Program Overview
The degree of Bachelor of Science, with a major in family and consumer sciences or nutrition (dietetics, community nutrition, or nutrition science) requires successful completion of a minimum of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using major, minor, or elective courses (2) degree requirements; (3) program/major requirements; and (4) supporting requirements. No minor is required.
Family and Consumer Sciences or Nutrition core courses are used to satisfy the lower-division UCA Core requirements in Responsible Living. Family and Consumer Sciences and Nutrition courses are used to satisfy the upper-division UCA Core requirements in Critical Inquiry, Communication, Diversity, and Responsible Living. To fulfill the UCA Core Capstone requirement, students seeking a degree in Dietetics will take NUTR 4335 Nutrition Senior Seminar; those seeking a degree in Community Nutrition will complete NUTR 4339 Community Nutrition Practicum; those seeking a degree in Nutrition Science will complete NUTR 4301 Research in Nutrition and Family Sciences, and those in Family and Consumer Sciences will complete FACS 4340 FCS Professional Practice.
Students who elect and successfully complete the BS in Dietetics will be issued a verification statement and can apply for Dietetic Internships or apply for the Dietetic Technician Registered exam. Students will also have a ServSafe Certification and will be well prepared for graduate school.
The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at the University of Central Arkansas is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.
Program Outline
Major requirements (61 hours):
Mathematics Pathway: First-time, first-year students majoring in Dietetics enter the Mathematical Reasoning for Health Sciences Mathematics Pathway and must enroll in MATH 1365 during their first year of study, unless they have been awarded credit that completes their 1000-level math requirements.
- NUTR 1100 Introduction to the Dietetics Profession
- NUTR 1300 Foundations of Nutrition
- NUTR 2311 Meal Management
- NUTR 3310 Food Science
- NUTR 3350 Community Nutrition
- NUTR 3370 Lifecycle Nutrition I
- NUTR 3371 Nutrition Counseling
- NUTR 3375 Lifecycle Nutrition II
- NUTR 3380 Food Economics
- NUTR 3390 Nutrition and Metabolism
- NUTR 4301 Research in Nutrition and Family Sciences [Note 1]
- NUTR 4315 Sports Nutrition
- NUTR 4321 Nutritional Services Administration
- NUTR 4325 Medical Nutrition Therapy I
- NUTR 4335 Nutrition Senior Seminar [UD UCA Core: Z]
- NUTR 4351 Experimental Food Science
- NUTR 4374 Medical Nutrition Therapy II
- NUTR 4395 Nutrition: Contemporary Issues [UD UCA Core: D]
- FACS 2341 Lifespan Development
- FACS 3311 Resource Management [UD UCA Core: C]
- FACS 3372 Personal and Family Finance [UD UCA Core: I, R]
Supporting requirements to meet the academic requirements of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (27 hours):
- PSYC 2330 Psychological Statistics (or another approved introductory statistics course)
- FACS 3356 Methods in Family and Consumer Sciences Education [UD UCA Core: Z]
- CHEM 1402 General Chemistry for Health Sciences
- CHEM 2450 Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry*
- BIOL 3406 Structure and Function of the Human Body I*
- BIOL 3407 Structure and Function of the Human Body II*
- BIOL 2411 Microbiology in Human Affairs [ACTS: BIOL2004] or substitute courses approved by department chair.
This program does not require a minor.
* indicates courses needed for application into program with a “B” or better.
Eligibility to take the registration examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration requires the BS degree plus completion of an approved supervised experiential learning program
Note 1
Students participating in the University Scholars Program may substitute USCH 3320 for NUTR 4301.
Abbreviation Key – UCA Core Program
LD = Lower Division
UD = Upper Division
C = Effective Communication
D = Diversity
I = Critical Inquiry
R = Responsible Living
Z = Capstone Experience
