Major in Consumer Food Science
Introduction
Consumer Food Science is the study of the factors that influence our food choices. These include: cultural aspects, sensory perception (taste, appearance, smell, texture), food quality, food policy, consumer behaviour, diet, nutrition, lifestyle and marketing influences. This area of study provides an opportunity to combine courses in the Sensory Science, Food Marketing, Human Nutrition and Food Service Administration within a BCApSc degree.
Programme Requirements
BCApSc Degree Paths
First year students are required to take a paper introducing both scientific and social aspects of food and nutrition (Food Principles), as well as papers in statistics, and consumer behaviour. Students can choose papers from a variety of additional subject areas such as Marketing, Psychology, Management and Anthropology all of which provide a good basis for the degree.
The BCApSc degree is designed to allow considerable flexibility in the range of papers which can be combined with the core papers. In the second and third years, students can choose papers in Marketing, Sensory Science, Food Service Administration, Human Nutrition, Statistics, Anthropology or Psychology to complement the core Consumer Food Science papers. Any of these subjects can be combined with Consumer Food Science to complete a minor or second major within the degree, usually within three years.
Those particularly interested in combining Commerce with Consumer Food Science papers may wish to consider a double degree BCApSc/BCom, a four to five year programme. Another alternative could be to complete a DipGrad in Marketing after the BCApSc degree (a four year programme of study).
Careers in Consumer Food Science
The study of Consumer Food Science encompasses many different subjects and applications, so a wide range of job opportunities is available both nationally and internationally.
Career Options include:
Food Quality Management
Food Promotion
Sensory analysis
Policy Development
Food Service - Hospitality Industry
Marketing
Sales
Secondary and Tertiary Teaching
Consultancy
Journalism
Rachel Amos- Graduate Profile
BCom 2001, BCApSc (Hons) 2002
When Rachel started at Otago she wasn't sure of a career path so she took a wide range of papers, including Marketing and Food Science. She found those two particularly interesting and continued with both, completing a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and a Bachelor of Consumer and Applied Science Honours in Consumer Food Science.
"Some of the papers I enjoyed most were the hands-on ones, developing new products, formulating study designs, and carrying out sensory experiments. Otago is the only University to offer Sensory Science, and I definitely recommend it."
Rachel went straight from graduating to working for HortResearch as a Research Associate. This involves panels to sense different attributes of various foods, preparing and carrying out consumer panels, interpreting results and communicating the results to clients.
"I thoroughly enjoy the challenges. No two days are the same, and although my position is not marketing-focused, I find aspects from my Marketing degree can be utilized in my day-to-day tasks."
Rachel says HortResearch is great, giving her the opportunity to work in a state-of-the-art facility, and also encouraging her to extend her training both here and overseas. Recently, she has begun to study for a Masters with full support from HortResearch.
Requirements: http://www.otago.ac.nz/subjects/cfsc.html
Department website: http://www.otago.ac.nz/foodscience