NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES (NUTR)

110 Chandlee Lab
863-0772
Fax: 863-6103

Gordon Jensen, Department Head
110 Chandlee Lab
863-0772
glj1@psu.edu

Gary Fosmire, Professor-In-Charge
Undergraduate Program
321 Chandlee Lab
863-2915
gjf5@psu.edu

Brenda Eissenstat, Undergraduate Adviser
119C Chandlee Lab
863-5826
bre2@psu.edu

Scott Barbara, Undergraduate Secretary
863-0806
sbarbara@psu.edu

Home Page: http://nutrition.hhdev.psu.edu/

Curriculum

University Faculty Senate Approved Curriculum

Recommended Academic Plan(s)

Semester-by-semester academic plans recommend in table form the courses students might schedule each semester as they pursue a particular degree. These tables serve several University purposes and assist multiple constituencies: students, advisers, departments, deans, registrars, admissions officers, and family members. The plans:

• Identify normal academic progress, course offerings, and recommended course sequencing;
• Assist students and advisers in planning academic schedules, registrars and departments in planning course offerings, and registrars and deans in determining when students should change campus;
• Help students to anticipate the academic workload and courses needed to earn a degree, and to schedule appropriate prerequisites;
• Serve as tools to help advisers learn the curriculum.

NUTR APLSC Recommended Academic Plan (UP)

NUTR APLSC Recommended Academic Plan (Other Campuses)

NUTR BSCNS Recommended Academic Plan (All Campuses)

Degree Audit

NUTR APLSC Degree Audit

NUTR BSCNS Degree Audit

Graduates of the Applied Sciences option integrate knowledge of biochemistry and physiology with behavioral sciences to improve the nutritional status of people. Graduates of the applied sciences option meet the American Dietetic Association's (ADA) "Didactic Program in Dietetics" (DPD) academic requirements. To become a Registered Dietitian (RD) graduates must complete an ADA-accredited internship and then successfully complete the qualifying examination.

The Basic Sciences option emphasizes laboratory research in nutrition; it incorporates biochemistry, cell biology, physiology and physics and includes all courses required for admission to medical school. It is recommended for students preparing for careers in laboratory-based sciences and for the professions of medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy and physician assistant. Basic Sciences students who want to become RDs should select supporting courses which meet ADA DPD requirements.

"Supporting Courses and Related Areas" allow flexibility to meet the individual student's career goals and interests. Students may fulfill most of the requirements for a minor within the supporting course credit allotment. The summer nutrition study in Rome provides two supporting courses in an international setting.

There are numerous ways to gain practical experience related to nutrition at University Park. An active role in the Student Nutrition Association provides leadership opportunities. Students may complete "independent studies" under faculty supervision to gain practical experience. Contact an appropriate faculty member to develop a hands-on opportunity such as independent laboratory research. The Nutrition Education content area of HealthWorks provides experiential learning in normal nutrition counseling and in group presentations after a one-semester training program. Contact 237 Ritenour Health Center for a HealthWorks application, which is due in early March. Students who progress through the chemistry sequence in time to take NUTR 400 and 446 in their junior year may be selected to become student counselors in the Nutrition Clinic.

DIETETIC INTERNSHIP INFORMATION

Students who want to be eligible for an ADA-accredited internship after graduation must complete the ADA Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). The courses are included in the applied sciences option and may be incorporated in the supporting courses and electives of the basic sciences option. The list of additional courses that a basic sciences nutrition major must take to complete the DPD are at the end of the Supporting Course list in this document. Substitutions are carefully evaluated on an individual basis.

Dietetic internships are very competitive. Successful applicants usually have:

1. A high grade-point average (3.00 minimum suggested)
2. Solid background of related work or volunteer experience
3. Strong faculty and professional letters of recommendation
4. Excellent letters of application

There are about 250 dietetic internships in the United States; see www.eatright.org/cade/. Although they all incorporate at least 900 hours of supervised experience in the areas of clinical dietetics, food service management and community nutrition, there is a great variety among them. Most last about a year, but vary from six months to two years. Most start in August or September, but some start in January or other times. Most charge tuition, some do not, and a few provide a stipend. Student loans may not have to be repaid during the internship. Read "How to Become an RD" on the Nutrition Department website. Information for early planning is presented in a spring 1-credit course, "Careers in Nutrition" (NUTR 170). Students take NUTR 370 in the fall before their application is due to learn more details about the profession of dietetics and to prepare a draft of an internship application.

PRE-APPROVED COURSE SUBSTITUTIONS

The Nutrition Department has "pre-approved" some course substitutions. The pre-approved course substitutions include: BIOL 472 for BIOL 141, CHEM 106 for CHEM 110, MATH 110 for MATH 140, MICRB 201 for MICRB 106, MICRB 202 for MICRB 107, PHYS 211 for PHYS 250, PHYS 212 for PHYS 251 and STAT 250 for STAT 200.

