MSc Sustainable Food Processing

Program Overview

The MSc in Sustainable Food Processing is an online, part-time program designed for professionals and graduates seeking to specialize in sustainable food systems. Emphasizing sustainability and environmental impact minimization, the program equips students with the technical knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to excel in leadership roles within the food industry. Through coursework, lectures, and practical exercises, graduates are well-positioned for careers in sustainable food processing, management, and regulation.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MSc in Sustainable Food Processing is a part-time, online program designed for individuals working full-time in the food industry who are seeking to improve the sustainability of food systems or recent graduates who wish to specialize in the area of sustainability. The program aims to provide students with a strong foundation in the principles underlying the sustainable processing of foods and equip them with the technical knowledge to produce high-quality, safe, and nutritious foods while maximizing sustainability and minimizing environmental impact. The program emphasizes the development of success skills in critical thinking, communication, interaction (teamwork, leadership, networking, interpersonal skills), and a commitment to the highest standards of professional integrity and ethical values. It offers learning opportunities in a variety of environments (e-classroom and practical, e-learning, self-directed projects) and assesses students using a diverse range of methodologies (essays, multiple choice tests, oral tests, assignments, presentations, practical books, laboratory research).

Outline:

The program is delivered entirely online and consists of a mixture of autonomous student learning, coursework, and lectures. The course is assessed by a combination of assignments, in-trimester continuous assessment exercises, and end-of-trimester examinations.

Modules:

• One Health
• Food chain integrity
• Nutrients for a balanced and healthy diet
• Plant foods
• Balancing environmental limits in food systems against dietary requirements
• Advanced food safety toxicology
• Life cycle assessment
• Food microbiology
• Precision food safety in the genomics area
• Fundamentals of food chemistry
• Milk and dairy products

Structure:

The minimum registration for the MSc is two years, but students have four years to complete the program, offering flexibility. The online format allows students to combine studying with employment.

Assessment:

The program is assessed through a combination of:

• Assignments
• In-trimester continuous assessment exercises
• End-of-trimester examinations

Teaching:

The course is delivered by leading international experts from the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science and the UCD Institute of Food and Health. The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including:

• Autonomous student learning
• Coursework
• Lectures
• E-learning
• Self-directed projects

Careers:

Graduates of the MSc Sustainable Food Processing are well-positioned for leadership roles in the food industry, both in Ireland and globally. Potential career opportunities include:

• Sustainability Manager
• Environmental Officer
• Food Processing Manager
• Food Production Manager
• Food Safety Manager
• New Product Development Manager
• Food Regulation Manager
• Emerging opportunities around Sustainable Food Systems

Other:

The program emphasizes the importance of scientific integrity and ethical issues in Sustainable Food Processing. Graduates will be skilled in proposing and developing solutions to sustainability problems related to post-farm-gate food processing and communicating these to stakeholders professionally. They will also demonstrate competence in acquiring, organizing, analyzing, integrating, and critically reviewing information from a wide range of sources related to Sustainable Food Processing.