A fast growing and widely diverse field, food and nutrition can appeal to students interested in a combination of food, health, science, business, and teaching. The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences offers three undergraduate program options -- dietetics, food service management, and food and nutrition. The dietetics profession offers countless possibilities for helping people through community nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, and management. Food service, one of the fastest growing fields in the United States, offers qualified professionals excellent job placement and the opportunity for rapid advancement. The science emphasis of the food and nutrition major prepares students for the advanced study necessary for scientific research related to food and nutrition.

The ABCs of the Food and Nutrition Area are:

Application: Programs include many off-campus learning opportunities in preprofessional dietetic practice experiences and cooperative learning for food service management in addition to more traditional laboratory and classroom learning.

Basic Sciences: Programs are strongly science based and provide opportunities for in-depth learning in a specific area of interest.

Challenges: Critical thinking and problem-solving in real life situations are daily occurrences in upper level courses.

Specializations: with three major options (Dietetics, Food Service Management, and Food and Nutrition) the variety of career possibilities includes health-related, business, research and education choices.

Career Opportunities

Dietetics

Administrative
School food service
College/university food service
Military food service
Health care facilities
Clinical
Hospitals
Clinics
Long term care facilities
Consulting
Private practice
Community
Maternal and child health programs
Weight loss programs
Senior and home delivered meal programs
Health promotion and wellness programs
Hunger relief programs

Food Service Management

Industry
Private restaurants/clubs
Hotel/motel food service
Fast food chains
Airline food service
College/university food service
Correctional facilities food service

Food and Nutrition

Food testing
Food and nutrition writers
Community nutritionist
Graduate study leading to
Research
University teaching

Degree Requirements:

Coordinated Program in Dietetics

Food Service Management

This is a 74 hour major which includes:

Family & Cons. Sci. Core
Chemistry
Microbiology
Anatomy & Physiology
Nutrition
Food Preparation
Quantity Food Production
Food Service Management
Food Science
Community Nutrition
Nutritional Assessment Methods
Medical Nutrition Therapy
Pre-professional Practice
Experiences

This is a 57 hour major which includes:

Family & Cons. Sci. Core
Chemistry
Microbiology
Business
Nutrition
Food Preparation
Quantity Food Production
Food Service Management
Food Science
Equipment
Food Service Work
Experience

Food and Nutrition

This is a 60 hour major which includes:

Family & Cons. Sci . Core
Chemistry
Microbiology
Anatomy & Physiology
Nutrition
Food Preparation
Life Cycle Nutition
Food Science
Electives in Food and Nutrition

Of Special Note:

The Coordinated Program in Dietetics includes over 900 clock hours of preprofessional experiences in a combination of clinical settings including hospitals, nursing homes, community agencies, and food service facilities.

About accreditation

The Coordinated Program in Dietetics is currently granted accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetics Association, 120 South Riverside Drive., Chicago, IL 60606, 312/899-0040, ext. 5400.