34
Programs of Study
34.15
BSc in Nutrition and Food Science
34.15 BSc in Nutrition and Food Science
34.15.1 General Information
The Faculty offers courses leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Science with majors in Nutrition and Food, Nutrition, and Food Science and Technology. A minimum of 
120 is required to complete the program for the degree of BSc in Nutrition and Food Science.
Students interested in either the Nutrition and Food major or the Nutrition major begin their program in the Nutrition and Food major. Students interested in transferring to the Nutrition major should contact the Faculty’s Student Services Office about the minimum requirements for eligibility; see §15.1.9 for information on admission requirements.
Students in either the Nutrition and Food major or the Nutrition major have the option of completing a minor. By completing a minor in Human Ecology, students can meet the educational requirements for registration as Professional Human Ecologists or Professional Home Economists; students can complete a minor in Physical Activity; or students in the Nutrition and Food major can complete a minor in Food Marketing or Food Policy. Students are recommended to select minors by the second year of their program to facilitate appropriate course selection. All students must follow program and major requirements (see program requirements below and §§34.15.3 and 34.15.4). Students who wish to obtain a minor must select Free Electives and Approved Program Electives (APEs) carefully to meet the course and credit requirements of the minor (see §§34.15.9 to 34.15.7).
The Nutrition major program, with appropriate Approved Program Electives (APEs) course selection, is accredited by the College of Dietitians of Alberta. Students planning to be Registered Dietitians should read the information about the Nutrition major (see §34.15.4) and the Dietetic Internship (see §34.15.9).
The Food Science and Technology major meets the guidelines of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).
Requirements of the BSc in Nutrition and Food Science Program (60)
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ALES 204 | |
AREC 323 or SMO 301 | |
ECON 101 and 102 | |
STAT 151 | |
BIOL 107 | |
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CHEM 101, 102, (164 or 261) and 263 | |
NU FS 361 or 363 (see Note 1) | |
NU FS 372 or 373 (see Note 1) | |
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Notes
Food Science and Technology majors are required to take NU FS 361 and 372. | |
Nutrition majors must take BIOCH 200. | |
Students in the Nutrition and Food major or the Nutrition major who plan to complete a minor should see §§34.15.5 to 34.15.8 for information that may affect Free Elective course selection. Students planning to apply for Medicine must take | |
See section §34.1 for program planning and structure details. |
34.15.2 Food Science and Technology Major
This major focuses on applying chemistry, microbiology, and engineering to the food systems and technological processes used in food manufacturing, preservation, storage, and distribution.
Graduates of this major may enter the food industry as technical specialists or quality control managers. Opportunities also exist in government employment as inspectors, laboratory managers, and extension workers; in international development agencies; and in private laboratories providing consultative or technical service to the food industry and food marketing chains.
Requirements of the Major (
Notes
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34.15.3 Nutrition and Food Major
The Nutrition and Food major provides students with a diverse education in nutrition and food science. Graduates have a working knowledge of the fundamentals of nutritional science coupled with basic knowledge in applied chemistry and microbiology as it pertains to food manufacturing, preservation, storage and distribution. This degree integrates course work in the biological, behavioural and applied sciences.
Graduates of this major may find employment opportunities in a variety of public or private enterprises including health education, health industry or international aid. Careers can also be guided by the selection of a minor in Physical Activity, Human Ecology, Food Marketing, or Food Policy (see §§34.15.5 to 34.15.8), which can position graduates for careers in lifestyle management, the community-based human ecology sector or the agri-food-nutrition sector.
Students in the Nutrition and Food major may to transfer to the Nutrition major if they meet its required academic standings and courses by visiting Student Services in 231 General Services Building; this is normally done after first year (see §15.1.9). Students who change to the Nutrition (or Food Science and Technology) major after their first year often require more than four years to complete the entire program (see §§15.1.9 and 34.15.4 for course selection information for the Nutrition major, and §34.15.2 for the Food Science and Technology major).
Requirements of the Major (
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Notes
See §34.1(4). Students who plan to complete a minor see §§34.15.5 to 34.15.8 for information regarding Approved Program Elective selection. | |
The capstone course for this major is NU FS 425 or 450. |
34.15.4 Nutrition Major
The goal of the Nutrition Major is to provide students with a specialized academic program in nutritional science and the related physical, health and social sciences. It incorporates experiential learning into coursework to enable students to develop skills in nutritional science.
