Why a Master's Degree or Graduate Certificate in Food Safety Regulation?
The arena of food safety regulation is filled with professionals striving to safely and ethically manufacture, prepare, and distribute various food products and supplements. To do so, proper education and hands-on training are necessary to understand policy, safety standards, and trade laws on a domestic, as well as an international level. Students pursuing a master's degree or graduate certificate in food safety regulation will be prepared for jobs in production, distribution, agriculture, toxicology, food policy and regulation, management, and research.
What Skills Will I Learn While Studying for the Food Safety Regulation Master's Degree or Graduate Certificate?
While studying for a master's degree or graduate certificate in food safety regulation, students will be exposed to and prepared for important field-related competencies, including:
- Understanding policy and regulations as they pertain to food policy at the local, federal, and global level.
- Interpreting data, policy, and regulations to make clear arguments and recommendations in-person and in writing.
- Implementing ethical routines, practices, and procedures that ensure the health and well-being of populations.
- Increasing cultural awareness to improve communication with members of other cultures.
- Examining, assessing, creating, and executing food safety regulatory policies, protocols, and proposals.
- Effectively collaborating and working with others.
How are Food Safety Regulation Courses Taught?
Master's degree and graduate certificate programs in food safety regulation are extremely hands-on. Even when courses are taken completely online, many programs require students to complete projects or participate in some type of experiential learning, whether it be at their current job, with a field-related organization, or via a paid internship.
How Long Does It Take to Earn a Master's Degree or Graduate Certificate in Food Safety Regulation?
A master's degree in food safety regulation can be earned in two to three years with an average course requirement of thirty credits. A graduate certificate can be completed in as little as one year, if attending full-time, with an average course requirement of ten to twelve credits.
How do Online Master's Degrees or Graduate Certificates in Food Safety Regulation Work?
An online master's degree or graduate certificate in food safety regulation is intended for working professionals. Students will participate in lectures and collaborate virtually or in a forum setting. As with any onsite, traditional master's degree or graduate certificate program, research and project-based learning are emphasized. Students learn most about the food safety regulation industry by completing a project on a specific industry-related problem or issue, or they gain experience on the job or in working with a field-related organization.
What if I Have Questions about the Online Food Safety Regulation Master's Degree Format and Process?
More and more colleges and universities are offering degrees completely online, and a master's degree or graduate certificate in food safety regulation is no different. Before committing to a program, consider the following when researching an online master's or certificate program:
- What is the time commitment involved for researching projects and work completed in the field, if any?
- If field work is a requirement, does the school assist with placement?
- Are the courses taught by experts in the field of food safety regulation?
- What type of work study and/or financial aid does the school offer, if any?
- Is the school accredited?
- What course materials and resources are available to students completing their degree online?
- Is there a support system among students, as well as among students and teachers?
What Will I Need to be Successful Studying Online?
An online degree in food safety regulation requires a level of time management other online master's degree and graduate certificates perhaps may not. Effective time management and the ability to conduct and compile research are vital to student success. The best way to achieve this is to create a goal plan and commit to it. Then, create a study plan, establish a set routine, and stay organized. Commit to those, as well, and success is unavoidable.
Food Safety Regulation Online Master's Degree or Graduate Certificate Course Examples
Courses taught online in pursuit of an online food safety regulation master's degree include:
- Intro to Food Science
- Intro to Drug and Food Toxicology
- Regulation of Food and Dietary Supplements
- International Food Trade
- Comparing U.S. Regulatory Systems and Agencies
- Statistics in Education and Health Professions
- Economic and Social Aspects of Food
- Principles of Food Microbiology
- Risk Analysis and Hazard Analysis in the Food Industry
- Food Safety Law
- Food Biosecurity
- Foodborne Diseases
- Interpreting Social Data in Agriculture
- Safety and Sanitation for the Food Industry
- Epidemiology
Tuition and Costs for an Online Master's Degree or Graduate Certificate in Food Safety Regulation.
Tuition to obtain an online master's degree or graduate certificate in food safety regulation ranges from $8,644 to $34,500 annually.
What Kinds of Jobs Can I Do with a Food Safety Regulation Master's Degree or Graduate Certificate?
Those with a master's degree in food safety regulation can go on to pursue careers in the following:
- Food safety regulatory inspector, $70,210
- Food safety specialist, $50,329
- Food safety manager, $68,112
- FDA Regulatory Counsel, $100,610
- Food safety analyst, $44,638
- Lawyer, $114,500
What are the Benefits of Having a Master's Degree or Graduate Certificate in Food Safety Regulation?
Obtaining a master's degree or graduate certificate from an accredited school can help students transition successfully into a career in food safety. As the pursuit of uniform federal and global regulations grows evermore necessary, the focus on food safety is on the rise.
Upper-level degrees and certificates in food safety regulation provide students with a well-rounded education in the many aspects of food safety, as well as provide the ability to better understand risk assessment, policy challenges, ethical operating practices. In addition, exploring the many issues associated with the food, supplement, and agriculture industries through case studies and experiential, hands-on learning prepare students for success in management, security, law, and government at the local level or as far-reaching as in a global capacity.
How Can I Get More Information on Food Safety Regulation?
More information on food safety regulation in general, as well as more information about master's degree and graduate certificate programs in the field can be found at the following: