What Courses Are in the Program?

Professional Core: 35 creditsProgram Core: 48 creditsElective Courses: 3 creditsCHEM 101 Chemistry IACCT 1010 Business AccountingFOOD 203 Fermented FoodsBIOL 201 Organisms That Sustain the Earth: Understanding PlantsENTR 201 Entrepreneurial Thinking and Opportunity RecognitionFOOD 201 Sustainable Culinary DevelopmentFOOD 2020 The Future of Food: Trends, Technologies, and Global PerspectivesMATH 201 Statistics for Environmental ProfessionalsSUFA 200 Farm to Table Supply Chain and Food CultureHORT 301 Growing Hydroponic and Aquaponic CropsFOOD 315 Plant-based Protein AlternativesECON 305 Economic Development Within Planetary Boundaries and Sustainable Development GoalsENVJ 307 Food Systems and Social JusticeMKTG 301 Introduction to Sustainable BrandingHLTH 4010 Global Nutrition and Public HealthFor course requirements and a better look into your program, view our full course catalog. Then apply online for free to get started.

Career Edge

Online Applied Bachelor’s Degrees ➤ Business

Applied Bachelor of Science in Culinary Innovation and Food Systems

Earn a food systems degree that pairs culinary practice with sourcing, product development, and food business skills.

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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Culinary Innovation and Food Systems Degree Overview

Developing new food products, running a restaurant, and sourcing ingredients sustainably all depend on understanding how food moves from farm to customer. Unity Environmental University’s Applied Bachelor of Science in Culinary Innovation and Food Systems prepares you for that work, combining culinary practice with sustainable food systems and business fundamentals.

Through asynchronous remote learning courses you can fit around work, this food systems degree builds skills in product development, supply chain management, and food business operations. Because it requires 90 credits instead of the 120 in many sustainable food systems degrees, you can finish in just under three years.

Salary and Job Outlook for Food Scientists and Technologists

14 K

Number of jobs in the U.S., 2025*

6 %

Projected job growth, 2025–2035*

$ 88 K

Median annual pay, 2025*

*Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Unity Environmental University cannot guarantee employment. Salary data represents median earnings for the occupation listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience.

Next Start Date

November 16, 2026

Program Details

Online Learning

3 Years

Applied Bachelor's (90 Credits)

$470/credit (~$14k/year)

Learn more about this program’s AI-Enhanced Curriculum

Career Outcomes

What Can You Do With a Culinary Innovation and Food Systems Degree?

Sustainable Food Systems Manager

Lead operations that connect local food production to communities.

Food Product Developer

Create innovative food products with sustainability and health in mind.

Restaurant Manager

Run food and hospitality operations, finances, and relationships.

Farm-to-Table Restaurant Owner

Build a food business rooted in local sourcing and culinary craft.

Food Systems Analyst

Research and advocate for equitable and sustainable food system policies.

Culinary Educator

Teach food skills and sustainable cooking practices in academic settings.

“Unity’s flexibility to its students helped me effectively manage my time day-to-day. I could go to work without having to worry about losing hours because I needed to attend a virtual class or catch a test.”

Kennedy S.
Unity Alum

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Kennedy S.
Unity Alum

As a working professional, Unity’s flexibility to its students helped me effectively manage my time day-to-day. I could go to work without having to worry about losing hours because I needed to attend a virtual class or catch a test. I could do my job, spend time with friends and family, go to the gym, and still have plenty of time in my day to complete the required learning materials and assignments. At no point during my experience at Unity did I feel like I had to reduce my hours at work. I could still have real days off.

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Learn from Leaders

Learn from Leaders

Doctor of Plant Medicine Degree, BS in General Horticulture

Javier Garces
Plant Science Professor

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Javier Garces
Plant Science Professor

Dr. Javier Garces is a full-time, tenured Professor and Program Chair for the Plant Science and Agricultural Technology program at Valencia College. A Miami, FL native, he holds a B.S. in General Horticulture and a Doctor of Plant Medicine degree from the University of Florida, and is a Certified Crop Advisor through the American Society of Agronomy.

He teaches courses spanning plant science, pathology, physiology, propagation, and hydroponics, and oversees a program with an on-campus greenhouse, aquaponic system, and permaculture demonstration area. A farmer at heart, Dr. Garces previously worked as a Plant Health Specialist for a large nursery operation and has served as a crop consultant for Treadwell Farms since 2018.

