Online Food Safety & Defense Graduate Certificate

Program Summary
Cost per credit hour:

2023-2024: $600
2024-2025: $610
Learn more about Tuition and Cost

12 Hours

The Food Safety & Defense graduate certificate program will prepare you to help with protecting the human food supply. This certificate can complement a graduate degree, or provide working professionals in the food industry the tools needed to advance their career. 

Is this program right for me?

Students in this program come from various areas in the food supply industry. You may be right for this certificate program if you:

  • Work in the food industry.
  • Have a bachelor of science degree in food science or a closely related field.
  • Have a job title such as Quality Assurance Associate or Food Safety Technician.
  • Need additional education to advance your career.
  • Are in the middle of a master’s degree or Ph.D. program and looking for supplemental courses.

This unique 12-credit hour certificate pulls together researchers and students from various parts of the food industry, giving you the opportunity to interact with others from all over the country. This in-depth, specialized training in food safety and defense is offered completely online, so you don’t have to rearrange your life.

What will I learn in this program?

You will learn how to:

  • Analyze, synthesize, and evaluate food safety and food defense information.
  • Design and assess food safety and food defense assurance strategies, especially in food-related industries.
  • Communicate professionally about food safety and food defense.

Course topics include:

  • Food microbiology
  • Foodborne toxicants
  • HACCP
  • Food safety and security overview
  • Food laws
  • Risk assessment
  • Food biotechnology
  • Rapid food microbiological methods
  • Food fermentations

How do I get started?

Students must meet admissions requirements for the master of science degree in food science or equivalent degree at their respective universities. Contact a campus coordinator at your home university to learn more about admission requirements.

International applicants seeking admission to the food safety and defense graduate certificate program must apply at Iowa State University, the University of Missouri, or the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Program Information at Participating Universities

Certificate titles vary by university.  Consult each university for the certificate title as it will appear on the diploma.

AG IDEA Student Handbook

This graduate certificate will prepare you to help with protecting the human food supply. 

Course List for Food Safety & Defense Certificate

University Contact
These campus coordinators can help you navigate Great Plains IDEA. Click on the university name to learn more about how Great Plains IDEA works at that campus. Iowa State Online
Ashley Schultz
Janice Clawson
Melissa Sailors
University Members
Members of the Great Plains IDEA are universities accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Member universities recruit, admit and graduate students, teach in an academic program and contribute to the leadership and maintenance of the alliance. Membership in the alliance is a selective process that engages institutional leadership at all levels.

Akiko Mallow is in the FCS Ed program at SDSU.As a career switcher, returning student with over the 10-year gap, and non-native English-speaking learner, I was worried that I couldn't complete the Initial Teacher Certification program within a couple of years. The professors are extremely knowledgeable and experienced in each subject and support students to succeed compassionately in any possible way. The master's courses are well-designed and rewarding as I can see my learning progress instantly. Thanks to Great Plains IDEA, I am starting my new career being a high school FCS teacher this fall!

– – Akiko Mallow, Family and Consumer Sciences Education Master's Student,
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