Overview
In this unit, you will learn theoretical and practical applications in food science and analysis. You will become familiar with laboratory compliance procedures, interpret risks and appropriate risk-minimisation approaches. The theoretical concepts will include an overview of food science, systems and sustainability, food chemistry and composition, food quality and safety, food preservation, food additives, foods and food products, fermentation, microorganisms, biotechnology, food packaging, environmental concerns and processing, and food regulation and labelling. Contents covered in this unit will provide a sturdy basis for studies in food science, systems and sustainability. Contents covered in this unit will enable you to be able to understand the implications of food science and analysis associated with manufacturing, environment, biotechnology and regulations. Accompanying the theory, you will enhance your practical skills by learning the operation and maintenance of common instrumentation used for food analysis, perform wet chemical analysis, data interpretation and appropriate communication of the results.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: CHEM11041 OR CHEM11043 or (CHEM11044 and CHEM11045)
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from SUTE
Students highlighted strong lecturer engagement and passion for the subject, with the residential school identified as the most valuable and relevant component of the learning experience.
Continue to prioritise high-quality, hands-on residential school experiences and maintain strong teacher–student engagement, while exploring ways to extend this interactive and applied learning approach across the broader unit delivery.
Feedback from Informal verbal feedback during residential school and coordinator reflection.
Students indicated a preference for more consistent engagement with the teaching team throughout the term, beyond the residential school period.
Recommendation: Introduce more structured and regular touchpoints (e.g., scheduled Zoom Q&A sessions and check-ins) throughout the term to maintain engagement beyond the residential school.
Feedback from Informal verbal feedback during residential school and coordinator reflection.
Students indicated that access to laboratory assessment exemplars, combined with guided support during residential schools, significantly enhances their understanding by clarifying expectations, experimental processes, and practical applications.
Provide clear laboratory assessment exemplars alongside structured guidance during residential schools to reinforce expectations, improve clarity in experimental processes, and support student learning outcomes.