Foodie

Food sustains us and it may define us. It certainly is bigger than just the nutrients we consume. Food allows us to connect with each other in a shared experience. It can allow us to explore cultures or retain cultural identity. Food is not only good for our physical health but can also benefit emotional and mental health. If you have more than a passing interest in food and want to explore a career where food contributes to health, economy, culture, and make a difference within your own community, these majors/concentrations may be just the menu for you.

Agronomy

Integrated Crop Management

This concentration will give you the solid scientific foundation and technological training you need to grow crops in a way that is economically viable and protects the environment. This path also provides a solid foundation for graduate studies.

Career Opportunities:

• Agronomist—median annual salary of $58,600
• Nursery/greenhouse manager—median annual salary of $46,520
• Plant breeder—median annual salary of $76,150
• Scientific support analyst—median annual salary of $48,390

Animal & Diary Sciences

Production Management

On this path, you will explore management, feeding, breeding, and care for livestock through topics like reproduction, breeding, and nutrition. The program also provides hands-on lab experience and electives, so you can personalize your education to meet your career goals.

Career Opportunities:

• Breed Association Representative - median annual salary of $43,080
• Dairy Herd Manager/Owner - median annual salary of $64,130
• Dairy Inspector - median annual salary of $44,140
• Extension Agent - median annual salary of $45,550

---

Culinology

Culinology

If a plate is your canvas and a kitchen your studio, this major is your path. This degree program blends food science and technology with the culinary arts to prepare you for a variety of in-demand careers in the food industry, from chef to product developer and many more.

Career Opportunities:

• Chef - median annual salary of $41,500
• Food scientist - median annual salary of $64,020
• Ingredient sales manager - median annual salary of $60,140
• Quality assurance specialist - median annual salary of $53,830

---

Food Science, Nutrition & Health Promotion

Food Processing/Business

If you are interested in the business of food products and processing, this concentration will help you take your place at the table. You will study the science and business of the food industry, including marketing, economics, and technology.

Prepares students for careers in the food industry, government or private business by combining courses in food science and business.

Career Opportunities:

• Consumer safety officer - median annual salary of $82,230
• Food microbiologist - median annual salary of $66,000
• Processing/food engineer - median annual salary of $90,000
• Product development scientist - median annual salary of $60,730

Nutrition

This concentration is an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and prepares you for a career with state agencies, in food service, or with major food manufacturers. It will also provide a solid foundation for entering a master’s program, if you wish to become a registered dietician nutritionist (RDN).

Career Opportunities:

• Corporate wellness consultant - median annual salary of $55,051
• Clinical nutritionist - median annual salary of $50,000
• Food product development scientist - median annual salary of $65,00
• Humanitarian nutritionist - median annual salary of $53,470

Safety

Want to make a difference in the food industry and in the lives of people? This path prepares you to become an expert in food safety, prevention and control of disease, and microbiology. It also provides a solid foundation for veterinary school and other professional schools.

Science

As consumers, we rely on food scientists to ensure the safety and quality of food products before they reach our plates. This concentration will prepare you for a career in areas such as product development, quality control, technical sales, production management, food law and food packaging.

---

Horticulture

Fruit and Vegetable Production

Help feed the world and prepare for a wide variety of careers with competitive salaries. This concentration will prepare you to work in local and commercial production of fruits and vegetables, marketing, quality control, purchasing, research, and technical product research and sales.

Career Opportunities:

• Marketing agent - median annual salary of $132,230
• Quality control inspector - median annual salary of $37,140
• Technical product researcher - median annual salary of $69,190

---

Poultry Science

Applied Poultry Management

This concentration satisfies all the requirements for a minor in Agribusiness and will prepare you to enter all areas of the poultry industry with the knowledge necessary to succeed.

Career Opportunities:

• Complex Compliance Officer - median annual salary of $68,880
• Feed Mill Manager - median annual salary of $78,815
• Hatchery Manager - median annual salary of $58,538
• Poultry Nutritionist - median annual salary of $50,678