Advance Your Career with a CIA Master’s Degree
The CIA Master of Professional Studies in Food Business degree is designed for professionals who aspire to lead successful business ventures; help existing food, beverage, and hospitality businesses to grow; and capitalize on the unprecedented entrepreneurial opportunities in the global food world.
The food business master’s degree is ideal for:
- Current and future food industry leaders charged with bringing innovation to market through restaurant companies, food manufacturers, supply chain operations, and other corporate ventures.
- Professionals who desire targeted, graduate-level education that focuses on success strategies for entrepreneurial ventures as well as positions in restaurant groups, hospitality operations, product development teams, and retail food businesses.
- Recent college graduates and mid-career explorers who are passionate about food systems, food entrepreneurship, and food product design and development.
The program’s online delivery enables busy professionals from any location in the world to continue their work experiences while successfully moving through the curriculum.
The two-year, 30-credit, Middle States-accredited food business master’s degree program includes:
- 27 credits in asynchronous online courses covering such subjects as food systems, ethical leadership, business, and design thinking, as well as a capstone project developed in concert with faculty advisors and mentors.
- 3 credits consisting of three short residencies at the California and New York campuses held at the beginning, mid-point, and conclusion of the program.
See catalog for curriculum and course details
Download the full curriculum chart (PDF)
Program dates for the 2019 cohort are as follows:
- August 26–31, 2019—Residency I at The CIA at Copia, Napa, CA
- September 10, 2019—Fall semester online classes begin
- June 15–July 10, 2020—Residency II, online, synchronous and asynchronous
- TBA—Final residency and commencement at the CIA, Hyde Park, NY, summer 2021
Program dates for the 2020 cohort are as follows:
- September 8, 2020—Residency I begins, online, synchronous and asynchronous
- September 8, 2020—Fall semester online classes begin
- TBA—Residency II at the CIA, Hyde Park, NY, planned for summer 2021
- TBA—Final residency and commencement at the CIA, Hyde Park, NY, summer 2022
Requirements for Admission
To enroll in the CIA online food business master’s degree program, you must meet the following requirements by the program start date.
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution, or hold an international equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
- Complete an English proficiency examination if your first language is not English.
- See additional requirements. (PDF)
In addition to the steps listed on our how to apply page, master’s program applicants must also provide a résumé or CV.
Application materials will be reviewed by CIA admissions, program administration, and the dean of the School of Business and Management.
How to Apply
Food Business Master’s Degree Affordability
The CIA is committed to making your education as affordable as possible. You’ll find that our costs are comparable to similar colleges, and more than 90% of our students receive some form of aid. Talk with us! Contact Student Financial and Registration Services at SFRS@culinary.edu or 845-451-1500.
Eligibility to borrow through the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan program will be determined once you have been accepted into the MPS program and have filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can also apply for the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan to help with any remaining expenses.