Food Science & Human Nutrition Undergraduate
Food Science Human Nutrition Brochure (PDF)
Quick Links: Careers, Dietetics, Pre-Professional, Sports and Wellness, FSHN Council
Interest in nutrition, food, and the relationship of food to human health and fitness has never been greater than today. Students majoring in any of the curricula options are prepared for diverse careers in the food industry, health-care and fitness facilities, hospitals, nutrition education and communication enterprises, extension education in nutrition, government or private-sector food and nutrition agencies, science related research laboratories, and science education.
The curricula in Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN) have a strong science base that is applied to food and human nutrition. Students learn problem-solving skills, approaches to critical thinking and basic principles in two related disciplines. Options in the curricula include dietetics, human nutrition, and science education. The dietetic option has been approved by the American Dietetic Association (Plan V). The human nutrition option can be directed toward nutrition education, sports nutrition, or other interests. The human nutrition option can serve as a pre-professional program in medicine, dentistry, nutrition, or other scientific graduate programs.
Students are strongly encouraged to take chemistry and biological sciences courses prior to entering the program. Transfer students in FSHN are required to have a GPA of 2.8 or greater and to have taken FSHN 185 with a “B” or better and CHEM 161/161L with a “C” or better.
Upon entering either the program, students will be assisted by academic advisers to identify their career objectives and select an appropriate option for study.
All FSHN majors are required to report for advising prior to registration each semester.
Career Possibilities
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Depending on the course of study chosen, Undergraduate students are prepared for careers in the food industry, hospitals, public or private food and fitness programs, and for teaching science in secondary schools. Undergraduates are also prepared for graduate or professional schools, i.e. medical, pharmacy, public health, nutrition, or dietetic instructional internship.
Dietetics back to top
(click here to view PDF of the Dietetics Handbook)
Students choosing a professional career as a Registered Dietitian (RD) and who desire to do nutrition counseling should select the academic course work outlined in this option. This option meets the Plan V undergraduate academic requirements established by the American Dietetic Association (ADA). To become a Registered Dietitian upon receiving a Bachelor of Science degree, students must be accepted into an accredited internship. Upon successful completion of a 6-11 month internship, the student is eligible to take the national dietetic registration examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Students generally need to have a GPA of 3.0 or above to be competitive for internship programs. Students may contact Dr. Anne Shovic (956-3847), the Dietetics Program Director, and are encouraged to refer to the Dietetics Option Student Handbook for more information about this option. Work and/or volunteer experience in the field of interest is highly recommended.
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Pre-Professional Track (click here to view PDF)
This course of study allows students to study other areas of science, foods, and nutrition. With guidance from their advisor, students can design a course of study to meet their course requirements to prepare them for different aspects of applied nutrition, food science, post- baccalaureate studies in other health professional programs (medicine, dental, pharmacy), or an advanced research degree in nutrition or other biomedical sciences. However, this course of study does not meet all the undergraduate academic course work requirements of the American Dietetic Association.
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Sports and Wellness Track (click here to view PDF)
Students in the Human Nutrition option, who are interested in pursuing a career in sports and wellness, are encouraged to complete course work in applied musculo-skeletal anatomy, exercise physiology (KLS 353 and 354), and nutrition in exercise and sport (FSHN 480). These recommended courses can be added to either the Dietetics program option if the student desires to do professional nutritional counseling or to the Human Nutrition program option if the student intends to pursue graduate studies.