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Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

Dietetics B.S.

Program Overview

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Contact: Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Dietetics

Location: Gunter 2280

Telephone: 970.351.2755

Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/nutrition-dietetics

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of three parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

This program is designed for the undergraduate who would like to pursue dietetic registration and/or licensure in several states. The Dietetics major offers a wide range of studies related to foods and nutrition applicable in several health care settings in the community and health care organizations as well as for food service in public, government, and private organizations. The focus of the Bachelor of Science degree is to prepare graduates for dietetic internships and graduate school, and entry-level practice. Physiological, biochemical, and behavioral sciences provide the foundation for study. Social, environmental, cultural and psychological factors affecting food accessibility and dietary intake related to health care are covered. Students also develop human relationship skills and expertise in addressing nutritional needs throughout the life cycle.

The undergraduate Dietetics Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606 (800-877-1600, ext 5400), as a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). Following successful completion of the Didactic Program in Dietetics, a Verification Statement will be issued to each student which is needed to continue onto the next step in dietetic registration. At the senior level (4th year), students are eligible to apply for ACEND accredited dietetic internships or combined master of science and accredited dietetic internship programs. With successful completion of the B.S. Dietetics degree or Didactic Dietetics Education Certificate program at UNC and completion of an ACEND accredited internship, along with a minimum of a master’s-level degree, the graduate is eligible to take the registration exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Licensure to practice can also be obtained after becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist per state guidelines (Note: Not all states require Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to be licensed).

The steps to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist are:

  1. Complete a bachelor’s degree and receive a Verification Statement from an ACEND accredited program.
    1. Effective January 1, 2024, a graduate degree will also be required to be eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration dietetic registration exam.
  2. Complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice dietetic internship program. Supervised practice/experiential learning is combined with Coordinated Programs, Future Graduate Programs, and International Dietitian Education Programs.
  3. Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s dietetic registration exam.
  4. Gain licensure in your state of practice, if applicable.
  5. Maintain continuing education.

Program Admission Requirements:

Academic Good Standing.

The Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition and Dietetics also offers an ACEND accredited Dietetic Internship, a Master of Science in Dietetics combined with the Dietetic Internship, and a stand-alone Master of Science in Dietetics. Application for these programs is separate from the Dietetics B.S. program.

NOTE: Beginning January 1, 2024, the degree requirement for dietitian registration eligibility will be a master's degree.

Program Requirements:

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above and grades of C or better (C- is not acceptable) in all degree required courses to earn a Verification Statement making them eligible to apply for the accredited dietetic internship programs as the next step toward achieving dietetic registration upon completion of their Dietetics B.S. degree. If a student does not have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, then students should have a 3.0 in DPD coursework or the last 60 credits to earn a Verification Statement.

For students who already hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, a second degree is not required to become eligible to apply for supervised practice on a path to becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. If a student does not wish to earn a degree in Dietetics, then enrolling in the Didactic Dietetics Education Certificate Program is appropriate. Students who earn the certificate will also receive a Verification Statement. The certificate does not take the place of the Verification Statement and may not be used for employment or practice purposes. It should be noted that students enrolled in a certificate program only are not eligible for financial aid.

Students may not earn B.S. degrees in both Nutrition and Dietetics from UNC.

Students who earn a B.S. degree in Nutrition or Dietetics cannot minor in Nutrition.

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits

To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the 75 required major credits.

Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.

Written Communication — 6 credits

SCI 291 is recommended to fulfill Intermediate Writing Course requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

See Written Communication courses

Mathematics — 3 credits

STAT 150 is recommended to fulfill Mathematics requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

See Mathematics courses

Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits

To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.

