The Major in Food and Nutritional Science aims to offer an exciting, dynamic, and challenging environment to prepare the students for career opportunities in food and nutritional science. The goals of the programme are to provide the students with: (a) critical knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of food science and technology, and nutrition and their relationship to human health; (b) critical knowledge and understanding on the relationship between food and a wide range of social, legal, technological and environmental factors; (c) a curriculum meeting the requirements for higher degree in MPhil and PhD and or the taught Master of Science degrees in the field of Food industry: Management and Marketing, Food Safety and Toxicology and the postgraduate diploma related to health sciences.  The curriculum is designed for students to select studies in Nutrition and Public Health in preparation for postgraduate diploma in dietetics or human nutrition. Study in Food Security is an innovative programme that entails scientific and social approach in food, nutrition and environment, allowing students to relate global challenges in industry, society and government levels.

The mission is to provide a progressive and effective programme that integrates theoretical and experiential learning to better prepare students for the challenges of the workplace. Throughout the curriculum, there is consistent emphasis on experiential learning through laboratory studies, internship training, research-based learning, debate and presentations, which are designed to enhance students' critical thinking, communication and collaboration, tackling of ill-defined problems, development of individual learning objectives and self-evaluation of performance. Internship experiences can be gained in medical and health sectors, schools, industries, government and community setting. Students graduated from this programme are prepared for diverse careers in the food industry, government or private-sector food and nutrition agencies, and scientific research laboratories, health-care and fitness facilities, hospitals, nutrition edition and communication enterprises.

Minor in Food & Nutritional Science

1. Double-counting of courses up to a maximum of 24 credits is permissible when a student with a science major opts to undertake a second major in science. The double-counted courses must include SCNC1111 and SCNC1112. Additional credits to be double-counted must be for courses required ('disciplinary core') by both majors. For cases with 24 or less double-counted credits, the student must make up an equivalent number of credits by taking other courses offered by any Faculty.

2. If more than 24 credits (including SCNC1111 & SCNC1112) are listed as required courses ("disciplinary core") in both the first and second majors undertaken by a student, the student must make up the number of credits above the 24 permissible by taking replacement course(s) (disciplinary electives) in the second major. Double counting of credits is not permissible for major-minor or double-minors combinations. For details, please refer to "Students taking double Majors, Major-Minor or double Minors with overlapping course requirements" in the BSc syllabuses.

3. Students are not required to take Capstone if this Science major is taken as a second major on the condition that the capstone experience in the first major requires the integration or application of knowledge from both major disciplines.  If this is approved, a 6-credit advanced level course (disciplinary electives) in the second major must be taken to fulfill the credit requirement of the capstone experience.

4. Those who want to specialize in the Nutrition and Public Health Studies should pass the following course:
Introduction level courses - 2 Disciplinary Core Courses: Science Foundation: SCNC1111 and SCNC1112; 6 Disciplinary Core Courses: BIOL1110, BIOL1201, BIOL2101; BIOL2102, BIOL2103, BIOL2220, BIOL2512 or BIOC2600; 2 Disciplinary Electives: CHEM1042 and CHEM2442.
Advanced level courses - 2 Disciplinary Core Courses: BIOL3202 and BIOL3203; any 3 Disciplinary Electives with at least 2 must be at BIOL3XXX and/or BIOL4XXX in the list:  BIOL3204, BIOL3205, BIOL3207, BIOL3209, BIOL3211, BIOL3217,  BIOL3606/BIOL4616, BIOL4201, BIOL3602/BIOL4202, BIOL4209, BIOC3606, STAT3617,  and BBMS4004.
Capstone requirement: any 1 Capstone Course: BIOL3992, BIOL4922, BIOL4962, and BIOL4992.

5. Those who want to specialize in the Food Security Studies should pass the following course:
Introduction level courses - 2 Disciplinary Core Courses: Science Foundation: SCNC1111 and SCNC1112; 6 Disciplinary Core Courses: BIOL1110, BIOL1201, BIOL2101; BIOL2102, BIOL2103, BIOL2220, BIOL2512 or BIOC2600; 2 Disciplinary Electives: GEOG2013, GEOG2030 and GEOG2152 and GEOG2154.
Advanced level courses - 2 Disciplinary Core Courses: BIOL3202 and BIOL3203; any 3 Disciplinary Electives with at least 2 must be at BIOL3XXX and/or BIOL4XXX in the list: BIOL3207, BIOL3209, BIOL3217, BIOL3218, BIOL3606/BIOL4616, BIOL3608, BIOL4201, BIOL4205, BIOL4209, BIOL4411, GEOG3202, POLI3121; STAT3617, and BBMS4004.
Capstone requirement: any 1 Capstone Course: BIOL3992, BIOL4922, BIOL4962, and BIOL4992.

6. Students who may wish to pursue postgraduate study in dietetics are strongly advised to consult their academic and course selection advisor.  Students are recommended to take BIOL1110, BIOL2103, CHEM1042 and CHEM2442 in Year 1/2 of the study.  Students should also take BIOL3204, BIOL3503 and one Level 3/4 courses related to molecular biology.

7. Specialisation recognition will be allowed for 2014-2018 student intake. Students who already took any two of these CHEM1041, CHEM1042, CHEM1043, CHEM2441, CHEM2442 can be counted as two disciplinary electives for specialization in Nutrition and Public Health.

8. Candidates who have been admitted to Year 1 in 2020-21 (and thereafter) and have achieved any one of the following qualifications are exempted from taking SCNC1111. It is optional for them to take this course. Those who do not take this course should take a 6-credit disciplinary elective course of the science major in lieu.
- Level 4 or above in Mathematics Extended Part Module 1 or 2 in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)
- Level 5 or above in Mathematics Higher Level in International Baccalaureate (IB)
- Grade B or above in Mathematics and Further Mathematics in General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCEAL)
- Mathematics qualification in Gao Kao will be considered on a case-by-case basis

Important! Ultimate responsibility rests with students to ensure that the required pre-requisites and co-requisite of selected courses are fulfilled. Students must take and pass all required courses in the selected primary science major in order to satisfy the degree graduation requirements.