Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences

http://www.uvm.edu/nfs/

The mission of the Nutrition and Food Sciences department is to foster the intellectual and professional growth of our students through engaged teaching, innovative instruction, and community-based applied learning opportunities. We conduct research that contributes to the public good by advancing knowledge in weight inclusive nutrition; safe and innovative foods; food security and food agency; and sustainable food systems.

The shared requirements for the major reflect the departmental commitment to the life sciences while fostering crucial intersections with the social sciences. All students will engage in hands-on laboratory and field experiences and participate in a senior capstone course. Thus, NFS majors are able to meet the current and future needs in a number of fields and the ability to assume innovative leadership roles in society and industry. 

Departmental majors may elect to meet the undergraduate requirements needed for admission to medical schools (including naturopathic, chiropractic or osteopathic) or graduate school in nutrition, dietetics, public health, food systems and food science. 

Depending on current interests and future plans, majors may select 1 of 3 concentrations:

Dietetics Concentration

Dietetics is a profession concerned with the science and art of human nutritional care, an essential component of human health science. This concentration retains the Dietetics program accreditation and provides the only pathway in Vermont for students to complete their didactic requirements to become a dietitian. This concentration prepares graduates to counsel people about the preventive and therapeutic role of nutrition in the maintenance of health and fitness. 

The didactic program in Dietetics is accredited by the:

Accreditation Council for Education and Dietetics
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
(312) 899-0040 ext. 5400

This program prepares students for careers as Registered Dietitians by providing the undergraduate requirements needed to apply to dietetic internships. Students graduating with this concentration could go on to become registered dietitians without taking additional undergraduate coursework. 

To become a Registered Dietitian, students must complete the didactic program in Dietetics, complete an ACEND accredited supervised practice/internship program, and pass the National Registration Examination for Dietitians. 

Food Sciences Concentration

The vision of the food sciences concentration is to provide graduates with a solid foundation in the field in order to be key contributors to the food and beverage industry and related fields. Graduates will obtain knowledge in nutrition, food chemistry and analysis, food microbiology and safety and food functionality. Students pursing this concentration will be provided with hands-on learning experiences in-house through a food industry practicum. 

Nutrition, Sustainability and Society Concentration

This concentration is designed for students who are interested in advancing health through nutrition in careers such as research, policy, or public health.  Coursework and learning experiences address the ways in which food systems and nutrition are interrelated including for population and planetary health. This concentration does not prepare students to become a dietitian.