Program Description
Cal Poly’s new MPS in Dairy Products Technology program is a one-year Master’s degree program that provides students with the skills and credentials needed to become leaders in the dairy manufacturing sector. Graduates will find employment opportunities with large cheese and yogurt producers, fluid milk operations, and whey processors. We developed this program in response to requests from our industry partners, who tell us there is a strong need for trained leaders in their industry. Some key points:
· We’re training students for management positions in large-scale dairy processing facilities
· We seek critical thinkers with analytical degrees
· Dairy experience is not required
· There is strong industry demand for our graduates
· Our program is designed in partnership with and guided by employers
· Students will interface with high-level industry executives
· Starting salaries for our graduates will be in the $60,000-65,000 range
· Students will participate in paid internships nine months into their studies
· Students will graduate with a Master’s degree in only 12 months
· Dairy processing is technologically-sophisticated and engineering-driven
· Dairy processing is a high-growth, international industry resistant to economic downturns
We have assembled an all-star advisory council, with representatives of Leprino, Kraft, Hilmar, Schreiber, Land O’Lakes, Dean Foods, Tetra Pak, DFA, and others guiding our curriculum and program development. These same partners recruit directly from our program.
Our program involves nine months of coursework, on campus in San Luis Obispo, followed by a three-month internship with a large-scale dairy processor. During their internships, our students will earn $20-30/hour. Graduates of our program can expect beginning annual salaries in the $60,000-$65,000 range.
The ideal candidate for our program is a college graduate with critical thinking skills and leadership potential, as well as an analytical degree (chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, dairy science, food science).
Please share the news about our program with professors and students within your department. If you have students who might be a good fit, please have them contact me as soon as possible. We seek 15 qualified students for the 2014 cohort and will begin reviewing applications in the coming weeks.
Below is a link to more information about our program:
Thank you. We look forward to hearing from you!
Tom Johnson, Program Manager