Bachelor of Science in Nutrition

The Bachelor of Science in Nutrition at the School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering prepares graduates for success in dietetic internships and graduate nutrition programs, or as professionals in many industries who are committed to improving practices, understanding and relationships with food.

 

Why Nutrition?

As awareness and interest in wellness and the diet’s impact on overall health continues to increase, so does the demand for science-backed and holistic expertise that nutrition professionals provide. Organizations and individuals alike are looking to food and diet as their prescription for good health and a healthy workforce. Healthcare systems integrate nutrition into rehabilitation and treatment programs. Insurance companies promote a healthy diet as part of preventative care. And, education institutions at all levels utilize nutrition professionals to help inform their dining programs and food offerings. What’s more, nutrition professionals lead advancements in food science, production and service – directly impacting consumers. There is hardly an industry that isn’t impacted by the work of nutrition professionals.

 

Nutrition Curriculum

The B.S. in Nutrition is a comprehensive 127- to 129-hour program. The 23-hour core provides a deep understanding of food and nourishment on the human body at every stage of life, as well as the many applications of nutrition in communities and throughout the world. Nutrition students also complete 39 semester hours in supporting disciplines, including psychology, mathematics, economics and communication, in addition to the sciences. By selecting one of three tracks, students of UIW’s undergraduate Nutrition program can tailor their program to support their future goals in nutrition education, the food industry; to pursue a further training to become a dietetic professional or registered nutritionist dietician; or to continue their education in the health professions.

UIW is composed of individuals of diverse backgrounds engaged in thoughtful interchanges of ideas in the search for truth. This environment is conducive to developing eventual professional dietitians whose practice is ethical and based on evidence. Each member of the UIW community has inherent dignity and worth and possesses strengths. The UIW Nutrition faculty encourage students to develop these strengths as they progress through the program. Students connect learning across the curriculum integrating knowledge from a variety of disciplines to enhance understanding and solve problems. The ecological approach emphasizes interrelationships concerning food and nutrition at the cellular, individual, social, global levels.

Nutrition Tracks

The Food and Nutrition track prepares students to work in nutrition education, food industry, food service management, and wellness; It does not prepare a student to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

Food and Nutrition four-year Degree Plan (pdf)

The Nutrition and Dietetic track is an accredited curriculum that provides the classroom training and content to prepare students for a career as a dietetic practitioner. Students who complete this degree and meet the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics standards will receive a Verification Statement making them eligible to take the examination to become a Dietetic Technician, Registered or to apply for a supervised practice program to become a Registered Nutritionist Dietitian. The Bachelor of Science Nutrition and Dietetics track is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). For information on ACEND accreditation. Students must apply to be admitted to this track after completing prerequisite coursework.

  1. Admission to the UIW Nutrition Program is based on criteria as stated in the University Undergraduate Catalog and the University Graduate Catalog. Admission to the Nutrition and Dietetics track is not automatic.
  2. Students apply when all Nutrition and Dietetics prerequisites have been completed. For fall semester admittance, students must submit their applications by the third Monday of May. For spring semester admittance, students must submit their applications by the first Monday before the start of the spring semester. Acceptance notification will be issued before the start of the upcoming semester. Please ask your advisor, the DPD Director, or the Nutrition department Chair. You may also find additional information on the Nutrition Program Blackboard® site.
  3. Students must show evidence of having successfully completed the following prerequisite undergraduate coursework (listed below) at the same or higher level. The minimum GPA requirement in their prerequisite coursework is 2.8/4.00. (Acceptance of course credits in prerequisite undergraduate coursework is subject to the approval of the DPD director.)
  4. Two academic letters of reference (one from a Nutrition faculty member).

Nutrition and Dietetics Track Prerequisite Courses

  • ACCT 2301: Accounting for Non-Business Majors or higher
  • BIOL 1402: General Biology I and Laboratory
  • BIOL 2321/2121: Anatomy and Physiology I and Laboratory
  • BIOL 2322/2122: Anatomy and Physiology II and Laboratory
  • BIOL 2474: Introduction to Microbiology and Laboratory or BIOL 3471 General Microbiology and Laboratory
  • BMGT 3340: Management Theory and Practice
  • CHEM 1301/1101: Chemical Principles I and Laboratory
  • CHEM 1302/1102: Chemical Principles II and Laboratory
  • ENGL 1312: Composition II
  • MATH 1304: College Algebra or higher
  • NUTR 1102: Introduction to Dietetics
  • NUTR 2341: Introduction to Nutrition or higher
  • NUTR 2231/2131: Principles of Food Preparation and Laboratory
  • PSYC 1301: Introduction to Psychology or SOCI 1311 Introduction to Sociology

Nutrition and Dietetics Track four-year degree plan (pdf)

This track prepares you to meet the preparation requirements for graduate school and other health professional training. This option allows for further study in:

  • Medical and health professions, such as medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, and pharmacy
  • Nutrition science
  • Biological and exercise or sports science

The Nutrition Science track prepares students for graduate degrees in nutrition and health professions including medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and optometry.

The Nutrition Science track may be used to fulfill prerequisite requirements for medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, etc., as well as for graduate studies in nutrition. If a student is considering this track in preparation for professional school, it is the responsibility of the student to research the necessary course prerequisites as early as possible to ensure that s/he meets the professional school's admission requirements. Please contact the appropriate advisors at UIW for additional assistance.

  1. Nutrition Science majors meet with their assigned advisor during the first semester and develop a degree plan.
  2. Nutrition Science majors should research requirements for professional school or graduate school. During the student’s Junior and Senior years in the degree plan, the student’s advisor will assist the student in refining personal and career goals in regard to placement in either graduate or professional school.

Nutrition Science track four-year degree plan (pdf)

 

Careers in Nutrition

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the employment of dietitians to increase by 20 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average growth for all occupations. This is due to an increasing emphasis on disease prevention through improving dietary habits. Graduates of the University of the Incarnate Word Nutrition programs have been primarily placed in positions related to food and nutrition in San Antonio, Texas. The majority of program graduates either obtain placement in a dietetic internship or pursue graduate education after receiving their bachelor's degree.