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Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and Food Administration - Nutrition and Dietetics Information

Requirements for the major include a minimum of 120 units for Nutrition and Dietetics. In addition to general education requirements (48 units), a minimum of 40 units in Family and Consumer Sciences is required, 24 of which must be upper division. Students transferring from another college or university will receive transfer credit in required courses if the course is equivalent to the course at this University and it is accepted by the University.

Nutrition and Dietetics

This degree option has two concentrations- Dietetics and Nutritional Science. Students will focus their studies in nutritional science, medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition, food production and management of foodservice operations (Dietetics concentration only), chemistry, physiology, plus a variety of supporting course work in related disciplines.

Dietetics Concentration

The Dietetics Concentration fulfills the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) academic requirements for eligibility to apply for qualifying experiences required to become a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist.

Becoming a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist

Registered Dietitians/Nutritionists (RDs/RDNs) are considered food and nutrition experts. They have met the following criteria to earn the RD/RDN 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 Academy 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/RDN must provide evidence of fulfilling continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration. Some RDs/RDNs 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/RDN 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/RDN.

Alternative pathway- Becoming an NDTR (Nutrition & Dietetic Technician)

Dietetic technicians, registered (DTRs) are educated and trained at the technical level of nutrition and dietetics practice for the delivery of safe, culturally competent, quality food and nutrition services. DTRs are an integral part of healthcare and food service management teams.

DTRs work under the supervision of a registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) when in direct patient/client nutrition care in practice areas as:

  • Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, retirement centers, hospices, home health-care programs and research facilities conducting patient/client screens, gathering data and performing assigned tasks to assist RDNs in providing medical nutrition therapy.

DTRs may work independently in providing general nutrition education to healthy populations in a variety of settings as:

  • Schools, day-care centers, correctional facilities, restaurants, health-care facilities, corporations and hospitals, managing employees, purchasing and food preparation and maintaining budgets within foodservice operations.
  • Women, Infants, Children (WIC) programs, public health agencies, Meals on Wheels and community health programs, assisting registered dietitians with the implementation of programs and presentation of classes for the public.
  • Health clubs, weight management clinics and community wellness centers, helping to educate clients about the connection between food, fitness and health.
  • Food companies, contract food management companies or food vending and distributing operations developing menus, conducting nutrient analysis and data collection, and overseeing foodservice sanitation and food safety.

DTRs are nationally credentialed food and nutrition technical practitioners who have met the following criteria to earn and maintain the DTR credential.

"Successful completion of coursework in an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics and completion of at least a bachelor's degree at a U.S. regionally accredited college or university.

After completing the degree and dietetics coursework, successful completion of the Registration Examination for Dietetic Technicians, a national credentialing examination, administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) is required. CDR's DTR certification program is fully accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the accrediting arm of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). Accreditation by the ICE reflects achievement of the highest standards of professional credentialing. For more information regarding DTR credentialing, refer to CDR’s website at www.cdrnet.org.

Compliance with the CDR Professional Development Portfolio (PDP): Requirements to maintain DTR registration include 50 hours of continuing education every five years.

Nutritional Science Concentration

The Nutritional Science Concentration focuses on nutrition as part of medical and health issues and is suitable for students wishing to apply for graduate school, medical school or other health-related programs. Students who select the Nutritional Science Concentration as a pre-professional degree should check with the appropriate programs to verify specific requirements.

Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and Food Administration- Option in Nutrition and Dietetics (120 units)

Take all of the following courses:

  • MATH 113 Precalculus Algebra (3)
    * C or better
    Prerequisite: Appropriate ELM score, ELM exemption
  • BIOL 207 Human Physiology (4)
    * C or better
    Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements.
  • CHEM 111A General Chemistry (5)
    *"C" or better required.
    Prerequisite: A passing score on the Chemistry Placement Examination. 
    Corequisite:  MATH 109 or higher.
  • CHEM 448 Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry (3)
    *"C" or better required.
    Prerequisite: CHEM 220B or CHEM 227 either with a grade of "C" or better.
  • CHEM 449 Nutritional Biochemistry Laboratory (1)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 448 with a grade of "C" or better. Can be taken concurrently with CHEM 448.
  • BIOL 201 General Microbiology for Health Professionals (4)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 111A or CHEM 140 with a grade of "C" or better and GE Foundation requirements.
  • SOC 335 Social Psychology (3)
    Prerequisite: Upper division standing.
  • CAFF 321 (GE) Family and Consumer Resource Management (3)
    Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements, one or more Exploration courses, and upper division standing.
  • FCS 299 Introduction to Family & Consumer Sciences (1)
    Prerequisites: None.
    Not open for credit to students with credit in FCSE 299.
  • FCS 499 Professionalism and Leadership in Family and Consumer Sciences Professionals (1)
    Prerequisites: FCS 299, CAFF 321, 12 units of upper division course work in Family and Consumer Sciences. Must be taken in one of the last two semesters prior to graduation.
    Not open for credit to students with credit in FCSE 499.
  • NUTR 132 Introductory Nutrition (3)
    * C or better
    Prerequisite/Corequisite: One Foundation course.
  • NUTR 331 Nutrition through the Life Cycle (3)
    Prerequisites: For the Dietetics Concentration BIOL 207, NUTR 132, NUTR 234; For the Nutritional Sciences Concentration BIOL 207, NUTR 132.
  • NUTR 335 Nutrition Assessment (2)
    Prerequisites: NUTR 331.
  • NUTR 336 Social and Cultural Aspects of Food and Health (3)
    Prerequisites: For Dietetics Concentration NUTR 132, NUTR 234, SOC 335; for Nutritional Sciences Concentration NUTR 132, SOC 335.
  • NUTR 436 Advanced Nutrition (3)
    Prerequisites/Corequisites: NUTR 331; CHEM 448.
  • NUTR 438A Medical Nutrition Therapy I (3)
    Prerequisites: NUTR 335, NUTR 436
  • NUTR 438B Medical Nutrition Therapy II (3)
    Prerequisite: NUTR 438A

