Food Safety & Quality Assurance Master of Science (MSc FSQA) - Course work
This course based graduate program is designed to provide a balance of scientific and management principles underlying Food Safety and Quality Assurance. This program is intended for those currently employed as food scientists, food engineers, public health or food safety inspectors, as well as those who have recently graduated from programs with appropriate scientific backgrounds. Success in the graduate level FSQA courses requires a food science or related academic background with courses in microbiology, toxicology, statistics, and analytical methods.
The FSQA program curriculum provides students with knowledge of food policy development in Canadian and international food regulatory environments, applied aspects of total-quality management, food safety management, food risk analysis including microbial and chemical food safety issues, and detection and epidemiology of foodborne pathogens.
Program details can be found in the Graduate Calendar - Food Safety & Quality Assurance [1] and the FSQA Program Page [2].
Admission Requirements
Applications to the FSQA graduate program are evaluated on academic performance in a relevant field of study (minimum B admission average), two referee assessments, a statement of interest in the program and/or career goals, and any work experience in appropriate and related fields.
If you do not have a background in food science, you may wish to take courses online in the Certificate in Food Science [3] before applying for the FSQA program. The following courses are suggested:
- FOOD*2420 Introduction to Food Microbiology [4] (September start)
- FOOD*2410 Introduction to Food Processing [5] (January start)
- FOOD*4310 Food Safety Management Systems [6] (January start)
If you have an Honours Bachelor's in an unrelated field of study, but have taken courses and/or gained relevant work experience since completing the degree, you may apply. Your CV or resume will be used by the Admissions Committee to assess your eligibility once a complete application is received.
The MSc FSQA has two streams available when applying:
- Hybrid stream with on campus research project (MSC.FSQA - course work) - The hybrid stream is a combination of online and on campus courses with a Faculty Advisor led research project.
- Distance Education stream with workplace project (MSC.FSQA - course work, online) - The Distance Education stream is comprised of online courses and a workplace research project with a current employer (employer letter of support required).
How to Apply:
Please apply online at Applying to Guelph [7]. A faculty advisor is not required to apply for this course-based graduate program.
Applications are now being taken for the MSc FSQA Hybrid and DE Streams - September 2023 start
- Domestic applications are due by April 1, 2023
- International applications are due by November 1, 2022
Please review the uploading documents [8] information for instructions on providing required supporting documents to complete your application.
Supplemental Document
The supplemental document required for an FSQA application should include a statement of interest in the program with any resume or CV details you wish to include.
For those applying to the distance delivery option of the MSc FSQA, an employer letter of support for a workplace research project must be included in the supplemental document.
Contact Information
For information on the application process or program details, please contact:
Graduate Program Assistant (FSQA Program)
fsqa@uoguelph.ca [9]