Many freshmen students start out college undeclared; they aren’t sure what they want to major in and hope to use their first year to find something they want to study. Unfortunately, a lot of students take up to 2 years to decide on a major, and they may even switch majors several times up into their junior year. This wastes a lot of time and money and can significantly delay graduation.
It’s not unusual for students who are uncertain of their path to take a little time off from college while they reassess their options. If taking this educational break isn’t realistic for you, it’s worth performing some research to discover a major you feel suits your personality and priorities. You’ll find the sooner you declare a major you’re passionate about, the more you’ll be able to commit to the classes you need to graduate. This allows you to stay on track to graduate on time.
If you’re interested in exploring some of the varied careers in food science, you’ve come to the right place. This feature on careers in food science is just one in our “Undeclared Series,” which explores potential career options in different fields, from nutrition to toxicology.
A Degree in Food Science
Despite what you may think, a degree in food science does not necessarily limit you to a career working with food or nutrition. Though many who pursue a degree in this area do go on to specifically become food scientists or nutritionists, there is a wide range of options available.
Food science does often primarily concern what people eat and why, but it also blends areas of applied science and technology. Students with degrees in food science can also have experience in chemistry, engineering, biology, and nutrition, to understand and examine food and health safety and how to make nutritious foods more safe and accessible to people everywhere.
This is what makes becoming a food scientist so appealing for those who are struggling to nail down a career path. Those with a degree in food science can go on to work in agriculture, medicine, nutrition, culinary arts, chemistry, engineering, sociology, and more—providing students with a wide range of options that allow them to discover new passions and fields of interest they might not have otherwise considered.
Food Scientist
Though food science is a broad term that encompasses many fields and disciplines, it is possible to specifically pursue a career as a food scientist or food technician. Those who choose this as a career will likely work in a lab as a part of a team whose job is to research and develop new recipes using existing or new and unique ingredients.
While this can be an exciting role for those who like to use both their scientific and creative skills to come up with innovative foods and recipes, it also serves a very important purpose. Food scientists often carry the responsibility of discovering new foods and recipes that can specifically help those with medical conditions or allergies, such as celiac disease or diabetes.
As a food scientist, not only will you develop new foods and recipes, but you will also need to ensure that the foods you are creating are safe and provided in the right quantity to meet all legal food safety regulations. This means it requires innovation and scientific skills, as well as cleanliness, organization, and good math and problem-solving skills.
Nutritionist
If you like working more closely with people, then a career as a nutritionist might be more to your liking. Nutritionists also need to understand the science, safety, and health concerns behind food, but they work directly with patients or clients.
As a nutritionist, you will typically work out of a health and wellness office, or you can work independently. Either way, your primary responsibility will be to work with individuals or patients who need help with their nutrition. This can include people who generally want to eat better and live healthier lives, or it can be people who need help treating a specific condition.
In this role, you will need to be able to listen carefully to your patient and be able to understand their health concerns. From there, you will offer dietary plans and recommendations based on their personal or medical needs. In many situations, this can also include helping your patients be more intuitive when it comes to their bodies and the foods they eat to improve their overall wellbeing.
Chef
Some individuals who study food science may find they are more drawn to the food and culinary side of things. In this case, their degree in food science could lead to a career in the food and service industry as a chef.
Working as a chef is similar to working as a food scientist, but with more of a focus on the food and less of a focus on the science. Where food technicians use their skills to come up with recipes often for health and safety purposes, chefs come up with recipes to delight and even entertain.
Individuals with a degree in food science may also find they prefer working in the culinary arts if they thrive in a fast-paced environment. As a chef, you will always be kept on your toes and will need to be capable of thinking fast, whereas as a food technician, you can create recipes in a more laid-back, research-based environment.
Procurement Manager
Working as a food procurement manager is on the farther end of the spectrum in terms of careers in food science, but it is still an option—and an especially good one for those who are well organized, good leaders, and like being in a management position.
Those who work as a procurement manager will primarily concern themselves with obtaining the right food items for their company. This can include making sure you buy the right food items at the right price and in the right quantity.
Buying too much of an item or not being able to make sure it is delivered on time, for example, can lead to excess inventory and spoiled food items that can put the health and safety of people who end up consuming the food at risk. So not only will you need the skills to identify what foods are needed, but you will also need good inventory management skills and good communication skills to ensure everything is delivered in the right quantity and at the right time.
Toxicologist
Toxicology is another career path that is less conventional when pursuing the food science path but might be a good option for those who lean more towards math and science interests and less towards food and nutrition.
The general responsibility of a toxicologist is to study and research toxic materials and substances and how they affect animals, humans, and the environment. With a degree in food science, this might mean you are more specifically concerned with potentially toxic food substances and how they affect humans.
This career path will certainly require more experience in science and chemistry, however. So you will potentially need more than just a food science degree, such as a minor in chemistry. But a food science degree is a good place to start.
Conclusion
Food science offers a vast array of opportunities as it is a broad area of study that encompasses many different fields. This makes it an ideal degree for students who aren’t exactly sure what career path they want to pursue. Still, even if you are undecided, it’s always best to attend college as soon as possible. The sooner you start studying, the sooner you can get a better idea of what specific fields interest you the most. And food science might just be the degree you are looking for!