COURSE SEQUENCING AND SCHEDULING TIPS

The most critical aspect of course selection for a nutrition major is progression through the sequence of courses starting with chemistry. Change of location to University Park will generally occur after completion of four full-time semesters or equivalent. Earlier relocation to University Park is possible if a student is unable to make progress toward the degree because the requisite courses are not available at the students' campus location. Students should request a change of location to University Park for the 4th semester if they can't complete organic chemistry prior to 5th semester. Be sure to check chemistry placement score before attempting CHEM 110. CHEM 101 may be needed first or CHEM 108 may be recommended as a concurrent course to provide extra help. Note that it takes a minimum of 6 semesters or sessions from start to graduation. The arrows (->) indicate that a course on the left is the prerequisite to the course on the right. The chemistry, based sequence for applied sciences is below:

CHEM 110 -> CHEM 202 -> B M B 211 -> NUTR 445 -> NUTR 446 -> NUTR 452

Only CHEM 110, CHEM 202, and B M B 211 are taught in the summer at University Park.

Courses usually taught fall only include: BIOL 110, 142, 230W; NUTR 370, 430, 456

Courses usually taught spring only include: CHEM 203; NUTR 170, 421

Courses also taught summers usually include: B M B 211; CHEM 110, 111, 112, 113, 202; HRIM 329, 330; NUTR 251.

Students completing the ADA Didactic Program in Dietetics, through the applied or basic sciences option should be aware of 2 new courses that have been developed to replace earlier requirements. NUTR 380, Leadership Principles in Nutrition Services, replaces MGMT 100 and H P A 332. The second course in the sequence HRIM 385, Application of Management Principles in Dietetics Services, replaces H P A 460, HRIM 365, MGMT 321 and PSY 231. During the 2007 program year, students can fulfill degree requirements by taking either the new or older course options, however, they will be better prepared for employment in Dietetics and for the Registered Dietitian exam by completing the new courses.
The prerequisite sequence for these classes:
NUTR 251 -> NUTR 380 -> HRIM 385
CHEM 202 -> NUTR 120 -> HRIM 330 -> (or concurrent) HRIM 385

PARTIAL DEPARTMENT LIST OF SUPPORTING COURSES

"Supporting Courses and Related Areas" allow flexibility to meet career goals. Almost any course may, with adviser approval, be used as a supporting course. Nutrition majors are not required to have a minor but popular minors include Gerontology, H P A, HD FS, Movement Science (Kinesiology), Psychology and Spanish. Any NUTR course that is not required will show up as supporting on the degree audit. Key courses in a particular area are in bold. The following courses will appear on the degree audit as supporting without a special request being made. Check prerequisites for courses with "->" symbol before it. The "*" before a course indicates there may be a control that requires nutrition students to get permission from the instructor or department to enroll.

Additional Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Math in applied sciences option: BIOL 110 (GN), -> 230W (Cell Biol); CHEM 111 (GN), 112 (GN), 113 (GN), 202, 212 (Organic Lab), 213; B M B 212 (Biochem Lab); MATH 140 (GQ)

Biological Sciences: B M B 221 (Applied Biochem), 251 (Mol/Cell Biol I), 252 (Mol/Cell Biol II), 401 (Gen Biochem), 402 (Gen Biochem); BIOL 222 (Genetics), 240W (GN) (Biol: Function & Development of Organisms), 409 (Biol of Aging), 416 (Biol Cancer), -> 472 (Mammalian Physiol), -> 473 (Physiology Lab)

Business Management: *ACCTG 211 (Financial & Managerial Acctg); *BA 241 (Legal Env Bus); *BA 242 (Soc Eth Env Bus); H P A 101 (Intro to Hlth Services Organization), -> 332 (Hlth Systems Mgmt), -> 433 (Adm of Hospital & Hlth Service Systms), -> 442 (Long-Trm Care Mgmt), -> 460 (Hum Resource Mgmt in Hlth Care Orgs), -> 455 (Strategic Plan & Mktg for Hlth Services), *-> HRIM 335 (Hosp Fin Acctg); PSCHY 484 (Work Attitudes and Motivation)

Communications: COMM 100 (GS) (Mass Media & Soc); ENGL 215 (Intro Article Writing), *AEE 440 (Communication Meth & Media); IST 110 (Intro to Info Sc & Tech); CAS 313 (Persuasive Speaking)

Community Nutrition / Public Health: ANTH 045 (US; IL) (Cultural Anth); BB H/H P A 440 (Prin of Epidem); -> HD FS 410 (Community & Family); NURS 401 (Concepts of Hlth); NUTR/STS 430 (IL) (Global Food Strat), NUTR 421 (US; IL) (Cultural Aspects Food), 497C (Food Tech Culture), S T S 460 (Sci Tech & Society)

