Master of Science with Project Option in Food Science and Technology

Master of Science Degree with Project Option is considered a professional, terminal degree. It is designed for students who do not intend to pursue a doctoral degree. MS Option B students are hired as technologists and specialists in industry. MS Option B students may already be employed in the food industry seeking to expand their education and possibility of promotion.



Annual Progress Report and Supervisory Committee Meetingcomplete at least once a year

Annual Progress Report (link to report form) 

At least two weeks before their supervisory committee meeting, students need to email the completed Student Progress Report form to their supervisory committee members and FDST Graduate Coordinator. It is your responsibility to call meetings with your committee.

Supervisory Committeecomplete by end of 2nd semester

M.S. Supervisory Committee Departmental Form (Word)

Requirements

  • Minimum of three committee members
  • Faculty advisor from the Department of Food Science and Technology serves as chair
  • At least two must be Food Science and Technology faculty. The third member may be from Food Science and Technology or another department.
  • If pursuing a minor: required to have a graduate faculty member from the minor program on their Supervisory Committee


Memorandum of Coursescomplete by end of 2nd semester or before completion of 15 credit hours

Memorandum of Course OGS Form (PDF) 
Plan of Study Calculation Spreadsheet (Excel) 

Minimum of 30 semester credit hours
•    At least one-half (15 hours), including project credits, must be in Food Science and Technology (FDST)
•    Minimum of 15 credit hours must be 800 or 900 level without 400-level counterparts (including FDST 897)
•    4-6 hours of FDST 897 Master Project credit hours
•    Minimum of 1 credit hour of FDST 951 Seminar 
•    Minimum of 1 credit hour of FDST 952 Professional Communication

Project Proposalcomplete by the end of 3rd semester or before completion of 20 credit hours

Proposal Defense Evaluation Form (PDF)

Proposal Defense Summary Form (PDF)

Master of Science Degree with Project Option is an applied science program using current knowledge to develop practical applications culminating in a project. The master’s project provides an opportunity for students to integrate and apply the knowledge acquired throughout their master program. 

Project Examples: Research or Technical Report; Primary Data Analysis; Secondary Data Analysis; Food Safety and Defense Program Development and Implementation; Policy Analysis; Grant Proposal; Project Business Proposal; Curriculum or Training Development, Implementation and Outcome Evaluation; and Critical Analysis of Literature and Practices 

Written Research Proposal Requirements

  • 8-10 pages in length and should meet the criteria of either a journal article or technical report
  • Sections include Abstract; Introduction; Goals and Objectives; Literature Review, Methods, Results and Discussion, Implications; and References.


Oral Research Proposal Defense Requirements

  • 20-minute seminar presentation with Supervisory Committee members

Final Semester and Graduation

Please follow the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) Steps to Completion (link to https://graduate.unl.edu/academics/program-steps/masters-degree-steps-to-completion) in order to meet OGS deadlines and complete the necessary forms. 

Applying for Graduation

Graduation Application 

Project Final Paper and Oral Exam

Please follow the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) Steps to Completion in order to meet OGS deadlines. Keep in mind the anticipated graduation date. It takes 4-6 months to write a high-quality project paper that could meet publication standards. A publication is not required for graduation.

Final Examination Report OGS Form (PDF)  

Written Requirements
Office of Graduate Studies Written Format Guidelines 

Written format as a journal article for publication or other professional type of document depending on the nature of the project; 15-20 double-spaced pages, not including references

Final Oral Exam
25-minute public seminar presentation with 5 minutes for questions, open to faculty, graduate students, and guests; followed by oral examination by the Supervisor Committee (please allow 1 hour)

Last Day and Departure Checklist 

Departure and Offboarding Checklist (Word) 

Submit a departure checklist before you leave UNL to Julie McManamey, FDST Graduate Program Coordinator. Your last day for FIC building access is commencement day. If you are on a graduate assistantship, your last workday is commencement day.