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Master of Professional Studies in Sustainable Food Systems

USA

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What will I learn?

  • Understand the interconnectedness between planetary health and our future food systems, with an emphasis on issues of climate change, renewable resources, waste reduction, responsible sourcing, regenerative agriculture, and healthy oceans and sustainable fisheries.
  • Hone the leadership skills essential to create change and achieve impact—from the local to the global level. Transform food systems through small, grassroots initiatives and from within large organizations by influencing change up, down, and across departments. Drive reform and influence mindsets to inspire and create sustainable business models for the future.
  • Examine institutional and public policies that address issues of diversity and inclusion, class disparity, labor justice, and race and gender inequality within the food system.
  • Informed by the contributions of an external Advisory Council, comprised of leaders in sustainability and organizational strategy from top companies, foundations, and nonprofits—many looking for changemakers to help lead their organizations into the future—including Food at Google, Oatly, Panera, the James Beard Foundation, Zero Hunger | Zero Waste by Kroger, Good Food, FutureTable, and Wholesome Wave.
  • Taught by a select group of the nation’s most talented leaders in food systems change—including CIA faculty, adjunct faculty, and guest lecturers—this is the only master’s degree that approaches sustainability issues through a culinary lens—through the people who grow food, distribute food, prepare food, serve food, and impact the broader community through food.
  • No reason to put your career on hold. Online classes taught by our expert faculty provide schedule flexibility for busy working professionals.
  • Get real-life, field experience at short, immersive, in-person residencies that explore the characteristics of food systems on the West Coast (San Francisco Bay Area) and East Coast (New York City and Hudson Valley).

Cultivate Your Career and Change the World

The CIA Master of Professional Studies in Sustainable Food Systems degree is designed for professionals who aspire to champion sustainability innovations for non-profits and corporations, help existing organizations turn ideas into actions, and drive change around the health of the planet and its people.

Whether forging a new professional path or growing within a current role, this program is perfect for people looking to advance their careers in the following areas and beyond:

  • Agricultural specialist
  • Supply chain management
  • Environmental lobbyist
  • Farmer advocate
  • Food and/or nutrition educator
  • Food writer
  • Product developer
  • Sustainability program manager
  • Innovation manager
  • Registered Dietitian
  • Farm-to-Table Program Director
  • Policy director

Curriculum

The two-year, 30-credit Sustainable Food Systems master’s degree program includes:

  • 27 credits in asynchronous online courses covering subjects such as sustainability and climate change; sustainable agriculture; food system innovation; leadership and impact; as well as a final capstone project developed in collaboration with faculty advisors and mentors.
  • 3 credits consisting of two short residencies held in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Hudson Valley and New York held in your first and third semesters.

Which department am I in?

Culinary Institute of America - New York Campus

Study options

Online/Distance with attendance (2 Years)

Tuition fees
$20,095.00 (16,95,494) per year
Tuition Fees: USD $10,855 for semester 1 and residency; USD $9,240 for each semester 2 - 4; Second Residency - USD $1,540; Final Semester: USD $7,700
Start date

September 2025

Venue

Culinary Institute of America - New York Campus

New York Campus,

1946 Campus Drive,

HYDE PARK,

New York,

12538, United States

Entry requirements

For international students

Students must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution or hold an international equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.

English Language Requirements

  • IELTS Academic: Overall minimum score of 6.0 with a minimum band score of 5.5 in each section.
  • TOEFL: Overall minimum score of 80 with a minimum band score of 20 in each section—we also accept the Home Edition, as well as My Best Scores.
  • Duolingo English Test: Overall minimum score of 115 with a minimum of 95 in each subsection.
  • iTEP Academic-Plus: Overall minimum score of 3.8.
  • MET Digital: Overall minimum score of 55 with a minimum score of 54 in each section. Register using our discount code.
  • PTE Academic (Pearson): Overall minimum score of 53.
  • C1 Advanced (Cambridge English): Overall score of 180, with minimum score of 175 in each skill.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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