Johns Hopkins University Online MS in Regulatory Science & MS in Food Safety Regulation

• MS Food Safety Regulation
• MS Regulatory Science

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By Sara Navratil Reviewed By Jocelyn Blore

Updated January 10, 2024

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For the 2023-2024 academic year, we have 112 schools in our MHAOnline.com database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.

Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) offers an online master of science (MS) in regulatory science and an online MS in food safety regulation. JHU is located in Baltimore, Maryland, but both degrees are 100 percent online. The MS in regulatory science focuses on clinical drug and biologics development, testing management, laws concerning food and drugs, issues of intellectual property and licensing, and compliance with federal and state regulations. This degree provides a strong science foundation, is highly interactive, and students can choose courses specializing in an area of interest for their career goals since the electives are numerous.

Notably, JHU is known for excellence, innovation, research, and hands-on learning opportunities throughout its programs. And as bioscience product development increases at a rapid pace, more leaders in regulatory science are needed to fill these critical roles.

Students in the MS in regulatory science program learn through empirical experiences such as case study assignments and a final practicum course. During the practicum, students apply their knowledge and learned skills from the previous courses throughout the program to actual cases from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Students take on the roles of a regulatory science professional or consumer advocacy group to conduct research, evaluate the case in light of the research, and present their findings as a legally justifiable position depending on the role they chose. Students then debate the issue with fellow classmates according to their chosen roles.

The MS in food safety regulation program focuses on legal issues and regulations involved in producing, labeling, and distributing food both domestically and globally. The main duty of food safety regulators is to identify and prevent sources of contamination of the nation’s food and drink supply. This covers all processes involved, including the growing, processing, distribution, and sales of consumptive items, as well as proper methods for equipment usage and cleaning, seed selection, pest control, fertilization, harvesting, storage conditions, temperatures, and transportation. Students learn via highly interactive, hands-on experiences such as case studies and other research, evaluation, and scientific presentation assignments. Similar to the regulatory science program, students must be able to legally justify their positions from different vantage points concerning food safety regulation.

Professionals with a bachelor’s degree in life sciences or engineering may apply to either program. Those interested in medical drugs and devices can seek out the MS in regulatory science, while those interested in food quality control can pursue the MS in food safety regulation.

Regulatory science professionals may be employed in fields such as biologics, biotechnology, nutritional products, veterinary products, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, among other areas. Food safety regulation professionals may be employed as inspectors with government agencies such as the FDA, or through food producers in various food safety roles.

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the online MS in regulatory science or the MS in food safety regulation at JHU must hold a bachelor’s degree in life sciences or engineering from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. In addition, there are prerequisite courses as listed under the curriculum section below. Students to either program must submit an online application, application fee, a 500-word essay, a current resume or CV, and unofficial copies of all transcripts. Students must also mail official copies of transcripts via postal mail. No GRE is required for admission, but it may be requested by admissions. There is no work experience requirement. The 500-word essay should focus on why the applicant seeks to join either program, covering one’s long-term goals and academic and professional strengths.

International Students: Upload an unofficial copy of the course-by-course transcript evaluation with GPA interpreted through a service such as the World Education Service or Educational Perspectives. An official transcript from the school is also required. Acceptable TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE test scores are also required.

Study Plan: Students may begin courses in the fall, spring, or summer. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Students have up to five years to complete either program, but students can complete the programs in as little as one year. Most working professionals take two to three years to complete either program. Coursework for the MS in regulatory science is highly interactive and taught by professionals from the biotechnology industry and the FDA. Coursework for the MS in food safety regulation is also interactive; much of it is taught by food safety professionals from the food industry and the FDA.

Curriculum: Both programs consist of 40 credits taken through ten courses of four credits each. Seven of these are required, and three courses are electives. Students with relevant coursework or extensive experience may request a core course waiver, and if granted, can substitute another elective.

Regulatory Science Prerequisites: One semester of biochemistry and one semester of cell biology at the undergraduate or graduate level; or foundations of bioscience, which is offered to students with provisional admission.

Regulatory Science Required Courses: Introduction to regulatory affairs; clinical development of drugs and biologics; biological processes in regulatory affairs; introduction to cGMP compliance; food and drug law; translational biotechnology: from intellectual property to licensing; and a practicum in regulatory science.

Food Safety Regulation Prerequisites: One semester of biochemistry and one semester of organic chemistry at the undergraduate or graduate level; or foundations of bioscience, which is offered to students with provisional admission.

Food Safety Regulation Required Courses: Food microbiology; regulation of good food production practices; introduction to food safety regulation; food toxicology; food safety audits and surveillance; and risk assessment and management.

Please note that since the landscape of food safety regulation is changing rapidly, course content may change to adapt to new technologies and discoveries at any time. In addition, approved electives may change or be added, as well as new classes depending on industry and student feedback.

Both degrees require three elective courses from the MS in biotechnology program. There are many electives to choose from, including epigenetics, gene organization and expression; human molecular genetics; principles of immunology; molecular basis of pharmacology; genes and disease; emerging infectious diseases; next-generation DNA sequencing and analysis; and managing and leading biotechnology professionals, among others.

Online Experience: JHU online courses use a combination of Blackboard and Adobe Connect for online classes. All classes for the MS degrees are 100 percent online. Adobe Connect allows students and faculty to have live classes, attend webinars, conduct web meetings, use video conferencing, chat and take polls in real-time, share documents and screens, and collaborate on a whiteboard. The food safety regulation degree is only offered online, whereas the regulatory science degree is offered on campus or online.

On-Site Requirements: There are no on-site requirements as the programs are 100 percent online. Students are welcome to visit campus as well as participate in graduation.

JHU Online MS in Regulatory Science and Online MS in Food Safety Regulation tuition numbers are listed in the tables below. Prospective online students should contact the JHU admissions department for cost clarifications and updates.

JHU offers financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, fellowships, work-study (both on and off campus), and federal (or other) loans. Students can apply for federal financial aid through the FAFSA. Graduate students must be enrolled in at least 4.5 credits per term to qualify for federal loans. JHU students are also encouraged to seek financial aid from outside resources to help pay for their MS degree. In addition, some businesses offer tuition reimbursement programs for employees seeking an advanced degree.

Sara Navratil

Writer

Sara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She's the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about healthcare-related topics, including information on online MHA programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.