Chair's Welcome

Greetings! You found the Fresno State Department of Food Science and Nutrition website - welcome!

We are all about feeding your passion to enhance human health and quality of life through the study of food and nutrition. You will enjoy hands-on training in leading-edge laboratories studying food and nutrition and developing new food products that promote health and prevent disease. We offer two undergraduate programs, Food Science and Human Nutrition Sciences, as well as a graduate program in Food and Nutritional Sciences.

 

B.S. in Food Science

Two Options: Food Technology or Culinology
If you are interested in studying the process of food from the time it leaves the farm until consumers buy the food products, then the B.S. in Food Science program may be your perfect fit. Food scientists apply basic science (chemistry, biology, physics) to improve food quality, safety, and nutrition and to develop new food products. Students in the Food Science Program take courses focused on food chemistry, food microbiology, food quality assurance, sensory evaluation of food, and food product development.

The Food Technology Option contains a little more engineering, and the Culinology Option contains a little more product development. Our students are active participants of the San Joaquin Section Institute of Food Technologists (SJIFT) and the  Institute of Food Technologists’ annual meetings.  Our Food Chemistry & Microbiology Laboratory offers opportunities for student and industry research projects.  Faculty works alongside the Fresno State Creamery and other food processing enterprises to process agricultural products from the Fresno State 1000-acre Farm into products sold at the Fresno State Gibson Farm Market. If you haven’t tried Fresno State ice cream, stop by the Farm Market for a scoop! Food Science graduates have secured positions in the food manufacturing industry, sales and marketing, food processing, biotechnology, government, and research.

B.S. in Human Nutrition Sciences

Two options: Dietetics or Nutritional Sciences 
If you are interested in helping people strive for optimal health and wellness, the B.S. in Human Nutrition Sciences would be the best fit. The Dietetics Option provides a wide range of learning experiences related to general nutrition, community nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, foods, and food service management, and prepares students for a career in the field of dietetics. The option is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, the accrediting agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The Nutritional Sciences Option explores the experimental metabolism of nutrients and the interaction of genetic background, dietary intake, and related metabolic disorders.

The FSN faculty are all about you, the student. We are very committed to supporting you and enabling you to reach your fullest potential. Sometimes we push, sometimes we pull, sometimes we stand back and cheer you on. The success of our students remains our highest priority. Faculty are involved in our student clubs, enterprise projects, and research projects that take learning to the next step. If you are interested in joining us or simply have some questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Dr. Erin Stafford Dormedy, Ph.D., CFS
Professor and Department Chair