Family Consumer and Nutritional Science

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Food and Nutrition: Dietetics

This concentration prepares students for admission to an American Dietetic Association (ADA) accredited dietetic internship and many graduate programs. The major includes courses in physical, biological, behavorial, and social sciences in addition to courses in the major field. After completing the baccalaurate degree and the dietetic internship, a student must pass a national examination to be qualified as a Registered Dietitian (RD).

An RD can pursue a variety of career paths such as clinical nutrition and participate as part of the health care team in a hospital, long term care, a clinic, or home health setting. Other career options include nutritional counseling, research, education, community nutrition, and consulting.

Dietitians may also pursue a management career in health care, school/university foodservice, or the foodservice industry. Increasingly, dietitians are charting their own paths as entrepreneurs.

The dietetics program has been granted initial accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois. 60606-6995, 312/899-5400. The next self-study and site visit for continued accreditation will be in 2014.

The Didactic Program in Dietetics supports the missions of the College of St. Catherine and the Family, Consumer, and Nutritional Sciences Department and strives to prepare women who are competent, ethical leaders in dietetics. Graduates embrace social responsibility, lifelong learning and professional excellence.

1. The Dietetics Program will provide a well-balanced curriculum which prepares competent women who successfully complete the liberal arts and program requirements for the baccalaureate degree and are eligible to apply for a dietetic internship.
· At least 90% of students beginning the program will complete requirements and receive a verification statement.
· Over a five-year period, 90% of program graduates will apply for supervised practice, graduate education, or obtain related employment.
· Over a five-year period, 80% of students applying for supervised practice are accepted.
· Over a five-year period, at least 80% of students applying for graduate education are accepted.
· Over a five-year period, at least 80% of students completing supervised practice pass the RD exam the first time it is taken.
· Dietetic Internship directors state graduates are competent, well prepared, and rate graduates at an average of 4.0 in content areas on the DID Survey.
· On the Dietetic Intern Survey, graduates consider themselves well prepared and rate themselves an average of 4.0 in content areas.

2. In accordance with the mission of the college and the mission of the FCNS Department, the dietetics program encourages critical thinking, professional development, and competency in writing and information technology.
· Critical Thinking: Students will have an average score of 4.0 on the portfolio rubric. Students will have an average score of 4.0 on the DID Survey.
· Writing Proficiency: Students will have an average score of 4.0 on the portfolio rubric. Students will have an average score of 4.0 on the DID Survey.
· Information Technology: Students will have an average score of 4.0 on the portfolio rubric. Students will have an average score of 4.0 on the DID Survey.
· Professional Development: All graduating seniors will write professional goals in the reflection paper of the portfolio. 80% of DPD undergraduates will be student members of ADA. 75% of graduates will be members of a professional organization. 90% of graduates will maintain RD status.

3. In keeping with the missions of the college and the department, the dietetics program educates women to be ethical leaders in their professional career and in organizations to which they belong.
· Ethical Leaders: 75% of DPD students will document a leadership role.
· Professionalism: 80% of DPD students will belong to ADA.
· 75% of graduates will belong to a professional organization.
· 25% of graduates will participate in a professional organization board within 5 years after becoming an RD.


Required major courses:
FSNU 2660 Intercultural Foods: Western 2 Cr*
FSNU 2670 Intercultural Foods: Eastern 2 Cr*
FSNU 2900 Food Science
FSNU 3000 Nutrition
FSNU 3500 Foodservice Systems Management
FSNU 3550 Financial Management & Foodservice Design
FSNU 3600 Foodservice Operations Management
FSNU 4200 Community Nutrition
FSNU 4210 Experimental Foods
FSNU 4250 Issues in the American & World Food Supply
FSNU 4300 Medical Nutrition Therapy I
FSNU 4400 Medical Nutrition Therapy II

Required supporting courses:
CHEM 1110 & 1120 General Chemistry
CHEM 2010 & 2020 Organic Chemistry (opt. lab)
BIOL/CHEM 3400 Principles of Metabolism: Applied Biochemistry
BIOL 2200 Microbiology
BIOL 2520 Human Anatomy & Physiology II
ECON 2610 Principles of Microeconomics
PSYC 1001 General Psychology
PSYH 2025 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
PSHC 2050 Statisical Methods in Psych or equivalent
EDUC 3770 Educational Methods in Dietetics & Nutrition
PHIL 3400 Biomedical Ethics (fulfills one Philosophy requirement)

Work Experience:
Non-credit work experience is required

Suggested electives:
FSNU 3250 Sports Nutrition 2Cr
FSNU 4750 Diabetic Education
ACCT 2110 Financial Accounting
COMM 2020 Interpersonal Communication
COMM 3100 Intercultural Communication
INDI 2220 Medical Terminology 1 Cr

General requirements:
History
Literature
Fine Arts
Foreign Language (3)
Theology/Philosophy (3)
Reflective Woman
Global Search for Justice
Exercise Science Activities (2)
Writing Intensive Courses (4)

Dietetic Internship Application Form - 2005

Dietetic Internship Application Form - 2004

Dietetic Internship Application Form - 1998



For course descriptions please see the academic catalog at the following website under Family, Consumer, and Nutritional Sciences. http://minerva.stkate.edu/academiccatalog.nsf/Baccalaureate?OpenForm