Academic Catalog and Handbooks

2023-2024 Edition

Nutrition

Department Chair: Emily Heying

Faculty: Bernadette Elhard, Mark Glen, Emily Heying, Linda Shepherd

The study of Nutrition investigates the ways in which food promotes the health and well-being of individuals, communities, and the environment. Focused academic inquiry in food and nutrition is interdisciplinary and is complemented by and integrated with disciplines such as biology, chemistry, communication, economics, environmental studies, exercise science, psychology and sociology. The Nutrition Department offers a major in Nutrition, an area of concentration in Dietetics through the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), and a minor in Nutrition. The DPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. All Nutrition majors complete a set of required foundation courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and nutrition. Additional course work is selected based on the area of student interest, area of concentration, and/or pre-requisite guidelines for post-graduate education. The Nutrition major prepares students for a variety of career options or graduate study. Examples of professional areas that Nutrition majors pursue post-graduation include: Dietetics, Public Health, Food Service Management (in education, health care and private industry), Public Policy, Health Education, and Wellness. Graduate education pursued by Nutrition majors includes programs such as Medicine, Physician’s Assistant, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Dentistry, Chiropractic, Health Care Administration and Law, and graduate studies in Food Science, Food Studies, Nutrition, and Public Health.

Assessment

The Nutrition Department completes an annual assessment of student learning outcomes. Assessment measures are imbedded into coursework and focus on evidence-based knowledge of nutrition and food science, the role of food and dietary patterns in the prevention of disease and promotion of health and wellness, food systems, food policy, and the reading, interpretation and communication of food and nutrition information and research. Students complete a capstone research experience in which written and verbal communication skills are assessed. Seniors in the major are surveyed every three years to assess student perception of the department’s ability to meet specific learning outcomes. The Didactic Program in Dietetics, an area of concentration within the major, includes an assessment plan focused on accreditation standards, which includes specific knowledge competencies. The DPD is accredited by the:

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
1-800-877-1600 ext. 5400
www.eatrightpro.org/acend

Accreditation review by ACEND is completed every seven years and includes a site visit and review of curriculum and faculty credentials.