The program offers the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy Degrees. Candidates with bachelor's degrees in food science, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, or engineering are encouraged to apply. Both a thesis option and a non-thesis option are available to M.S. candidates. Students entering the program with a 4 year bachelor's degree typically will receive a Master's degree before advancing to the Ph.D. The Ph.D. degree requires the completion of 72 credits, with at least 33 course credits and remaining being research credits. Up to 24 graduate level course credits from other accredited institutions or other graduate programs at Rutgers University may be transferred to the Ph.D. program, with approval of the graduate director. Additional requirements include presenting two public seminars, passing a written Ph.D. qualifying examination and an oral Ph.D. qualifying examination, and, most importantly, conducting independent and original research for a dissertation, and defending the dissertation in an oral examination.