PSY 120 is recommended to fulfill Social & Behavior Sciences requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses

Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits

BIO 110, CHEM 111, CHEM 111L, and FND 250 are recommended to fulfill Natural & Physical Sciences requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

See Natural & Physical Sciences courses

See Liberal Arts Curriculum

2. Required Major — 75 credits

Take all of the following courses:

BAMG 350Management and Organizational Behavior

3

BAMK 360Marketing

3

BIO 110Biology: Atoms to CellsLAS1LASL

4

BIO 245Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology

4

BIO 251Allied Health Microbiology

4

or

BIO 351Microbiology

4

CHEM 111Principles of Chemistry ILAS1

4

CHEM 111LPrinciples of Chemistry I LaboratoryLAS1LASL

1

CHEM 231Principles of Organic Chemistry

3

CHEM 381Principles of Biochemistry

3

CHEM 381LPrinciples of Biochemistry Lab

1

FND 210Medical Terminology

2

FND 250Principles of NutritionLAS1

3

FND 252Nutrition in the Life Cycle

3

FND 310Introduction to Foods

2

FND 310LIntroduction to Foods Laboratory

2

FND 320Nutrition Applications in Foodservice

2

FND 320LNutrition Applications in Foodservice Laboratory

1

FND 370Nutrition Education and Application Strategies

3

FND 410Professional Development Seminar

2

FND 430Nutrition Assessment and Intervention

2

FND 430LNutrition Assessment and Intervention Laboratory

1

FND 431Medical Nutrition Intervention

2

FND 431LMedical Nutrition Intervention Laboratory

1

FND 446Foodservice Systems Management

3

FND 446LFoodservice Systems Management Laboratory

1

FND 451Advanced Nutrition

3

FND 452Community Nutrition

3

PSY 120Principles of PsychologyLAB3

3

SCI 291Scientific WritingLAW2

3

STAT 150Introduction to Statistical AnalysisLAX1

3

3. University-Wide Credits — 14-30 credits

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program that will typically be 14-30 credits.

*Note: Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.

Program Notes

In accordance with University Policies, coursework earned more than 10 years prior to the date of matriculation to UNC may not be used to satisfy any major, minor, or licensure requirements. Any exception to this policy is at the discretion of the academic program.

Four Year Plan

This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.

Year 1 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

BIO 110Biology: Atoms to CellsLAS1LASL

4

ENG 122College CompositionLAW1

3

FND 250Principles of NutritionLAS1

3

LAC Arts and HumanitiesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:16

LAC Arts and Humanities: Choose U.S. Multicultural Studies (MS) or International Studies (IS) course.

Spring Semester

CHEM 111Principles of Chemistry ILAS1

4

CHEM 111LPrinciples of Chemistry I LaboratoryLAS1LASL

1

PSY 120Principles of PsychologyLAB3

3

STAT 150Introduction to Statistical AnalysisLAX1

3

LAC Arts and HumanitiesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4

3

Total Credit Hours:14

LAC Arts and Humanities: Choose U.S. Multicultural Studies (MS) or International Studies (IS) course.

Year 2 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

BIO 245Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology

4

SCI 291Scientific WritingLAW2

3

LAC HistoryLAH1

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring Semester

CHEM 231Principles of Organic Chemistry

3

FND 210Medical Terminology

2

FND 252Nutrition in the Life Cycle

3

LAC Arts and Humanities, History, or Social and Behavioral SciencesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4LAB1LAB2LAB3LAH1

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Year 3 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

BAMG 350Management and Organizational Behavior

3

CHEM 381Principles of Biochemistry

3

CHEM 381LPrinciples of Biochemistry Lab

1

FND 310Introduction to Foods

2

FND 310LIntroduction to Foods Laboratory

2

FND 370Nutrition Education and Application Strategies

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Spring Semester

BAMK 360Marketing

3

BIO 251Allied Health Microbiology

4

or

BIO 351Microbiology

4

FND 320Nutrition Applications in Foodservice

2

FND 320LNutrition Applications in Foodservice Laboratory

1

FND 452Community Nutrition

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Year 4 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

FND 410Professional Development Seminar

2

FND 430Nutrition Assessment and Intervention

2

FND 430LNutrition Assessment and Intervention Laboratory

1

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Spring Semester

FND 431Medical Nutrition Intervention

2

FND 431LMedical Nutrition Intervention Laboratory

1

FND 446Foodservice Systems Management

3

FND 446LFoodservice Systems Management Laboratory

1

FND 451Advanced Nutrition

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:16

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