Major map:
Food and Bioproduct Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.S.A.)
Learn how to get the most out of your degree and prepare for your future career.
Food and Bioproduct Sciences is a unique multi-disciplinary program that incorporates the knowledge of biology, chemistry, physics, microbiology and engineering to the production of food and bioproducts from plants, animals and microorganisms.
Not a USask student?
Learn more about studying food and bioproduct sciences at USask and apply for admission.
Explore your major
Learn more about some of the required major-specific courses for this degree. View the course and program catalogue or meet with an academic advisor to understand all program requirements.
The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.
AGRC 110.3 | Scientific Literacy and Communication for the Agricultural Sciences
AGRC 111.3 | Introduction to Plant and Soil Sciences
AGRC 112.3 | Animal Agriculture and Food Science
AGRC 113.3 | Introduction to Agri Food Economics
BIOL 120.3 | The Nature of Life
BIOL 121.3 | The Diversity of Life
CHEM 112.3 | General Chemistry I Structure Bonding and Properties of Materials
CHEM 250.3 | TIntroduction to Organic Chemistry
ECON 111.3 | Introductory Microeconomicsn
FABS 110.3 | The Science of Food
You choose
- From a variety of courses to fulfill your degree requirements
Academic tips
- Explore information about your program in the course and program catalogue
- Meet with an academic advisor for help choosing your courses and planning your degree prior to registration
- Visit AgBio Student Services to find out about unique supports for AgBio students
- Visit the student Learning Hub for help developing your academic skills
- Apply for scholarships and bursaries
What will I learn?
- Learn about the improvement of traditional foods and food processing
- Development of novel functional foods and nutraceuticals using advanced technologies and conversion of underutilized agriculture materials into value-added bioproducts
- Emphasis on non-fossil fuel, climate change and the environment, water safety and quality, food safety and quality, and health and wellness
- Understand the integration of microbiology and food and bioproduct sciences with respect to production, quality assurance and safety
- Learn about improving the nutritional, quality and safety aspects of the foods we consume and to utilize our biological resources in the fullest manner possible
Gain relevant experience
- Familiarize yourself with study abroad programs to make informed decisions in your later years of study
- Explore undergraduate research opportunities
- Consider enrolling in an experiential learning course
Create local and global connections
- Visit the USask Community Centre to make connections and build community
- Get involved in your campus community through student groups, USask Rec and USask events
- Before you register in your first-year courses, sign up to be a part of a Learning Community
- Get to know your FABS faculty and their research interests
- Become a member of the Food and Bioproduct Sciences Student (FABS) Club
- Consider joining the Agricultural Student's Association (ASA) to connect with other students, build your governance skills, and inform your student experience
Get career ready
- Meet with a career educator at Career Services to explore your career possibilities
- Take a career assessment to learn more about your strengths, personality, interests, and values
- Create your résumé and cover letter to take advantage of part-time and summer job opportunities
- Develop your LinkedIn profile to begin building your professional brand
- Become a student affiliate of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists, the professional body for those individuals practicing Agrology in Saskatchewan
Featured courses
- FABS 222.3 Improving Food Security through Food Science and Technology
- FABS 315.3 Food Chemistry
- FABS 325.3 Food Microbiology and Safety
- FABS 345.3 Unit Operations in Food Processing
- FABS 371.3 Food Biotechnology
Explore your major
Learn more about some of the required major-specific courses for this degree. View the course and program catalogue and meet with an academic advisor to understand all program requirements.
The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.
BMSC 200.3 | Biomolecules
BMSC 230.3 | Metabolism
FABS 110.3 | The Science of Food
FABS 211.3 | Introductory Bioproduct Science
NUTR 120.3 | Basic Nutrition
You choose
- AREC 220.3 History of Indigenous Agriculture in Canada OR INDG 107.3 Introduction to Canadian Indigenous Studies
- FABS 212.3 Agrifood and Resources Microbiology OR BMSC 210.3 Microbiology
- PLSC 214.3 Statistical Methods OR STAT 245.3 Introduction to Statistical Methods
- MATH 104.3 Elementary Calculus, OR MATH 110.3 Calculus I, OR MATH 125.3 Mathematics for the Life Sciences
- From a variety of courses to fulfill your degree requirements
Academic tips
- Consult the course and program catalogue and contact an academic faculty advisor for information about course selection prior to registration.
- Check DegreeWorks and meet with an academic advisor to ensure your degree is on track
- Apply for scholarships and bursaries
Add to your major
Choose from a variety of certificates to complement your major.
- Business (certificate)
- Professional Communication (certificate)
- Sustainability (certificate)
- Technological Innovation (certificate)
Gain relevant experience
- Explore study abroad options or gain support as an international student through the International Student and Study Abroad Centre (ISSAC)
- Become a peer mentor through the University Library or Peer Health
- Sign up for a Student Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)
- Get involved in research by applying for a research assistantship
- Consider enrolling in an experiential learning course
- Consider running for a leadership position with an Agricultural Student's Association (ASA) or the USask Students’ Union (USSU)
- Become a member of the Food and Bioproduct Sciences Student (FABS) Club
Create local and global connections
- Engage with your community through volunteering and Co-Curricular Record activities
- Meet with new people and grow your cultural understanding through Building Bridges and Global Connections
- Get to know your FABS faculty and their research interests
- Consider joining the an AgBio Student Club to connect with other students, build your governance skills, and inform your student experience
Get career ready
- Discover job opportunities, explore career options, and meet professionals at Career Services events and career fairs
- Explore experiential learning opportunities to gain relevant experience and skills
- Expand your professional network on LinkedIn
- Get a better understanding of your career possibilities through career informational interviews
- Conduct occupational research through Job Bank and LinkedIn
- Become a student affiliate of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists, the professional body for those individuals practicing Agrology in Saskatchewan
- Attend Careers Day in September to connect with Ag/Bio employers
USask Student Competencies
USask Student Competencies are the knowledge, skills, and attributes developed and leveraged to achieve success in your learning and work:
- Engaging in our intercultural society
- Nurturing successful relationships
- Leveraging technology
- Adaptive design and problem solving
- Communicating meaningfully
- Cultivating well-being
Explore your major
Learn more about some of the required major-specific courses for this degree. View the course and program catalogue and meet with an academic advisor to understand all program requirements.
