University of Wisconsin Stout | Wisconsin's Polytechnic University

Food: It's one of the essential components of life, and is a crucial commercial product. It is also the nation's largest business. If food fascinates you, UW-Stout's Food Systems and Technology program will prepare you for a career in this important industry. Choose from one of the following five concentrations:

Food Systems Management: Consumers spend about 50 percent of their food dollars in restaurants, cafeterias, fast-food franchises, at work or at school. Food systems managers organize these operations and make sure the foods are attractive, nutritious and safely prepared.

Food Merchandising and Distribution Handlers: These professionals specialize in large quantity purchases and shipment of food products to retail stores, markets and restaurants. They also manage grocery-type stores, from small convenience stores to giant discount clubs. UW-Stout is one of only a few universities offering a program specifically for management positions in the estimated 250,000 retail food stores.

Food Science: Have you ever wondered how chocolate can be coated with a candy shell or how fat is removed from peanuts? Food scientists are involved in the research and development of new food products, studying how food ingredients interact. Food scientists develop the equipment and processes by which various foods are made - and they ensure our food supply remains safe.

Food Communication: Food communication specialists work for magazines, television stations or newspapers. They also help companies promote new products, write newsletters and produce educational videos. As self-employed entrepreneurs, they may run gourmet cooking schools or lead food tours around the world. Their careers are limited only by their imaginations.

Food Packaging Specialists: These professionals develop and improve food packaging to provide safety, quality and convenience to food consumers. They are involved in research and development for intelligent packaging. They create packaging to enhance marketability of a quality product. They also collaborate with packaging engineers to develop special needs packaging.

Preparing for UW-Stout

We recommend a basic, well-rounded college preparatory curriculum, including work with personal computers. Food classes are helpful. Experiences in clubs, sports and other extracurricular activities are also recommended. Depending on the concentration you choose, you will also benefit from participation in FCCLA, DECA, the school newspaper, forensics, Science Olympiad, art and mathematics classes.

Starting Out

Your first semester, you will be able to take professional classes and an introductory course to explore options in the five concentrations. The introductory course is taught by the Food Systems and Technology Program Director. You may also take a foods or nutrition course. General education classes will round out your schedule.

As You Progress

All Food Systems and Technology students take 42 general education credits and have a common professional core of 34 credits, including classes in foods, nutrition, sensory evaluation, packaging, marketing, leadership, science and communication. Depending on your concentration, you will take more management, science, merchandising, communications or packaging classes to gain expertise in the area of your choice.

Entry Positions

Food Systems Management: Graduates administer large quantity food production and service facilities in settings as varied as cruise ships, hospitals, restaurants and schools.

Food Science: Entry-level positions include food technologist, quality assurance manager, food analyst, food product development team member, technical representative and government relations officer.

Opportunities for Food Merchandising and Distribution graduates include supermarket management, manufacturer sales, food brokerage, wholesale sales, specialty food merchandising and marketing specialist jobs.

Food Communication: These careers include food styling, magazine and newspaper writing/editing, working as a food industry home economist, acting as a food and nutrition commentator on television, being a food promotion specialist, cookbook writing or entrepreneurship.

Food Packaging: Entry-level positions include food scientist in packaging, packaging specialist, food scientist–technologist, food packaging technologist, food packaging engineer, food packaging consultant or quality assurance specialist in food packaging.

Starting Salaries

Starting salaries in 2011–12 for people in these positions ranged from $22,000 to $52,000 and averaged $42,000. Graduates often receive promotions during their first year of employment, resulting in salary increases.