Learn from Leaders

PhD in Food Science, MPH in Environmental Health Sciences, RDN, LD, CPH

Yaa Klu
Global Expert in Food Science and Nutrition Security

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Yaa Klu
Global Expert in Food Science and Nutrition Security

Dr. Yaa Asantewaa Kafui Klu earned her Ph.D. in Food Science from the University of Georgia, a Master of Public Health from Columbia University in the City of New York, and a B.S. in Biochemistry from KNUST. She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified in Public Health, and the recipient of the 2025 Commission on Dietetic Registration Faculty Fellowship Award. Alongside teaching, she practices as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with Nourish and brings extensive higher education experience, having served on the food science faculty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and KNUST.

Dr. Klu’s work focuses on the intersection of food science, nutrition security, public health, and sustainability. Her research highlights include investigating the anti-cancer properties of peanut polyphenols, assessing dietary exposures and gut health, examining cancer outcomes related to dietary arsenic exposures, and formulating novel functional foods, such as a probiotic peanut butter designed to combat malnutrition and infectious diarrhea. She has authored peer-reviewed publications, led global health study abroad programs, and directed international food, nutrition, and health policy initiatives. She creates engaging, practical learning experiences where students connect scientific concepts to sustainable agrifood systems and health equity.

Learn More About the Culinary Innovation and Food Systems Program

Culinary innovation and food systems is a field of study that explores the connections between food, culture, sustainability, and business. It focuses on creating new approaches to cooking, nutrition, and food production while addressing issues like supply chains, food security, and environmental impact. Students in this field gain skills in culinary arts, sustainable sourcing, product development, and systems thinking to lead change in kitchens, communities, and the global food industry.

This degree prepares you for a career at the intersection of food science, sustainability, and systems thinking. You’ll build creative and technical skills in sustainable product development, supply chain innovation, and food policy, learning to make food production more ethical, efficient, and innovative. Graduates go on to diverse roles across the food industry, from culinary entrepreneurship to food science and education, helping build a more resilient and responsible food future.

Unity’s 90-credit Applied Bachelor’s program is designed to save you both time and money. With 90 credits required instead of the 120 in a traditional bachelor’s degree, you can save up to 25% on your degree cost, and transferring eligible credits from previous college coursework can lower it further. Visit the Tuition & Financial Aid page to see how you can pay for college.

The 90-credit Applied Bachelor’s in Culinary Innovation and Food Systems runs on year-round terms (8 per year), designed for the life you’re already living. By taking 4 credits per term, you can complete your degree in just under 3 years, compared with the four years of full-time study a traditional 120-credit sustainable food systems degree is typically built around. Transfer credits can shorten your timeline even further.

Professional Core: 35 credits
Program Core: 48 credits
Elective Courses: 3 credits

CHEM 101 Chemistry I
ACCT 1010 Business Accounting
FOOD 203 Fermented Foods
BIOL 201 Organisms That Sustain the Earth: Understanding Plants
ENTR 201 Entrepreneurial Thinking and Opportunity Recognition
FOOD 201 Sustainable Culinary Development
FOOD 2020 The Future of Food: Trends, Technologies, and Global Perspectives
MATH 201 Statistics for Environmental Professionals
SUFA 200 Farm to Table Supply Chain and Food Culture
HORT 301 Growing Hydroponic and Aquaponic Crops
FOOD 315 Plant-based Protein Alternatives
ECON 305 Economic Development Within Planetary Boundaries and Sustainable Development Goals
ENVJ 307 Food Systems and Social Justice
MKTG 301 Introduction to Sustainable Branding
HLTH 4010 Global Nutrition and Public Health

For course requirements and a better look into your program, view our full course catalog. Then apply online for free to get started.

WHAT YOU WILL STUDY

Culinary and Food Systems Courses You’ll Take

Food Systems and Social Justice

Explore the environmental impacts of food production and distribution, and how power and justice shape global food systems.

Sustainable Culinary Development

Learn foundational cooking techniques and sustainable sourcing while creating balanced dishes with global fusion influences.

Future of Food: Trends, Technologies, and Global Perspectives

Evaluate emerging innovations like cellular agriculture, AI in menu design, and food waste technologies reshaping food systems.

The 90-Credit Advantage

Give Your
Career an Edge

With Unity’s CareerEdge digital badges, you can show employers what you can do before you graduate. Every skills-first general education course in the Culinary Innovation and Food Systems program awards a shareable digital badge, a portable, verifiable credential you can add to LinkedIn, your resume, or job applications.

These badges highlight work-ready skills like communication, problem-solving, collaboration, and data use, so employers can see exactly what you bring to the table. You’ll also earn a Transferable Workplace Skills Endorsement, a recognized credential that can support your career before you complete your degree.