The Nutrition major prepares students for careers in general health sciences, dietetics, health promotion, education, private practice, government and health protection agencies, research and nutrition development. Appropriate selection of Free Electives (6 Physics) will provide the required courses for application to Medicine.
The Nutrition major, with appropriate Approved Program Electives, is accredited by the College of Dietitians of Alberta (see §34.15.9). Students registered in this major can meet the academic competencies to be eligible for either the Integrated Dietetic Internship or post-degree internships.
Students who elect to complete a minor in Physical Activity or Human Ecology (see §§34.15.5 and 34.15.6) and participate in the Integrated Internship will not be able to meet all course requirements in four years.
Students will be assessed annually to ensure that they maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 in the previous Fall/Winter [see §33.4(2)].
Requirements of the Major (
Notes
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34.15.5 Minor in Physical Activity
Students in the Nutrition and Food major (see §34.15.3) or in the Nutrition major (see §34.15.4) may choose to complete a minor in Physical Activity by incorporating the following 15 into their program by careful selection of their Approved Program Electives and Free Electives. This provides the opportunity to integrate nutrition and food sciences with health and physical activity. See §34.1(4) and Note.
Requirements for the Minor (
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34.15.6 Minor in Human Ecology
Students in the Nutrition and Food major (see §34.15.3) or in the Nutrition major (see §34.15.4) may choose a minor in Human Ecology by incorporating the following 15 into their program through careful selection of their Approved Program Electives and Free Electives. Depending on course selections made in major and minor areas of study, students may be eligible to apply to become a professional Human Ecologist or Professional Home Economist (information is available from 3-02 Human Ecology Building). See §34.1(4) and Note.
Requirements for the Minor (
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34.15.7 Minor in Food Marketing
Students in the Nutrition and Food major (see §34.15.3) may choose a minor in Food Marketing by incorporating the following 15 into their program by careful selection of their Approved Program Electives and Free Electives. This provides the opportunity to apply a nutrition and food science background to consumer and food marketing. See §34.1(4) and Note.
Requirements for the Minor (
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34.15.8 Minor in Food Policy
Students in the Nutrition and Food major (see §34.15.3) may choose a minor in Food Policy by incorporating the following 15 into their program through careful selection of their Approved Program Electives and Free Electives. This provides the opportunity to apply a health, fiscal and agricultural policy perspective to issues of health and food. See §34.1(4) and Note.
Requirements for the Minor (
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34.15.9 Dietetic Internships
Dietitians are employed in health care institutions, industry, government services, retail food services, teaching, community clinics, public relations, the media, and private practice. To become a Registered Dietitian, students must complete an undergraduate degree in Nutrition and a dietetic internship. Students must meet the additional course requirements (beyond those in the Nutrition major) outlined below to be eligible for an accredited dietetic internship. Applicants must meet a spoken English requirement (see §13.3.2)
Integrated Dietetic Internship: Eligible students may apply for the Integrated Dietetic Internship once course requirements are met. See Note 1. In this internship, academic terms alternate with internship terms in cooperation with health care facilities throughout Alberta; the degree plus internship can be completed in approximately five years and then the student is eligible for registration with the College of Dietitians of Alberta and membership in Dietitians of Canada. Students admitted to the U of A Integrated Dietetic Internship are required to maintain undergraduate registration and complete NUTR 466, 469, 470, 471 and 472 prior to convocation.
Post-degree Internship: As an alternative to the Integrated Dietetic Internship, eligible students may apply for the post-degree internship in their fourth year. Students applying for post-degree internships through Dietitians of Canada do not complete U of A professional practice courses.
Required Course List for Dietetics Students
Students who wish to become Registered Dietitians must complete the Nutrition major, the specific additional undergraduate course requirements noted below and a dietetic internship (see Notes). These additional 15 may be taken as Approved Program Electives or Free Electives in the Nutrition major. This combination is an accredited university undergraduate program with the College of Dietitians of Alberta.
Required Dietetics Courses (
Notes
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Under Alberta's Protection for Persons in Care Act, students may be required to satisfy a criminal records check before being allowed to participate in an internship program.
