MS in Food and Hospitality Systems
Degree Requirements
- Minimum of 30 hours of graduate-level coursework.
- 15 hours must be at the 8000-level or above.
- Maximum of 40% of coursework can be F_S 8090 or F_S 8085 hours.
While a basic goal of the M.S. program is to provide students with specialized skills and training in research methods, the graduate faculty believe that it is important for M.S. students to understand the breadth of the discipline as well.
There are three tracks in the Food and Hospitality Systems (FHS) M.S. program: Food Science, Hospitality Management and Agricultural Systems Technology. Each track includes specific required courses.
Note: Tracks do not appear on transcripts or diplomas. Emphasis areas appear on transcripts.
| Food Science Track Required Courses: | ||
| Chemistry and Analysis | 3-4 | |
| F_S 7310 | Food Chemistry and Analysis | 4 |
| or F_S 7311 | Investigation of Food Properties | |
| or F_S 7315 | Food Chemistry and Analysis Laboratory | |
| Engineering/Processing | 3-4 | |
| F_S 7160 | Food Process Engineering | 3 |
| or F_S 7330 | Principles of Food Processing | |
| Microbiology | 3-5 | |
| F_S 7370 | Food Microbiology | 3 |
| F_S 7375 | Food Microbiology Laboratory | 2 |
| Hospitality Management Track Required Courses (pick 4 in addition to FS 7941): | ||
| HSP_MGMT 7100 | Hospitality Human Resources Management | 3 |
| HSP_MGMT 7110 | Hospitality and Tourism Marketing | 3 |
| HSP_MGMT 7180 | Strategic Management in the Hospitality Industry | 3 |
| HSP_MGMT 7200 | Destination Management | 3 |
| HSP_MGMT 7400 | Hospitality Finance Management | 3 |
| F_S 7941 | Internship in Food Science (Operational-based, minimum of 150 field hours) | 1 |
| Agricultural Systems Technology Track Required Courses (pick 4): | ||
| AG_S_TCH 7020 | Agricultural Safety and Health | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 7220 | Material Handling and Conditioning | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 7320 | Agricultural Equipment and Machinery | 4 |
| AG_S_TCH 7390 | Optimization and Management of Food and Agriculture Systems | 3 |
| AG_S_TCH 7420 | Surface Water Management | 3 |
Plan of Study
The student and the major advisor, in consultation with the FHS M.S. Program Committee will prepare a plan of study (M1 form). The plan of study includes a list of the formal courses, readings, problems, research hours and seminars that the students will use to fulfill the requirements for the M.S. degree. The M1 form must be turned in to the FHS Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) by the end of the second semester of the student's graduate program for submission to the Graduate School.
| Minimum Requirements | ||
| F_S 8402 | Research Methods in Food Science | 2 |
| F_S 8087 | Seminar in Food Science (Must be taken in FHS; 1 cr required, maximum of 2 cr.) | 1 |
| Two 8000-level courses (excluding Readings or Problems courses) | 6 | |
| Statistics Course | 3 | |
| F_S 8090 | Research in Food Science | 6 |
Thesis Requirements
A FHS Masters Degree Program Committee must be identified prior to approval of the research topic for the M.S. thesis and no later than by the end of the second semester. An acceptable FHS M.S. Program Committee must include at least three graduate faculty members, at least two of whom must be from the FHS Graduate Program, including the advisor chair who must be a faculty in the track the student is in. The third committee member must be a graduate faculty member from MU and may or may not be from outside of the FHS Graduate Program. A signed M2 form which lists the names and academic programs of the committee members must be turned in to the FHS DGS by the end of the second semester of the student's graduate program for submission to the Graduate School.
The defense for the M.S. degree program will include the following components:
- Exit seminar presented to the M.S. graduate program committee and the public.
- Oral examination to demonstrate mastery of the course of study.
- Defense of the research presented in the M.S. thesis.
- Submission of a manuscript based on the student's research in the format of a journal publication.
In addition to the departmental requirements, the Graduate School is requiring that all graduating students include a public abstract. The public abstract will be used by the MU Graduate School to record and track graduate student's research interests.
Exit Seminar
Immediately before the final examination, the M.S. student must present a seminar on his or her research. The seminar must take place when MU is officially in session, and is open to the general university audience. The FHS DGS will announce the exit seminar to appropriate colleagues within and outside the program. All members of the M.S. Program Committee will attend and the student must be enrolled at the time of the seminar presentation and the final examination that follows.
Final Examination
After the student's exit seminar has been presented, the FHS M.S. Program Committee will conduct a final oral examination. The candidate should be prepared to defend his/her research and discuss any related areas. A report of the examination, carrying the signatures of at least three members of the committee, must be submitted to the Graduate School before the deadline preceding the anticipated date of graduation. For the thesis to be considered successfully defended, the student's FHS M.S. Program Committee must vote to pass the student on the defense with no more than one dissenting or abstaining vote. The signed M3 form which shows the results of the student's final exam must be turned in to the FHS DGS for submission to the MU Graduate School immediately following the completion of final exam.
A final copy of the thesis must be submitted to the Graduate School electronically. A final bound copy of the thesis and an electronic copy of at least one manuscript suitable for publication must be turned in to the FHS DGS.
Admissions
Applicants are required to meet two sets of minimum qualifications for admission: the requirements of the MS in the Food and Hospitality Systems Graduate Program and the minimum requirements of the MU Graduate School. Because requirements vary, you must refer to a degree program's graduate admission page to learn about specific admission criteria, application deadlines, eligibility and application process. Your application materials will be reviewed by both the Graduate School and the degree program to which you’ve applied before official admission to the University of Missouri.