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Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science



Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science Majors

BS    Dietetics (80 hours*)

This is a limited-enrollment program requiring departmental admissions approval. Please see below for information regarding requirements for admission to this major.

Following prerequisite courses, the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) consists primarily of dietetics course work at the junior and senior level. The Brigham Young University Didactic Program in Dietetics is currently granted accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-4876. Following graduation, students must gain acceptance into and complete a dietetic internship (DI) to qualify for the national examination required for Registered Dietitian (RD) status.

Program Acceptance Requirements

  1. Students must apply by February 15 for admission into the professional sequence in the fall. Formal acceptance is required to continue with the professional sequence.

  2. Enrollment is limited to 40 students.

  3. Four of the following eight courses must be completed at the time of application: Acc 200, Chem 285, MMBio 221, NDFS 100, 200, 290; PDBio 220, 305.

  4. Major GPA and performance in nutrition, dietetics, and food science courses will be considered. Successful applicants typically have a major GPA greater than 3.0 and nutrition, dietetics, and food science course grades greater than B–.

  5. Applicants need at least 300 hours of dietetics-related work and/or volunteer experience.

Major Requirements

  1. Complete the following courses (must be completed before professional sequence):
    NDFS 100, 200, 250, 251, 290.

  2. Complete the following:
    Chem 101**, 285***.

    **Note: Or an equivalent general chemistry course from high school or junior college.

    ***Note: Chem 105, 106, 107, 351, 352, 481 sequence is recommended for students interested in medical or dental school or graduate programs in nutrition.

  3. Complete one course from the following:
    Chem 103.
    MMBio 222.

  4. Complete the following:
    Acc 200.
    MMBio 221.
    PDBio 220, 305.
    Psych 111.
    Stat 221.

  5. Complete the following professional sequence courses (after being admitted into the program):
      NDFS 300, 356, 374, 375, 400, 401, 405, 424, 435, 440, 445, 458, 466, 475, 490, 491.
    PDBio 365.

Recommended Courses

Bus M 300, 340.
Comms 352.
I Sys 100, 101.
NDFS 310, 361, 380.

Recommended Minors

The following minors are very complementary to a dietetics major, but any area of interest could be considered:

Business
Communication
Gerontology (See School of Family Life).
International Development
Spanish

*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.



BS    Food Industry Management (65 hours*)

The Discipline

There is an increasing demand for students graduating with a background in both food science and business. The multibillion dollar food industry continues to expand, both domestically and internationally, as a growing percentage of the population depends on food produced and preserved by that industry. Students wishing to focus on the industry's business aspects will find this emphasis to be excellent preparation for immediate employment as well as a stepping stone to a master of business administration (MBA) degree. With the addition of one course, students graduating with this degree can obtain a business minor in management. (Those wishing to pursue advanced degrees other than the MBA degree or other professional programs should visit with an advisor before selecting this emphasis.)

Valuable experience is gained through numerous opportunities available in the program, including a required internship in the food industry. Students develop a network of professional contacts through participation in the Food Science Club, professional organizations, and national competitions. Scholarships are available from department, college, university, and professional organizations.

Career Opportunities

Graduates are prepared for employment in commercial and private food companies ranging from small entrepreneurial businesses to large corporations. Opportunities for business-oriented careers abound in such areas as food production management, food company management, food ingredient technical sales, and other management opportunities that require an understanding of technical and scientific issues.

Major Requirements

  1. Consult with a faculty advisor prior to finalizing your curriculum plan.

  2. Complete the following:
      NDFS 100, 191, 250, 251, 350, 355, 361, 362, 462.

  3. Complete at least 1 hour of the following:
    NDFS 399R.

  4. Complete the following:
    Acc 200.
    Bus M 300, 488, 489.
    Chem 105, 285.
    Econ 110, 210.
    MMBio 221, 222.
    Org B 320.
    Phscs 105.
    Stat 221.