Counseling and Clinical Dietetics: BB H 101 (GHA) (Intro to Biobeh Hlth), 119 (GHA) (Hlth & Disease), 302 (US; IL) (Diversity & Hlth), 452 (Women Hlth Issues); CN ED 403 (Found Guidance & Couns), 409 (Medical Info Counselors); H P A 057 (Consumer Choice Hlth Care), * 310 (Hlth Care & Medical Needs); HD FS 129 (GS) (Intro to HD FS), -> 311 (HD FS Intervention), -> 411 (Helping Relationshp); NUTR 170 (Careers in Nutr), 401 (Nutr Clinic Prac); PSY 100 (GS) (Intro Psych), 243 (GS) (Well-Being & Adjustmt), 270 (Abnormal Psych)

Food Industry: -> AG EC 440 (Food Product Innovation Mgmt), -> 460 (Econ Food Industry); FD SC 200 (Intro Fd Sc), 201 (Intro Fd Sc Lab), -> 400 (Food Chemistry), -> 402 (Food Chem Lab), 404 (Food Evaluation), -> 407 (Food Toxins), 408 (Appl Food Micrb), -> 409W (Lab Appl Food Micrb), -> 410 (Chem Meth Food Anly), -> 411 (Mgmt Food Qual), 497A (Food Product Development), HRIM 497K (Product Development)

Gerontology: BIOL 055 (GN), -> 409 (Biol of Aging); -> H P A 442 (Long-Term Care Mgmt), HD FS 249 (GS) (Adult Dev. Aging), -> 445 (Adulthood); -> KINES 481W (Scientific Basis Exercise Older Adult); NURS 464 (Dying & Death); SOC 035 (Soc of Aging)

Immunology: -> MICRB 410 (Prin of Immunol); -> V SC 432 (Adv Immunol, Signaling), -> 435 (Medical Virology)

International Nutrition: -> AEE 400 (Ag Ed in Developing Country); GEOG 103 (GS; GI) (Geog Developing World); INTAG 100 (GS) (Intro Intl Ag); 481 (Agr in the Tropics); NUTR 399 (IL) (Rome: Mediterranean Diet), 421 (US; IL) (Cultural Aspects Food), 499 (IL) (Rome: Intl Nutr Ed); NUTR/S T S 430 (IL) (Global Food Strategies)

Nutrition Education: EDPSY 014 (Learning Instruc); HD FS 229 (GS) (Infancy Childhood), 239 GS) (Adol Dev), -> 330 (Childern/Youth & Family); INSYS 400 (Intro Inst Tech); NUTR 375 (HealthWorks), 499 (IL) (Rome: Intl Nutr Ed); PSYCH 212 (GS) (Developmental Psych), 256 (GS) (Intro Cognit Psych), 412 (Adolescence)

Marketing and Sales: -> H P A 455 (Strategic Plan & Mktg for Hlth Services); -> HRIM 442 (Hospitality Mktg), -> 443 (Sales Plan & Adv); *MKTG 220 (Personal Selling), *-> 310 (Pub Relatn & Mktg), -> 330 (Buyer Behavior); -> RPTM 410 (Mktg Recr Serv)

Pre-medical, Pre-dental, Pre-optometry, Pre-PT (basic sciences option plus CHEM 036 meets most med-school admission requirements): Be sure to consult with adviser for your situation. The Health Professions Advising Office in 213 Whitmore Lab will assist students in any major.): MATH 141 (GQ) (Calc Anly Geom II); -> PHYS 213 (GN) (Fluids & Thermal Phys), -> 214 (GN) (Wave Motion & Quan)

Research Skills: AG 400 (Stat in Life Sci); BB H 310W (Research Strategies); HD FS 312W (Empirical Inquiry); PSYCH 301W (Basic Methods Psych)

Sports and Wellness: BB H 316 (Fund Prin Hlth Prom),-> 416 (Hlth Promotion II), -> 417 (Adv Hlth Prom); BIOL 129 (GN) (Mammalian Anatomy), 142 (Physiol Lab); *KINES 180 (Introduction to Kinesiology), -> 202 (App Human Anatomy), -> 350 (Exercise Physio), -> 456 (Physical Fitness Appr), -> 457 (Exercise Prescription), -> 492W (Fitness Program), NUTR 497B (Nutr Physical Activ Exer Hlth)

Students in the basic sciences option who want to fulfill the American Dietetic Association (ADA) Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) need to take 30 credits from the list below plus common requirements for the major:
AG BM 101 (GS), ECON 002 (GS), 004 (GS) or 014 (GS) (3 credits)
HD FS 129 (GS) or PSYCH 100 (GS) (3 credits)
NUTR 380 (3 credits)
HRIM 385 (3 credits)
HRIM 329 (2) and 330 (2) (5 credits)
NUTR 120 (3), 360 (3), 370 (1), 400 (1), 453 (3) and 456 (2) (13 credits)

* Controls (placed by the department offering the course) may prevent nutrition majors from scheduling without special permission from the department.

-> Check prerequisites