Getting Started (Majors Guide)

College: CNS

 (Revised Spring 2018)  

How to Explore/Get Started in the Major

Suggested General Education Courses

Under the new guidelines students are still required to take two courses, one in U.S. Diversity and one in Global Diversity. Students entering in Fall 2018 are expected to take one of these diversity courses, either U.S. or Global, in their first year on campus.  For Fall 2018 Registration, look for courses with DU (formerly U) and DG (formerly G) to help students stay on track.  Any course labled DU will satisfy the requirement for a U.S. diversity course and any course labeled DG will satisfy the the requirement for Global diversity course. Course planning guidelines, including guidelines for students, are available at www.umass.edu/gened.

RES-ECON 102 (SB); RES-ECON 121 (SBDG)

Suggested Major and Prerequisite Courses

Required prerequisites, including recommended sequence:

First Semester Second Semester
CHEM 111* General Chemistry CHEM 112 General Chemistry
MATH 127* Calculus MATH 128 Calculus
ENGLWRIT 112 College Writing BIOLOGY 110 or BIOLOGY 151, 152, 153**
CMPSCI 105 FD SCI 103 Introduction for the Future Food Scientist

If students are not ready for Calculus they should take MATH 104. If MATH 104 is taken first semester, the chemistry (starting with CHEM 111) and calculus sequences (starting with MATH 127) can be taken second semester.

*CHEM 111 and MATH 127 have a prerequisite of MATH 104 or a recommended score of 20 on the Algebra portion of the Math Placement Test.
**BIOLOGY 151, BIOLOGY 152 plus BIOLOGY 153 lab are recommended for students interested in completing the Pre-Med/Dent requirements)

How to Declare the Major

See the Chief Undergraduate Advisor as soon as possible.

Transfer Students:

See the Chief Undergraduate Advisor soon after arriving on campus.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Minimum total # of credits required: 42 in Food Science courses

In addition to the above-listed predictor/prerequisite courses in Math, Chemistry, Biology and Computer Science, the major consists of the following: FOOD-SCI 103 (or 120 or 150), 265/266, 480, 466, 541, 542, 544, 561/563(IE), 566/567, 575, 581/583

Is there a minor? If so what are the requirements?
Yes. A student must complete fifteen credits of the courses listed below to complete the minor:

  • FOOD-SCI 103, 120, 150 or 160
  • Four of the following: FOOD-SCI 265, 270, 466, 566/567, 541, 542, 561, 575, 580, 581/583 and NUTRITN 230.

For further information, contact:
Lynne McLandsborough
248 Chenoweth; 545-1016
lm@foodsci.umass.edu