Nutrition and Dietetics

Undergraduate Programs

Nutrition and Dietetics

Individuals choosing this option will concentrate their studies in the areas of nutritional science, medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition, food production and management of foodservice operations, chemistry, physiology, plus a variety of supporting course work in related disciplines. The Nutrition and Dietetics option with appropriate elective selection fulfills the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) academic requirements for eligibility to apply for qualifying experiences required to become a Registered Dietitian.

Becoming a Registered Dietitian

Registered Dietitians (RDs) are considered food and nutrition experts. They have met the following criteria to earn the RD credential:

Completion of a minimum of a bachelor's degree at a U.S. regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the credentialing agency of the Academic of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).
Completion of a supervised practice program accredited by ACEND.
Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

In order to maintain registration, the RD must provide evidence of fulfilling continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration. Some RDs hold additional certifications in the specialized areas of practice, such as pediatric or renal nutrition, nutrition support, and diabetes education. These certifications are awarded through CDR and/or other medical and nutrition organizations and are recognized within the profession, but are not required.

In addition to RD credentialing, many states have regulatory laws for dietitians and nutrition practitioners. Frequently these state requirements are met through the same education and training required to become an RD.

Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and Food Administration

Option in Nutrition and Dietetics (120 units)

Take all of the following courses:

BIOL 207 Human Physiology (4)
Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements.
CHEM 111A General Chemistry (5)
Prerequisites: A passing score on the Chemistry Placement Examination. Credit in CHEM 101 does not substitute for a passing score on the Chemistry Placement Examination and a "C" or better in MATH 113 or 117 or 119A or 122. One year of high school chemistry is strongly recommended. (Recommended for students who intend to pursue careers in science or engineering.)
CHEM 327 Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (3)
Prerequisite: CHEM 111A with a grade of "C" or better; CHEM 111B is recommended.
CHEM 448 Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry (3)
Prerequisites: CHEM 327 or 322B either with a grade of "C" or better.
CHEM 449 Nutritional Biochemistry Laboratory (3)
Prerequisites: CHEM 448 with a grade of "C" or better.
MICR 200 General Microbiology (4)
Prerequisites: CHEM 111A or 140 with a grade of "C" or better and GE Foundation requirements.
PSY 100 General Psychology (3)
Prerequisites/Corequisites: GE A1 requirement.
SOC 100 Principles of Sociology (3)
Prerequisites/Corequisites: A GE Foundation course.
CAFF 321I Family and Consumer Resource Management (3)
Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements, one or more Exploration courses, and upper division standing.
FCSE 299 Introduction to Family & Consumer Sciences (1)
Prerequisites: None.
FCSE 486 Instructional Strategies for Family and Consumer (3)
Prerequisites: Senior standing.
FCSE 499 Professionalism and Leadership in Family and Consumer Sciences Professionals (2)
Prerequisites: FCSE 299, CAFF 321I, 12 units of upper division course work in Family and Consumer Sciences. Must be taken in one of the last two semester prior to graduation.
FSCI 332 Food Science (3)
Prerequisites: CHEM 327; HFHM 235; MICR 200 or equivalent.
HFHM 173 Applied Foodservice Sanitation (1)
Prerequisites: None.
HFHM 235 Principles of Food Preparation (3)
Prerequisites: None.
HFHM 275 Food Production Systems I (3)
Prerequisites: NUTR 132 and HFHM 235.
HFHM 375 Food Production Systems II (3)
Prerequisites: For Hospitality Foodservice and Hotel Management majors: HFHM 276; Nutrition and Dietetics majors: HFHM 173 and 275.
HFHM 477 Foodservice Administration (3)
Prerequisites: For Hospitality Management majors: HFHM 276; Nutrition and Dietetics majors: HFHM 375.
NUTR 132 Introductory Nutrition (3)
Prerequisites/Corequisites: One Foundation course.
NUTR 234 Orientation to Dietetics and Food Administration (1)
Prerequisites: None.
NUTR 331A Fundamentals of Human Nutrition (3)
Prerequisites: NUTR 132, BIOL 207, CHEM 302 or 327 or equivalent.
NUTR 331B Fundamentals of Human Nutrition (3)
Prerequisites: NUTR 331A.
NUTR 336 Cultural Aspects of Food and Nutrition (3)
Prerequisites: PSY 100 or SOC 100 or ANTH 120 or equivalent; NUTR 132.
NUTR 436 Advanced Nutrition (3)
Prerequisites: NUTR 331B, CHEM 448.
NUTR 436L Nutritional Status Assessment Techniques (3)
Prerequisites/Corequisites: NUTR 436.
NUTR 438 Medical Nutrition Therapy (3)
Prerequisites: NUTR 436, 436L (may be taken concurrently)
NUTR 461 Community Nutrition (3)
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing, NUTR 331B.

Take one of the following courses:

ANTH 412I Culture and Communication (3)
Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirement, one or more Explorations courses, and upper-division standing.
HCA 422I Global Issues in Health Services (3)
Prerequisites: GE Foundation, one or more Exploration courses and upper division standing.
H SC 420I International Health (3)
Prerequisites: GE Foundation, one or more Exploration courses, and upper-division standing.

Take one of the following courses:

BIOL 260 Biostatistics (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 211 or BIOL 207 or MICR 200; MATH 111 or 113 or 119A or 122 all with a grade of "C" or better.
ED P 419 Educational Statistics (3)
Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of an undergraduate mathematics course suitable for general education math credit and, if required by the major, a lower-division statistics course.
H SC 403 Community Health Statistics (3)
Prerequisites: GE math and SOC 250 or PSY 210 or equivalent.
IS 310 Business Statistics (3)
Prerequisites: MATH 114.

Take one of the following courses:

HRM 361 The Human Resource Function (3)
Prerequisites: None.
PSY 381 Intro to Industrial Organizational Psy (3)
Prerequisites: PSY 100, GE Foundation requirement and upper division standing.

Students who wish to take the Nutrition and Dietetics Option as a Pre-professional degree (e.g., medical, etc.) should check with the appropriate programs to verify specific requirements.