Profile and Career
How do social structures and actors such as politicians, consumers and industry form our food systems? How can we understand and improve the transition of food systems and the complex problems associated with food production, processing, and consumption in a modern globalised world?
These are the overarching questions addressed by the Master of Science (MSc) in Integrated Food Studies.
During the study programme, you will gain an understanding of the sociological aspects of the role of food in society and learn to work with different methods of studying food systems and consumption. Thus, you become an expert in innovative solutions aimed at food waste, combatting climate change, ensuring sustainability, and addressing environmental problems associated with food production and consumption.
The compulsory courses provide an in-depth introduction to food systems and transition, social-science theory and methods, and food science approaches. You acquire skills in qualitative and quantitative methods of working with consumption and food systems.
Other courses focus on food science methods and approaches, including practical work in food labs. You take part in a cross-disciplinary course on sustainable meals, involving input from four different disciplines (social science, food science, plant science, nutrition). You also attend classes in innovation, where you acquire skills for concrete development work in the field of food.
Graduates of the MSc in Integrated Food Studies are able to:
- Handle complex issues within the food sector that require an interdisciplinary approach.
- Apply relevant theories and research methods to analyse current problems in the food sector.
- Propose innovative ways to change food systems, including the production, distribution, and organisation of private or public meal services.
Career Opportunities
Graduates have a range of career opportunities in the food sector:
- In the private part of the food sector – e.g., the food industry and retail trade – you can work with management, strategic planning, and innovative design, or manage change projects in food-related organisations and companies.
- In the public sector, you can work with strategic development and consultancy, as well as preparing and implementing policies in the food area.
- You will be able to work with the strategic development and implementation of public and private meal services. This could involve, for example, developing local authority meal services for elderly people, designed to reduce food waste and improve health.
- Graduates can work with food systems at international level e.g., in the EU, the UN, or international NGOs.
- You can also set up your own business, drawing on the study programme’s broad knowledge base in nutrition, design, consumption, and policy development.