National Environmental Health Association (www.neha.org) for information.
Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation
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MERCC 250
regulatoryscience@asu.edu
602-496-0937
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
