MANHATTAN, KANSAS, U.S. — Kansas State University (KSU) is now offering bakery science and management, feed science and management and grain handling operations as stand-alone minors through distance education.

The stand-alone minors are not only available to current Kansas State University undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students, but also to graduates of other accredited four-year universities who need educational instruction in grain science disciplines.

"We have been approached by industry companies, associations and trade groups about making these minors available to non-KSU graduates so that hires without a grain-based background may learn basic information to help them better understand the industry in which they are working while also allowing employees to get college credit for a minor," said Huseyin Dogan, instructor of grain science at KSU.

Helping individuals earn these stand-alone minors will help increase the number of educated professionals in the grain science industry, Dogan said.

"The grain industry as a whole is experiencing a shortage of employees with an adequate skill set or experience," Dogan said. "With continued growth, the opportunities for employment in this field continue to rise, creating the need to educate non-KSU graduates through the new minors programs."

The bakery science minor is a 17-credit-hour program that prepares students for careers in grain science such as product development, technical sales, production management and ingredient/equipment sales.

The 17-credit-hour feed science minor is designed to increase students' knowledge of animal feed manufacturing technology and teach them techniques in selection and application of equipment required to develop specific types of feeds.

The grain handling operations minor requires 15 credit hours and includes classes such as materials handling; cereal food plant design and construction; injury prevention; and grain drying, storage, aeration and pest management.

To qualify for enrollment in a stand-alone minor in grain science, students must have completed or be completing all necessary bachelor's degree requirements from an accredited four-year university. Their application for the minor program must be approved by KSU's grain science and industry department, and if accepted, must complete the required courses with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Learn more about the grain science minors programs at http://www.dce.k-state.edu/ag/minors.