Sustainable Food Systems
The Sustainable Food Systems master's degree will start accepting applications August 1, 2023 for spring 2024 semester.
The sustainable food systems program focuses on sustainable food production, food preparation and processing, distribution, nutrition, and community food security in order for students to better understand how food systems influence health.
This program offers many opportunities to engage in experiential learning through
management of projects at MSU’s Towne’s Harvest Garden and in the surrounding communities. Students can tailor their program to their own
specific interests by choosing supporting coursework in health promotion and education,
political science, economics, business, Native American Studies, and agriculture.
Masters’ projects and theses can potentially cover topics related to food system curriculum
development and assessment of field experiences in sustainable food systems, food
system education and public awareness, local food system development or localizing
diets, institutional purchasing of local foods, food policies, community supported
agriculture and distribution, community food security or community-based food and
nutrition assistance, or local or statewide food system assessment.
Potential career paths might include:
- Public health
- Food and nutrition policy and education
- Community nutrition
- Community food security
- Culinary arts and management
- Community supported agriculture
- Food enterprise
Prerequisites
Entering graduate students will have completed a bachelor’ s degree in food and nutrition, agricultural science, environmental or food studies or a related discipline. Appropriate background coursework would include: human nutrition, ecology, economics, culinary fundamentals or food science, microbiology, community nutrition, and political science.
Admissions
Admissions decisions are based on:
- Undergraduate preparation (GPA and strength of prerequisite course work
- Goodness of fit and how consistent interests and goals of student align with research and outreach goals of faculty (to be addressed in personal essay)
- Relevant professional experience
- Strength of letters of recommendation
Faculty
