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Professional Certificate Series

Professional Certificate in The Science of Cooking

Join Harvard Online in this three-part series taught by renowned Harvard faculty to examine scientific concepts that are essential for everyday cooking.

    • 3 Courses
    • 1 Year
    • Earn Your Certificate
    What You'll Learn

    Let’s play with food!

    Through the professional certificate in the Science of Cooking, you will not only examine scientific concepts that are essential for everyday cooking, but you will also learn how biology, chemistry, and physics change food flavor, texture, and preservation — making our food more nutritious, delicious, and safe to eat. In Science & Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science (chemistry), you will learn to think like a chef and a scientist by understanding how chemical reactions affect food properties. Course two focuses on physics for you to enhance your scientific understanding of food characteristics, exploring elasticity, viscosity, and the benefits and challenges of enzymes in cooking. Finally, in the third course, Food Fermentation: The Science of Cooking with Microbes, you will explore the role that microbes play in producing, preserving, and enhancing diverse foods. By the end of this program, you will have gained a comprehensive understanding of how a foundation in food science can be vital to cooking, preparing you for culinary exploration in the kitchen and beyond!

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    3 Courses

    Beyond our premium learning paths you can still earn certificates

    Science & Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science (physics)

    2-3 hours per week • Start today

    Learn more

    Science & Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science (chemistry)

    2-3 hours per week • Start today

    Learn more

    Food Fermentation: The Science of Cooking with Microbes

    2-3 hours per week • Start today

    Learn more

    Learn from the best in the industry

    Meet your instructors

    David Weitz

    David Weitz

    Michael Brenner

    Michael Brenner

    Pia Sörensen

    Pia Sörensen

    Roberto Kolter

    Roberto Kolter

    An example HarvardX certificate

    Job Outlook

    Overall employment of agricultural and food scientists is projected to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030. – Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    The 5-year job outlook for a fermentation scientist is strong. Fermentation scientists study microorganisms; researching, analyzing, and developing new uses for fermentation in food and medicine. - AGCareers.com