  5. Complete one course from the following:
    Bus M 371R, 380, 382.

Recommended Courses

Consult with a faculty advisor before selecting:

Engl 316 or M Com 320.
IAS 220.
Math 119.
Mfg 201, 202, 479.
NDFS 200, 450, 464, 465.
PAS 100.
Phscs 106.
TMA 150.

*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.



BS    Food Science (68 hours*)

The Discipline

Food science is the multidisciplinary study of food and the application of knowledge thus gained to developing food products and processes, preserving and storing food, and assuring food safety and quality. Food science addresses the conversion of raw agricultural products into a nutritious, convenient, and economical food supply. Most of the food products available in grocery stores were developed and tested by food scientists. Approved by the Institute of Food Technologists, the principal professional organization of food scientists, the curriculum provides excellent preparation as a premedical, predental, or other preprofessional major. With the addition of one course, students graduating with this degree are able to obtain a minor in chemistry.

Valuable experience is gained through numerous opportunities available in the program, including faculty-mentored research, employment within the department, and paid food industry internships. Students also develop a network of professional contacts through participation in the Food Science Club, professional organizations, and national competitions. Scholarships are available from department, college, university, and professional organizations.

Career Opportunities

Exciting careers are found in such areas as developing new foods, ensuring food safety and quality, or researching ways to better preserve and store food. Salaries are highly competitive. Typically there are not enough graduates for the unique and challenging opportunities available in the worldwide, multibillion dollar food industry. The many facets of food science provide employment in large and small food companies, food ingredient companies, government agencies, and universities. Graduates are prepared for immediate employment, further study toward advanced degrees, or professional programs such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law, and business.

Major Requirements

  1. Consult with a faculty advisor prior to finalizing your curriculum plan.

  2. Complete the following core requirements:
      NDFS 200, 250, 251, 350, 355, 361, 362, 450, 462, 464, 465.

  3. Complete the following:
    Chem 105, 106, 107, 351, 352, 353, 481.

  4. Complete one course from the following:
    Math 112, 113, 119.

  5. Complete the following:
    MMBio 221, 222.
    Phscs 105, 106.
    Stat 221.
    TMA 150.

  6. During the junior year or upon declaring food science as a major, students are strongly encouraged to select one of the following options to enhance career preparation:
    1. Choose a research topic and faculty mentor. Working in a research laboratory for 10–20 hours per week over the course of eight months, the student has daily contact with graduate students, technicians, and fellow undergraduate colleagues and frequent interactions with a faculty mentor. Student research often leads to participation in a publication and/or a presentation at a professional meeting. NDFS 494R credit is available.

    2. Produce a senior thesis in collaboration with a faculty mentor, derived primarily from library study that extensively explores the relevant questions. The thesis is written in the format of a scientific review paper. NDFS 494R credit is available.

    3. Work in an approved, faculty-supervised summer internship with a food company (generally the internship does not include study abroad.) NDFS 399R credit is available.

Recommended Courses

Consult with a faculty advisor before selecting:

Chem 223.
Econ 110.
Engl 316.
IAS 220.
Mfg 201, 202, 355.
NDFS 100, 191, 203.
PAS 100.
Phscs 107, 108.

*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.



BS    Nutritional Science (61 hours*)

This degree provides excellent preparation for those individuals in preprofessional programs (e.g., premedicine, predentistry, prelaw) or for an advanced degree (MS, PhD) in nutrition or biological sciences.

Major Requirements

  1. Complete the following core requirements:
    NDFS 100, 200, 305, 394, 435.

  2. After consulting with a faculty advisor, complete 8 hours from the following:
    Biol 241, 340, 360.
    NDFS 201, 250, 251, 310, 380, 400, 424, 494R (2 hours).

  3. Complete the following:
    Biol 120, 240.
      Chem 105, 106, 107, 351, 352, 353 (1 hour), 481.
    PDBio 305.
    Phscs 105, 106, 107, 108.
    Stat 221.

Recommended Courses

Biol 220.
Chem 223.
Hlth 375.
MMBio 221.

*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.

 
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