Food Science (FDSC)

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The Department of Nutrition and Food Science offers courses that may involve the use of animals. Students who are concerned about the use of animals in teaching have the responisbility to contact the instructor, prior to course enrollment, to determine whether animals are to be used in the course, whether class exercises involving animals are optional or required,and what alternatives, if any, are available.

Abstract

The Food Science Graduate Program is an interdepartmental program administered by the Department of Nutrition and Food Science (NFSC). The program offers graduate study leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in food science. Both M.S. and Ph.D. programs require completion of a research project either a thesis for the masters degree or a dissertation for the doctoral degree. A graduate faculty is responsible for graduate admission and curriculum maintenance. Currently, there are approximately 14 graduate students enrolled in the Graduate Program in Food Science and there are 12 graduate faculty members.

Admissions Information

A strong background in food science, physical, chemical or biological sciences, or engineering is highly desirable. Acceptance is based upon academic transcripts with a minimum undergraduate grade point average of a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) requirement, three letters of recommendation,and a statement of objectives and professional experience. All applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE-General Test). A minimum score of 500 is required in each of the Verbal and Quantitative sections and a score of 3.5-6.0 is required in the Analytical Writing section. If the GRE General test was taken prior to October 2002, the minimum score required in each section of the GRE is 500,for a total of 1500. International students must take the TOEFL,a minimum score of 575 is required or a minimum computer base score of 232.International applicants must also submit documentation of adequate financial support for their studies. An additional requirement for admission is identification of a research advisor prepared to accept the applicant as an advisee. Offers of admission (or rejection) are made by the Graduate School based upon the recommendation of the Director of the Graduate Program in Food Science and the Graduate Faculty Education Committee.

Application Deadlines

Fall

Spring

Domestic Applicants:
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

Domestic Applicant Deadlines

.
Complete application (all application materials including official transcripts, and official test scores) for both domestic and international students must be received by January 10 .

All students must apply by September 10. Complete application must be received by the deadline(all application materials including official transcripts, and official test scores) .

International Applicants:
Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials

IMPORTANT: International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.

Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas

February 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1

June 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1

Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants

May 1
If Domestic Deadline is after May 1

October 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials

May 15
If Domestic Deadline is after May 15

October 31
If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31

Application Requirements

GRE General
3 Letters of Recommendation
TOEFL scores for international applicants

	Fall	Spring
Domestic Applicants: U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
Domestic Applicant Deadlines	. Complete application (all application materials including official transcripts, and official test scores) for both domestic and international students must be received by January 10 .	All students must apply by September 10. Complete application must be received by the deadline(all application materials including official transcripts, and official test scores) .

International Applicants: Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials IMPORTANT: International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.
Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas	February 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1	June 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants	May 1 If Domestic Deadline is after May 1	October 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials	May 15 If Domestic Deadline is after May 15	October 31 If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31

Degree Requirements

Master of Science (M.S.)

During their second semester, a faculty advisory committee will be formed and chaired by the student's faculty advisor. His/her faculty advisory committee will develop an approved program of study for each graduate student.

M.S. Degree - Thesis Option

1. A minimum of 30 graduate credits of course work including a minimum of 12 credits of 600 level courses and a minimum of 6 graduate credits of masters thesis research (NFSC 799).

2. A research thesis must be submitted and defended before a faculty examining committee approved by the Graduate School.
3. A manuscript,i.e. one or more research papers based upon the thesis, will be submitted to a referred journal for review and publication.
An average duration of a Master's project is 2-3 years depending upon prior education and experience.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

1. An equivalent of a thesis option M.S. degree is required.

2. Completion of the program of study established by the student's faculty advisory committee. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to maintain good academic progress for graduation.

3. A minimum of 27 credit hours of graduate study is required to graduate (including courses, seminars, and a requirement of 12 credits of Doctoral Dissertation Research-NFSC 899). A dissertation proposal must be presented to the faculty advisory committee for approval no later than the end of the third semester of study.

4. A comprehensive oral examination conducted by the faculty advisory committee preferably before the end of the 4th semester of study must be taken. Based upon the results of the oral examination, the student shall: 1) be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree; 2) be required to undertake additional study; 3) not be allowed to continue in graduate school.
5. The candidate will prepare and defend a dissertation before a faculty advisory committee.

6. The candidate will prepare one or more research papers(manuscripts) based upon the dissertation for submittal to a referred journal.

Facilities and Special Resources

The Program maintains equipment for conducting both basic an applied research through the individual participating faculty members. The facilities are located in the Departments of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Animal and Avian Sciences, Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics,and Natural Resource Sciences and Landscape Architecture. There are also collaborative arrangements with the National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and the United States Department of Agriculture. The library facilities are extensive. The resources of several national libraries; the National Archives, the National Agriculture Library, the Library of Congress, and the National Library of Medicine,which are within ten miles from the campus.

Financial Assistance

Financial support for graduate students is available on a competitive basis. The Department of Nutrition and Food Science offers a limited number of graduate teaching assistantships. Applicants interested in a teaching assistant position should complete the Merit-Base Award Form and submit to the Graduate Program in Food Science office by the stated graduate application deadline. International teaching assistants who are not native speakers of English are required by the University of Maryland to take part in the International Teaching Assistant evaluation. This includes international teaching assistants who may have been educated entirely in English and those with Bachelor and Master's degrees from universities in English-speaking countries. A limited number of research assistantships are available from grant funds with the student assisting in the research supported under the grant. The research often may be applicable to the thesis or dissertation. The University of Maryland emphasizes diversity in its recruitment and support of graduate students. Other types of financial aid are also available, including a work-study program, grants, fellowships, and loans.

Contact Information

Additional information concerning admission requirements, courses, faculty, and facilities are available from:

Sara Kao, Coordinator, Student Programs
0112 Skinner Building
College Park
MD 20742-7640
Telephone: (301) 405-8980
Fax: (301) 314-3313
sarakao@umd.edu

http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/nfsc/staff.htm
Dr. Y. Martin Lo, Program Director
3102 Marie Mount Hall
College Park
MD 20740
Telephone: 301-405-4509
Fax: 301-314-3313
ymlo@umd.edu

www.agnr.umd.edu/lo
Courses: NFSC

Related Programs and Campus Units

Animal and Avian Sciences
Biological Resources Engineering
Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics
Natural Resource Sciences and Landscape Architecture
Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
Nutrition