Department of Nutrition Science

Michael Wheeler, Chair

Nutrition is an integrative science that draws from physiology, biology, chemistry, behavior sciences and other disciplines to understand food, behavior and health. In addition to preparing students to become registered dietitians/nutritionists (RDN), nutrition science is a great pre-professional major for careers in the allied health sciences.

The Department of Nutrition Science offers a Nutrition and Dietetics, BS degree program with two concentrations: the didactic program in dietetics concentration and the nutrition with science concentration. The didactic program in dietetics concentration is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) which is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the US Department of Education. Completing an accredited didactic program in dietetics is the first step in becoming a registered dietitian/nutritionist (RDN).

The didactic program in dietetics concentration program requires 120 semester hours and is suited only for students who intend to pursue the RDN credential. Admission to the didactic program in dietetics requires a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA. Program admission is very competitive and requires completion of all prerequisites and an application submitted in February of the preceding year. There is a cap of 26 students enrolled as a cohort each year into the didactic program in dietetics concentration. Students in the concentration must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. A student earning less than a 3.0 cumulative GPA while taking 3000 and/or 4000 level nutrition (NUTR) courses must petition the Department of Nutrition Science for probationary continuation. Graduates of the didactic program in dietetics concentration will be eligible to apply for a supervised practice/dietetic internship. Students who complete this concentration and a supervised practice/dietetic internship can take the Registration Examination for Dietitians and become a registered dietitian nutritionist.

The nutrition with science concentration program requires 120 semester hours and includes 16 s.h. of electives. This concentration promotes elective flexibility to support a variety of professional goals. The nutrition with science concentration is well suited for pre-professional programs in occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, dental medicine, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. Students should consider minors in areas that complement their career goals. Suggested minors could include community health-public health services, business, psychology, exercise science, hospitality management, or health promotion. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA to stay in this concentration.

A minor in nutrition is also offered by the Department and can be very beneficial to individuals who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in many scientific, clinical, or medical based fields. It may also assist in providing a strong knowledge base for students planning to attend graduate or medical school. Courses in the minor provide students with a strong fundamental knowledge of complex interaction between foods and our bodies. The minor is also encouraged for students who are planning a future in the hospitality and/or food service industries.

More information is available on the department website.

Faculty and Staff

https://nutrition.ecu.edu/faculty-and-staff/

Programs

Bachelor’s

Nutrition and Dietetics, BS

Minor

Nutrition Minor

Courses

Nutrition Science