Dietetics - BA, BS
St. Catherine's dietetics major offers students a solid foundation in food and nutrition that develops out of studies in chemistry, biochemistry, and social sciences. The practice of dietetics continues to expand as more and more research is conducted on the complex relationships between food, our environments, and health.
The registered dietitian/registered dietitian nutritionist (RD/RDN) is often at the forefront of health promotion and disease prevention. Students who have an interest in food and nutrition, and who want to work with the public to promote and optimize health or to help individuals with existing medical conditions are excellent candidates for this field of study. The RD/RDN credential qualifies an individual to serve as the food and nutrition expert.
RD/RDNs work in a variety of settings, including healthcare, business and industry, community/public health, education, research, government agencies, and private practice. Many work environments, especially those in healthcare settings, require the RD/RDN credential.
Completing the dietetics degree at St. Catherine University prepares students to obtain the RD/RDN credential, which is available after completion of an accredited dietetic internship and the registration examination.
Please note, beginning January 1, 2024, a graduate degree will be required for anyone who wishes to take the registration exam to become an RD/RDN. For more information, please visit: https://www.cdrnet.org/new-graduate-degree-eligibility-requirement-effective-january-1-2024.
St. Catherine's 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 2000, Chicago, Illinois 60606, (312) 899-0040.
The dietetics degree also prepares students to pursue a variety of graduate programs or to work in various entry-level jobs.
Acceptance into the dietetics major depends on the following criteria:
The student must:
- Have completed at least 40 semester credits of college work accepted by St. Catherine University at the time of application.
- Have and maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Achieve and maintain compliance with requirements for the Henrietta Schmoll School of Health. This includes all required immunizations and background checks.
- Sign a statement of understanding after reading the Dietetics Handbook.
Dietetic students should consider participating in undergraduate research with faculty. These research experiences are designed to be collaborative in nature, meaningful to both students and faculty, and contribute to success as a scholar and future professional.
See also: Nutrition Science, Exercise Science and Nutrition
This major is offered in the College for Women only.
Curriculum
Related work experience is required for dietetics students who wish to apply for a dietetic internship. All dietetic students are required to complete a senior portfolio.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FSNU 2300 | Nutrition Foundations | 4 |
| FSNU 2900 | Food Science | 4 |
| FSNU 3550 | Food and Nutrition Management 1 | 4 |
| FSNU 3600 | Foodservice Operations Management with Lab | 4 |
| FSNU 3770 | Nutrition Education and Counseling | 4 |
| FSNU 3800 | Intercultural and Community Nutrition with Lab 1 | 4 |
| FSNU 4100 | Community Lifespan Nutrition | 4 |
| FSNU 4270 | Current Issues in Foods and Nutrition | 4 |
| FSNU 4300 | Advanced Nutrition | 4 |
| FSNU 4310W | Experimental Foods and Nutrition with Lab 1 | 4 |
| FSNU 4350 | Medical Nutrition Therapy I | 4 |
| FSNU 4375 | Medical Nutrition Therapy II with Lab | 4 |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Supporting Courses | ||
| BIOL 2200 | Introduction to Microbiology with Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 2610 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 2620 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 1110 | General Chemistry I with Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 1120 | General Chemistry II with Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 2010 | Organic Chemistry I with Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 2400 | Nutritional Biochemistry | 4 |
| IPE 1030 | Healthcare Teams Foundations and Medical Terminology | 2 |
| PHIL 3400 | Biomedical Ethics | 4 |
| PSYC 1001 | General Psychology with Lab | 4 |
| PSYC 1090 | Statistical Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 2025 | Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| Total Credits | 46 | |
| 1 | Courses offered alternate years. |
Related work experience is required for dietetics students who wish to apply for a dietetic internship. All dietetic students are required to complete a portfolio.
Transfer students may need to complete more than six courses (24 credits) in the major field in residence in order to complete the didactic program in dietetics.
Dietetics majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors by completing FSNU 4310W Experimental Foods and Nutrition with Lab . They complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with three other writing-intensive courses (CORE 1000W The Reflective Woman or CORE 2000W The Reflective Woman, CORE 3990W Global Search for Justice, and another writing-intensive course in this or another department).