The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.
FABS 315.3 | Food Chemistry
FABS 317.3 | Food and Bioproducts Analysis
FABS 325.3 | Food Microbiology and Safety
FABS 334.3 | Industrial Microbiology
FABS 345.3 | Unit Operations in Food Processing
FABS 375.3 | A Practical Approach to Seed Processing
FABS 452.3 | Quality Assurance and HACCP
FABS 456.3 | Laboratory Techniques in Food and Bioproduct Sciences
You choose
- COMM 204.3 Introduction to Marketing OR AREC 230.3 Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- FABS 492.3 Literature Thesis OR FABS 494.6 Research Thesis Research Thesis (3 credit units of FABS 494.6 Research Thesis Research Thesis count as restricted electives)
- Six courses (18 c.u.) from a variety of restricted elective courses to fulfill your degree requirements
- Four courses (12 c.u.) from open elective courses to fulfill your degree requirements
Academic tips
- Check DegreeWorks and meet with an academic faculty advisor to ensure your degree is on track
- Apply for scholarships and bursaries
- Consider applying to a graduate program in Food Science, Applied Microbiology, or Nutrition
Consider applying to a graduate program
- Applied Microbiology (M.Sc., Ph.D.)
- Food Science (M.Sc., Ph.D.)
- Nutrition (M.Sc., Ph.D.)
Gain relevant experience
- Consider running for a leadership position with the Agricultural Student's Association (ASA) or the USask Students’ Union (USSU)
- Consider enrolling in an experiential learning course
- Become a member of the Food and Bioproduct Sciences Student (FABS) Club
Create local and global connections
- Join the USask Alumni and Friends community
- Get to know your FABS faculty and their research interests
Get career ready
- Update your résumé, cover letter or CV to apply for jobs
- Book a Mock Interview appointment with Career Services to prepare for your interview
- Explore experiential learning opportunities to gain relevant experience and skills
- If you are new to Canada, take time to learn about how to search for a job in Canada
- Discover employment opportunities through Ag Careers
- Graduates from the B.Sc. Food Industry Management degree are eligible for Professional Agrologist (PAg) membership in the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists, allowing them to engage in the practice of Agrology
- Attend Careers Day in September to connect with Ag/Bio employers
USask Student Competencies
USask Student Competencies are the knowledge, skills, and attributes developed and leveraged to achieve success in your learning and work:
- Engaging in our intercultural society
- Nurturing successful relationships
- Leveraging technology
- Adaptive design and problem solving
- Communicating meaningfully
- Cultivating well-being
Possible destinations
People with a food and bioproduct sciences degree take their knowledge and skills into many different industries and occupations. Some of the career paths listed here require further education and training.
Career paths
- Business Development Officer
- Food Industry Entrepreneurs
- Food Marketing Manager
- Food Operations Manager
- Food Policy and Regulatory Analyst
- Food Processor
- Food Product Developer
- Food Safety Manager
- Food Service Coordinator
- Food Technologist
- HACCP Coordinator
- Lab Technician
- Management Consultant
- Market Research Analyst
- Nutritional Researcher
- Product Developer
- Product Development Consultant
- Quality Assurance
- Research Scientist
- Wellness Program Coordinator
The Food & Bioproduct Sciences (FABS) program provided me with a strong foundation in food chemistry, microbiology, processing technology, and bioproduct innovation. I value the program’s balanced approach to theory and hands-on learning, especially through interactive lab courses that strengthened my technical and analytical skills. I also gained meaningful research experience through summer student assistant positions in protein functionality and food analysis, which deepened my passion for food innovation and sustainability. Overall, I believe this program has prepared me with the scientific knowledge, research experience, and leadership skills to pursue a career in the food industry.
—Hao Li, fourth-year Food and Bioproduct Sciences student
Where do USask alumni work?
- AGT Food and Ingredients
- Ag-West Bio
- Avena Foods Limited
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Federated Co-operatives Limited
- Government of Saskatchewan
- Loblaw Companies Limited
- Maple Leaf Foods Inc.
- Saputo
- Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre
- University of Saskatchewan
- Viterra
Explore Canadian salaries for various occupations using the Job Bank Career Planning Tool
"I can apply my theoretical knowledge to real research, and I’m happy to contribute to work that can make a difference in the future. The best part is the faculty: they’re approachable, know students personally, and it’s easy to talk with them about any questions, academic or even non-academic. There’s also a strong student community through the FABS Club, which makes it easy to find peer support, learn about opportunities, and feel connected from first year onward. With support across AgBio and Career Services, I see clear paths into QA, R&D, or graduate studies. FABS gave me practical skills and the confidence to use them."
—Prem, fourth-year Food and Bioproduct Sciences student
"The smaller student body, being an active member of FABS club, and very supportive faculty have greatly helped me be as successful as possible in the program. I am very excited to continue learning and conduct research in Food and Bioproduct Sciences as I pursue a master’s degree in the field in the coming years."
—Noelle, fourth-year Food and Bioproduct Sciences student