Contact: Crystal Drake, Office of Strategic Communications
Tuskegee University is launching an innovative Cosmetic Science program designed to prepare students to lead across the full spectrum of product development—from sourcing raw materials to marketing finished goods.
Recent data highlights both the opportunity and the disparity this program aims to address by centering the perspectives and expertise of scientists of African descent and other underrepresented groups. According to a Nielsen poll, Black consumers spent $9.4 billion on beauty products in 2023, with household growth outpacing that of the broader U.S. population. Despite this spending power, Black-owned beauty brands represent less than 3% of the market, and Black executives occupy under 5% of C-suite roles among leading global brands.
“As the beauty industry continues to expand, so too does the demand for professionals who understand both science and culture,” said Dr. Olga Bolden-Tiller, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences (CAENS) at Tuskegee University. “Our new Cosmetic Science program will equip graduates to innovate in ways that reflect the diversity of the consumers they are and will serve in roles from laboratories to board rooms.”
It follows Spelman College, the first HBCU to offer a Cosmetic Science degree in 2024. Tuskegee, Spelman and other HBCUs are currently working together to build an HBCU Cosmetics Science Consortium scheduled to launch in early 2027.
“This program is about more than beauty—it is specific response to an industry need, highlighting Tuskegee’s ongoing work to fill gaps of representation and innovation in economic empowerment,” said Dr. Channapatna Prakash, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Tuskegee University. “We are building a pathway for students who will widen the pipeline of scientists, entrepreneurs, and executives who understand both the science and cultural relevance of the products they create.”
Tuskegee’s Cosmetic Science pathway will be interdisciplinary, and students will draw from coursework offered in both the CAENS and CAS. This interdisciplinary structure forms what faculty describe as a tapestry of learning, preparing students to engage with every stage of the product lifecycle.
Areas of study include:
- Product research and formulation
- Ethical and sustainable sourcing
- Animal science and testing considerations
- Packaging design and innovation
- Marketing and brand development
- Business planning and entrepreneurship
The new Cosmetic Science initiative reflects Tuskegee’s longstanding commitment to developing career-ready graduates and culturally grounded STEM leaders. To ensure students graduate with practical, industry-ready experience, the program includes several required components:
- A hands-on internship in the beauty or personal care industry
- At least one business course, emphasizing entrepreneurship and market strategy
- Two animal science courses, supporting understanding of safety, testing, and biological interactions
Enrollment will be capped at 25 students per cohort, maintaining a focused, high-touch learning environment with strong faculty mentorship.
“In keeping with the core tenets of Tuskegee’s Renaissance Era, our new Cosmetic Science program reimagines the principles of Booker T. Washington and the work of George Washington Carver who himself developed and distributed health, skincare and haircare products and beauty care products derived from peanut and other crops,” said Bolden-Tiller. “Just as they did, this curriculum empowers students to harness agricultural and animal sciences—to sustainably and respectfully use what grows from the earth to create products that drive economic growth in communities and social and economic mobility for our graduates.”
The program officially begins with the course “Introduction to Cosmetic Science” (BIOL/CHEM/APSC/PLSS 270), now open for registration for the upcoming fall semester.
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