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.
See how CIA alumni are making a difference in the industry. Learn more >
The two-year, 30-credit 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 before the start of your first semester, after the completion of your second semester, and as your final semester concludes.
See catalog for curriculum and course details

Download the full curriculum chart (PDF)
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)
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.