The Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011 encompassed some of the most sweeping reforms of food safety laws in more than 70 years, shifting the focus of food safety to preventative action rather than just responding to contamination.
Food safety vigilance became a primary concern to prevent salmonella outbreaks and occurrences of e. coli in produce and meats. As a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hired close to 5,000 new inspectors, opening new career venues for professionals with credentials in quality practices and regulation.
The three-course certificate in Food Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance provides broad knowledge of the regulatory and quality practices of food and food medicines, helping those who work in nutritional products, food medicines, and the food industry.
The certificate requires completion of three courses:
- Food Law (5595)
- Food Labeling and Regulatory Affairs (5596)
- Food Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) (5597)
All courses may be completed online. This certificate allows students to explore QA and RA issues without committing themselves to the entire Master of Science program. The GRE is not required for the Food RA and QA Certificate.
All courses taken for the Food RA and QA Certificate will count toward the MS degree, as long as students are eligible for admission to the RA and QA master's degree and apply to the MS program before completing their third course. Matriculated RAQA students are welcome to complete the Food RA and QA Certificate in addition to one other RAQA certificate as they complete the MS degree.
Application Information for RAQA Pre-Master's Certificates
Applying is straight-forward and convenient, with Temple's Online Graduate Application Portal.
Application Process for RAQA Pre-Master's Certificates
- Call the RAQA office at 267-468-8560 to speak with a program representative
- Set up an account on our Graduate Application Portal. Once you complete the form, you will receive an email to complete your set up.
- Complete all of the required personal information in the Application Portal.
- Submit all required documents, as listed below.
Once all documents have been received, your application will be submitted to our review panel for evaluation. A representative will be in touch within a week of submitting your application with a timeline for an admissions decision.
Application Requirements for RAQA Pre-Master's Certificates
- A baccalaureate degree, with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Transcripts: Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended may be sent electronically to [click-for-email]. Alternately, unopened official transcripts bearing the school's seal must be sent directly from the Registrar at each institution to the School of Pharmacy.
- Applicants who earned a degree at a non-U.S. institution must submit an equivalency evaluation of their transcript(s) through a third-party provider, either World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).
- Resume: Current resume or CV is required.
- Statement of Goals: In approximately 500 to 1,000 words, applicants should state their specific interest in Temple's program, research goals, future career goals, and academic and research achievements.
- Standardized Test Scores: Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master's degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:
- TOEFL iBT: 85
Questions?
Reach out to learn more about this program, discuss admissions criteria, or schedule a time to meet with a faculty member.
Temple University School of Pharmacy
Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance
425 Commerce Drive, Suite 175
Fort Washington, PA 19034
267-468-8650
QARA@temple.edu