Contact: J. Scott Smith – Graduate Program Chair
E-mail: jsschem@ksu.edu
Contact: Nicole Marple – Program Assistant
E-mail: nmarple@ksu.edu
Home Page: http://foodsci.k-state.edu/future-students/online/fsdefense/index.html

This certificate is offered through the Food Science and Industry  graduate program.  By providing a distance education Food Safety and Defense graduate certificate program we will serve the needs of industry and agencies that must protect the human food supply from accidental or deliberate contamination with pathogenic microbes and/or toxicants. In an era of terrorism and global food systems, effective control of foodborne hazards requires advanced education. There is an urgent need for online education for food industry personnel who, while working fulltime, would like to pursue more in-depth specialized training in food safety and security that is pertinent to their job. Many food-related industry and agency professionals have a B.S. in some aspect of food and agricultural sciences or related area along with good technical background and work experience but they may not be able to pursue a full graduate degree, due to expense, time constraints and/or interests. These needs warrant the development of a program to prepare graduate students and food-related professionals to effectively deal with food safety and biosecurity issues.

Upon completion of the graduate certificate, students will be better prepared to meet the challenges of accidental or deliberate food contamination within the food industry to protect public health, prevent foodborne illnesses, and facilitate or improve the profitability of food industries by minimizing health risks related to foodborne pathogens and toxicants.

The certificate program requires 12 credit hours comprised of core and elective courses, as outlined below. Students must complete the required 12 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and may have no grade lower than a “B” in any certificate-program course. Students must be enrolled the semester the certificate program is completed.