This certificate introduces students to the local food industry in Colorado and potential career opportunities in the food industry. Students will learn key scientific concepts and engineering principles of food products. The certificate focuses on the science and engineering of foods like specialty coffee and chocolate. Students will receive both a broad overview and in-depth content on food engineering and food product design, in addition to learning about food sustainability.
Requirements
Admission Requirements
Applicants who are not degree-seeking students at the university may apply for a graduate certificate through Continuing Education by submitting a Nondegree Graduate Certificate Application. Eligible candidates must hold an undergraduate degree in engineering, sciences or mathematics from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Our preferred minimum GPA is 3.0.
Internal applicants who are enrolled bachelor's–accelerated master's (BAM) or graduate students at CU Boulder in engineering, sciences or mathematics and have a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher are eligible to apply. We accept applications on a rolling basis.
For more information on applying, visit the department's graduate certificates webpage or contact megrad@colorado.edu.
Required Courses and Credits
To earn this certificate, students must complete 9 graduate level credits, or three 3-credit graduate courses. These credits may be chosen by the student, in consultation with certificate program faculty and the graduate advisors, based on the available courses and description of curriculum in subsection c) below. Courses offered each semester will depend on the availability of faculty. However, beginning with the Spring 2023 semester, at least one relevant course will be offered each fall and spring semester to ensure that students are able to make progress toward completion of the certificate.
All degree and non-degree seeking certificate students must meet the following minimum academic standards for successful completion of the certificate:
- Students must receive a minimum grade of a B or higher in each course applied towards certificate requirements; and
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in certificate courses.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students must take two of the following three courses: | ||
| MCEN 5228 | Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (Design of Coffee) | 3 |
| MCEN 5228 | Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (Design of Chocolate) | 3 |
| MCEN 5228 | Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (Design of Beer) | 3 |
| Strongly recommended electives: | ||
| MCEN 5228 | Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (Farm to Table: Sustainability in Contemporary Food Systems) | 3 |
| MDST 6351 | Media, Culture & Food Politics | 3 |
| MCEN 5021 | Introduction to Fluid Dynamics (Recommended only for students with engineering/math/physics undergraduate degree) | 3 |
| MCEN 5042 | Heat Transfer (recommended only for students with engineering/math/physics undergraduate degree) | 3 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| MCEN 5228 | Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering (Household Energy Systems in the Global South) | 3 |
| MCEN 5022 | Classical Thermodynamics (Recommended only for students with engineering/math/physics undergraduate degree) | 3 |
| MCEN/BMEN 5117 | Anatomy and Physiology for Engineers | 3 |
| MSEN 5919 | Special Topics in MSE: Mass Transport (Membranes) | 1-5 |
| ENVM 6100 | Special Topics for Master of the Environment Program (Introduction to Food Systems) | 3 |
| ENVS 6305 | Reducing the Environmental Impact of Food Systems: Evidence-Based Solutions | 3 |
| ENVM 6100 | Special Topics for Master of the Environment Program (Quantitative Analysis in Food Systems) | 3 |
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- Be introduced to potential career opportunities in the food industry.
- Be introduced to the local food industry in Colorado.
- Learn the key scientific concepts and engineering principles of food products.
- Focus on the science and engineering of specialty coffee, food engineering and food product design.
- Understand the role of food at the intersection of science, engineering and culture.