School of Nutrition & Food Sciences

For information regarding the GRADUATE PROGRAM, click here.  

CURRICULUM:

• Nutrition and Food Sciences

The School of Nutrition and Food Sciences offers academic concentrations in Dietetics, Food Science and Technology, Nutrition, Health and Society, and Nutritional Sciences/Pre-Medical. After selecting a concentration, students complete a sequence of courses in an area of professional specialization as well as basic science and general education classes. Students are expected to be prepared for the required mathematics, chemistry, and biological sciences courses when they enter the program. In addition, students can participate in research through elective courses or individual projects with faculty members. Students completing Dietetics, Nutrition, Health, and Society or the Nutritional Sciences/Pre-Medical concentrations will be prepared for professional careers such as dietetics, medicine, dentistry, or related fields. Students completing the Food Science and Technology concentration will find employment in the food industry in food quality and safety positions, applied microbiology, food engineering, processing and technology, food chemistry and analysis, food business and marketing research, and product development.

Dietetics

The Dietetics program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). The ACEND is recognized as a specialized accrediting body by the U.S. Department of Education. Students completing the LSU dietetics concentration will receive a verification statement that allows them to apply for an ACEND-accredited dietetic internship. This internship and a master’s degree from an accredited university are required before students are eligible to sit for the registry examination to become a registered dietitian (RD). Registered dietitians provide nutrition and food service management expertise in various settings, including public and private schools, universities, hospitals, clinics, care centers, armed services, research laboratories, commercial and industrial establishments, and local, state, and federal health programs. Information about becoming a registered dietitian is available through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (https://www.lbedn.org/). In addition, some states, including Louisiana, require that registered dietitians be licensed or certified to practice in the state. The Louisiana Board of Examiners in Dietetics and Nutrition grants and enforces licensure for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians in this state. Information on licensure is available on their website (https://www.lbedn.org/). Students who intend to pursue such credentialing in another state or location should contact that state or location credentialing authority to learn their specific requirements. 

Dietetics Concentration Requirements for Graduation

In addition to the graduation requirements outlined by the College of Agriculture, students in the Dietetics concentration of the Nutrition and Food Sciences curriculum must earn a grade of “C” or better in all required NFS courses, as well as in BIOL 2160  and BIOL 2083 .

Food Science and Technology

The Food Science and Technology program is approved by the Institute of Food Technologists Higher Education Review Board to provide a strong foundation for the study of post-production properties and processing of food products. Students in the Food Science and Technology concentration study food chemistry, analysis, microbiology, processing, evaluation, packaging, and distribution. Properties concerning food safety, taste, acceptability, quality, and nutrition are studied extensively, and students learn about the importance of quality control and government regulation of food manufacturing. Students study product development, learn food engineering principles and quality parameters of foods, and participate in processing plant supervision. In addition, if a student in this concentration desires to attend medical or dental school, there are sufficient elective hours that can be used to complete the courses required for admission into these professional programs. Electives related to food business and marketing and internships with various food companies are also available. The Food Science and Technology concentration prepares students for careers in the food industry. Food scientists interface with production practices, harvesting raw food materials, processing food, and marketing and merchandising food while focusing on providing customers with safe, wholesome, healthy, and high-quality food.

Nutrition, Health, and Society

Students completing the Nutrition, Health, and Society concentration gather knowledge about the link between food, nutrition, and health. Courses in this concentration prepare students for a variety of careers, including public health, nutrition education, the food industry, and scientific writing. Elective hours in this concentration can be used to complete classes required for admission into health-related programs such as physician assistant, physical therapy, and pre-pharmacy schools.

Nutritional Science Pre-Medical

The Nutritional Sciences/Pre-Medical concentration provides students with a strong foundation in nutritional sciences while meeting the coursework requirements for admission into medical, dental, or graduate schools. Nutrition plays a vital role in developing or treating many acute and chronic diseases, and the coursework in this concentration examines the role of nutrients in the body and provides premedical/predental students with a strong basis for building their medical/dental careers. Students who complete Nutritional Sciences/Pre-Medical concentration can apply to professional and graduate schools.

Programs

• Nutrition & Food Sciences, B.S.

• Human Nutrition Minor