Nutrition and Food Sciences

The courses and programs in nutrition and food sciences have emerged from and are integrated with the physical and life sciences. The natural resource of food is studied as it exists in nature, is consumed and utilized, and is made available to consumers. The science of nutrition is concerned with the ingestion and utilization of food for the purposes of survival, prevention of disease, and the promotion of positive health. Courses for non-majors, as well as majors, are offered in order to facilitate optimal lifetime nutritional status.

Faculty and Facilities

Faculty members, in addition to teaching and advising, are actively involved in research, writing grants, and other professional activities. Facilities include laboratories for courses and experiments in food science and nutrition. Our computer facilities improve instruction quality with programs for nutrition analyses of diets, food cost control, recipe and menu evaluation, tutorials, and simulations. Internships are coordinated for majors in a variety of community settings.

Career Outlook

Dietetics is the study of the relationship of food to the health and well-being of individuals and groups. Traditional occupations in clinics,  hospitals, educational programs, public health agencies, research, and teaching are increasingly available for Nutriton and Food Science majors.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the opportunities for dietitians and nutritionists will increase approximately twenty-six percent by 2005.

Graduates may also work in food service and processing industries, wellness programs,  computer systems management, public communication, and product development and  promotion. Courses in the Option in General Dietetics meet the requirements of the American Dietetic Association for an approved Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).

Nutrition and Food Science majors gain knowledge and skills in medical nutrition, sports nutrition, community nutrition, food science, and foodservices administration.

The Minor in Nutrition offers an area of specialization for majors in exercise physiology,  child development, nursing, health and community services, and others. The Minor in Foodservice Administration offers an area of specialization for majors in business administration, management, marketing, recreation, and tourism.

The MS in Nutritional Sciences provides an opportunity for students to increase competence in food and nutrition subject matter in preparation for college teaching, research, administrative positions in public and private agencies, and graduate study beyond the master’s degree. The Option in Nutrition Education is designed specifically to facilitate nutrition professionals in communicating information to promote optimal health and nutritional status.

A post-baccalaureate Dietetic Internship, which is accredited by the American Dietetic Association, is available for graduate students who wish to become  eligible to sit for the registration examination to become registered dietitians and who are  enrolled in the MS in Nutritional Sciences program. The  Dietetic Internship program consists of thirty-two weeks of actual practice at sites in the area. An application to the Dietetic Internship program must be submitted to the program director after completing graduate course work.