3 replies to this topic

[veruca]

I'm in a position where I feel the lack of degree is going to be painful shortly. My current employer is great and I love my job but to advance and really be able to be active in my industry as a whole I'd like to complete a degree. My original choice was just a quick Associate's in Business. I'm rethinking this. The eventual goal would be auditing and I'm not sure I'd be able to do that with that particular field. My employer is willing to look at proposals to contribute financially if I go into something that would also benefit them obviously. I don't have a problem with that. The limiter is I do have a full time job and am a single parent so completely online is pretty much a must. I have about 2 years or so done but it was 15 years ago and I'm not sure if it's worth anything now. Food science, agriculture? Something along those lines? Are there any good programs out there you can recommend? I'm in the produce industry in the midwest. I did see a certificate program from NC State but not really a lot of information with it. I have my PCQI and HACCP certs all ready. Thanks!

 

veruca

[kingstudruler1]

I have been in the industry my whole life.    I have a bs in biology/ minor in chemistry.   

 

Unfortunately you are correct in that not having a scientific degree could hold you back in the future.  many companies will not consider someone without a degree.  some might not care.  

 

The requirement use to be a science degree.  today, many want to see a food science degree of some kind.   I believe this is true for certified auditors as well.  

 

 

if you are planning on staying in the industry, i would probably recommend a food science degree.  there is one example of an online BS degree below.  im sure there are several others as well    

 

Continue to do as many trainings / certs as you can (sqf, internal auditor, lead auditor, better process, food defense, root cause, capa, etc.  perhaps a food micro course such as http://www.cpe.rutge...t/lf0401wa.html

 

https://online.k-sta...ence-bachelors/

[pHruit]

Pick an area that interests you if you can - it'll make it much easier to keep up the motivation to study around your other commitments!

Some sort of science degree is generally going to make progressing in the industry and applying for new roles much easier.

It may be completely unfounded, as a degree certainly doesn't actually confirm intelligence/capability, but an absence of a degree is an easy way to thin out a list when you're hiring and you are being bombarded with CVs. A more relevant degree also helps in this respect - is a food industry recruiter going to pick the candidate with a zoology degree over the one who read biology and specialised in microbiology? (Had this choice myself - you can guess which one made it to interview ).

I don't see any specific benefit in doing food science - pure/applied sciences (chemistry, biology, biochemistry etc) will give a transferable skill set that is arguably just as useful, and in any case the degree itself is probably better seen as a way to access the career path to get the experience you need to do well in the industry, rather than the source of all of the knowledge you'll need.

FWIW my undergrad/postgrad degrees are in physics, and given free choice I'd hire people who read a pure science - chemistry, biology etc (obviously with some more specific focus if hiring e.g. a microbiologist).

[kfromNE]

This post may help. It gives you an idea of the different paths and degrees people took.

 

https://www.ifsqn.co...-into-your-job/