Complete one of the following concentration areas:

A. Dietetics Concentration

Take all of the following courses:

  • CHEM 227 Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (3)
    *"C" or better required.
    Prerequisite: CHEM 111A with a grade of "C" or better; CHEM 111B is recommended.
  • FSCI 332 Food Science (3)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 227; HFHM 176; MICR 200 or equivalent.
  • HFHM 176 Fundamentals of Food Preparation (3)
    Prerequisites: None.
  • HFHM 343 Food Production Systems for Nutrition and Dietetics Professionals (3)
    Prerequisites: NUTR 132 and HFHM 176.
  • HFHM 345 Food Service Operations for Nutrition and Dietetics Professionals (2)
    Prerequisites: HFHM 343; California Food Handler's Card valid for at least one year.
  • HFHM 447 Foodservice Administration for Dietetic and Nutrition Professionals (3)
    Prerequisites: HFHM 343.
  • NUTR 234 Orientation to Dietetics and Food Administration (1)
    Prerequisites: Open only to Nutrition and Dietetics majors.
  • NUTR 334 Nutrition Education (2)
    Prerequisites: NUTR 331, SOC 335.
  • NUTR 437 Nutrition Counseling and Motivational Techniques (2)
    Prerequisites/Corequisites: NUTR 334, NUTR 335, NUTR 436.
  • NUTR 461 Community Nutrition (3)
    Prerequisites: NUTR 331, NUTR 334, NUTR 336.
  • NUTR 498A Senior Seminar for Dietetics I (1)
    Prerequisites: NUTR 436.
  • NUTR 498B Senior Seminar for Dietetics II (1)
    Prerequisites: NUTR 498A.

Take one of the following courses:

  • STAT 108 Statistics for Everyday Life (3)
    * C or better required
    Prerequisites: None.
  • BIOL 260 Biostatistics (3)
    * C or better required
    Prerequisites: BIOL 211 or BIOL 207 or MICR 200; MATH 111 or MATH 113 or MATH 119A or MATH 122 all with a grade of "C" or better.
  • EDP 419 Educational Statistics (3)
    * C or better required
    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.
  • PSY 110 Introductory Statistics (4)
    * C or better required
    Prerequisites: Eligible to take a General Education Mathematics course.

B. Nutritional Science Concentration

Take all of the following classes:

  • BIOL 208 Human Anatomy (4)
    Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in one of the following: ART 372, BIOL 205, BIOL 207, BIOL 212, CHEM 140, DANC 261, or MICR 200.
  • CHEM 111B General Chemistry (5)
    *"C" or better required.
    Prerequisite: CHEM 111A with grade of "C" or better.
  • CHEM 220A Organic Chemistry I (3)
    *"C" or better required.
    Prerequisite: CHEM 111B with a grade of "C" or better. Corequisites: CHEM 224 is required for students repeating course. CHEM 223A must be taken concurrently if required by a degree plan.
  • CHEM 220B Organic Chemistry II (3)
    *"C" or better required.
    Prerequisite: CHEM 220A with a grade of "C" or better. Corequisite: CHEM 223B or CHEM 320L except for students who previously earned a "C" or better in CHEM 223B or CHEM 320L.
  • CHEM 223A Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
    *"C" or better required.
    Corequisite: CHEM 220A, except for students who have previously earned a "C" or better in CHEM 220A.
  • CHEM 223B Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1)
    * C or better required
    Prerequisites: CHEM 220A and CHEM 223A, both with a grade of "C" or better. Corequisite: CHEM 220B, except for students who have previously earned a "C" or better in CHEM 220B.

Take one of the following courses:

  • STAT 108 Statistics for Everyday Life (3)
    * C or better required
    Prerequisite: None.
  • BIOL 260 Biostatistics (3)
    * C or better required
    Prerequisites: BIOL 211 or BIOL 207 or MICR 200; MATH 111 or MATH 113 or MATH 119A or MATH 122 all with a grade of "C" or better.
  • EDP 419 Educational Statistics (3)
    * C or better required
    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.
  • PSY 110 Introductory Statistics (4)
    * C or better required
    Prerequisites: Eligible to take a General Education Mathematics course.

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