Food Science Concentration

Explore Food Science at Riverland

Food science is at the center of how our food is made, stored, and kept safe. If you are curious about what is in your food, how it is processed, and how it affects health, Riverland’s Food Science concentration in the Associate of Arts degree is a strong place to start. You will learn how science and food come together in real world settings.

Why Choose Riverland’s Food Science Concentration?

• Strong Science Foundation: Build a solid base in chemistry, biology, and the physical properties of food so you understand how food is created, preserved, and evaluated.
• Career Focused Learning: Connect scientific concepts to real jobs in the food industry, including production, quality assurance, sanitation, research and development, and lab analysis.
• Hands On Experiences: Use labs and projects to see how food science is applied to solve problems, improve products, and protect public health.
• Flexible Next Steps: Use this concentration to support entry level work in food related fields or to prepare for transfer into a four year program in food science, nutrition, biology, or related areas.

What You Will Study

In the Food Science concentration, you will explore the scientific principles that shape the food we eat. Topics may include:

• The chemical, biological, and physical makeup of food
• Food safety and ways to reduce contamination and spoilage
• Food processing and preservation methods
• Packaging and distribution practices that protect quality and safety
• Nutrition and how food choices impact health

You may also study how new food products are developed, tested, and improved using scientific methods.

Career Opportunities

This concentration helps you begin preparing for roles in areas such as:

• Food safety and sanitation
• Quality assurance and quality control
• Food production and manufacturing
• Product development and testing
• Laboratory support in food or related industries

Minnesota’s strong food and agriculture sectors create ongoing opportunities for people with a science based understanding of food.

How This Concentration Fits Your Goals

The Food Science concentration is part of a broader transfer focused Associate of Arts degree. It is designed for students who want a strong science background tied to food and health, plan to work in food related industries, or intend to transfer to a four year college or university in a related major. Your advisor can help you select courses that match your long term education and career goals.

Scholarships

Riverland offers scholarships to help reduce the cost of your education. View current scholarship opportunities and deadlines.