Course details

Summary

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) is a three-year undergraduate degree which enables each student to develop his or her own interests in a science subject (science major) and related subjects. Students have the flexibility to combine their major subject with other science subjects, as well as subjects from other disciplines across the University.

Understanding food, its components, quality and consumer appeal are the ingredients of Food Science. At the University of Otago, Food Science papers aim to prepare people for creative, challenging, diverse and rewarding food industry careers. Food Science builds upon the basic sciences of Biology, Chemistry and Physics and it interacts with such diverse scientific disciplines as Human Nutrition, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Process Engineering. All play an important role in the understanding of the foods we produce, manufacture and consume.

Some of the topics addressed by Food Science include: food manufacturing (product development, processing, packaging); what food is made of (food chemistry and analysis); what has been added (vitamins, preservatives, colour, flavour); how stable it is (shelf life, microbiology); safety (food contaminants, food poisoning); and sensory properties (taste, appearance, smell, texture).

Programme Requirements

100-level

CELS 191 Cell and Molecular Biology

CHEM 191 The Chemical Basis of Biology and Human Health

FOSC 111 Food Principles

FOSC 112 Introduction to Food Marketing

STAT 110 Statistical Methods, or STAT 115 Introduction to Biostatistics

200-level

FOSC 201 Food Systems 1

FOSC 202 Food Systems 2

FOSC 213 Sensory Science

MICR 221 Microbes to Medicine

300-level

FOSC 301 Food Chemistry, Structure and Function

FOSC 302 Food Preservation and Processing

FOSC 311 Food Product Development

Plus

126 further points (MICR 331 Food Microbiology recommended); must include 36 points at 200-level or above.

Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science

Total 360

Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) is also available.

A specific aim of the Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) degree is to develop advanced theoretical and research skills and in so doing to provide a platform for an advanced professional or academic career.

Entry criteria

The minimum requirement for students is the completion of a high school qualification plus satisfactory completion of one year's study at an approved tertiary institution or successful completion New Zealand Foundation Year programme.

We also accept the following International qualifications: International Baccalaureate: IB Diploma with a minimum of 26 points; GCE Advanced Levels: minimum grade of 8.

English Language Requirements:

IELTS score of 6.0 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 80 (writing 20); Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 (TWE 4.5); CIE Cambridge International Examinations Grade E or better in AS English; Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) - Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) - Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); GCE 'A' Level or 'AS' Level English Language or English Literature - grade C or higher; GCE 'AS' Level General Paper (English) - grade C or higher; APIEL (Advanced Placement International English Language) Examination - grade 3 or higher; IB International Baccalaureate - English at Higher or Standard level in Language A: literature, Language A: language and literature, or at Higher level in Language B; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 58 with no communicative skills score below 50.