Food Science and Human Nutrition: Nutrition Concentration, BS

Program Requirements

Food Science and Human Nutrition majors apply principles of basic and applied sciences to the design and manufacture of high quality, sustainable, convenient, safe and nutritious foods, in addition to identifying the relationship between nutrients and human health. The curriculum allows flexibility for concentrating in one of two areas:

In the Food Science and Technology Concentration, students choose to focus their program of study in one of three emphasis areas: (1) Food Packaging and Manufacturing Operations; (2) Sustainable Food, Nutrition and Health; or (3) Culinary Science. All three emphasis areas are approved by the Institute of Food Technologies (IFT), with the Culinary Science emphasis also being one of a few select national programs approved by the Research Chef’s Association as meeting the requirements for the title of Culinology™.

The food industry is a global effort that requires highly skilled individuals with strong science knowledge and technical skills. Our program not only prepares students in these areas, but also has a focus on engaging students in “real world” team-led research projects and understanding the creation and development of successful global food business enterprises. The program has hands-on food business entrepreneurship, study abroad and internship opportunities.

Opportunities for employment include a wide variety of career paths, such as new food product research and development, design of sustainable food systems, quality assurance management, analytical testing, operations management, food packaging applications, marketing, customer services and technical sales. Local, state and federal agencies also need graduates for positions in sustainability food safety ad regulatory positions.

In the Nutrition Concentration, students choose to focus their program of study in one of four emphasis areas: (1) Dietetics; (2) Basic and Behavioral Science; (3) Community Health and Wellness; or (4) Food Industry. The same course plan is followed the first two years with the junior and senior years varying according to the emphasis plan. Students normally choose the emphasis by the beginning of the spring semester of the sophomore year so as not to delay graduation. The Dietetics emphasis prepares students for an ACEND-accredited dietetic internship program to become a Registered Dietitian or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD or RDN). The curriculum for the Nutrition concentration with a Dietetics emphasis is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) as a Didactic Program in Dietetics. The Basic and Behavioral Science emphasis prepares students for graduate study in nutrition and health professions. The Community Health and Wellness emphasis prepares students for careers in community nutrition interacting with healthy populations. The Food Industry emphasis allows students to pair nutrition and food science knowledge for job opportunities in food product development.

To become a RD or RDN, students must complete three main steps. Information on these steps is available at http://www.eatrightacend.org/ACEND/content. aspx?id=6442485467. Successful completion of Clemson University’s B.S. in Food Science and Human Nutrition with a concentration in Nutrition and an emphasis in Dietetics fulfills only the first step of the three step process to become a RD or RDN. Students who select the Dietetics emphasis must complete a formal application process and meet specific criteria for acceptance into the emphasis. The demand for dietetic internship positions greatly exceeds the number of available positions. Due to the competitive nature of dietetic internship acceptance, minimum grade criteria in specific courses are required for Dietetics emphasis acceptance. Two application times for admission into the Dietetics emphasis are available, one at the beginning of the spring semester and one at the beginning of the fall semester. Acceptance and successful completion of the Dietetics emphasis curriculum will not guarantee acceptance into an ACEND-accredited dietetic internship, step two in the process of becoming a RD or RDN.

For Dietetics emphasis admission, students must meet the following requirements: (1) Documented attendance at a dietetics program information session discussing the steps to become a RD/RDN; (2) Complete at least 60 credit hours by the end of the semester the student is applying; (3) Have a minimum GPA of 3.20; (4) Complete BIOL 1030  and BIOL 1050  (or BIOL 1100 ), BIOL 1040  and BIOL 1060  (or BIOL 1110 ), CH 1010 , CH 1020 , CH 2230 , CH 2270 , BIOL 2220 , PSYC 2010  and ECON 2000  or ECON 2120  with a C or better; (5) Complete FDSC 1010 , NUTR 2030  and NUTR 2160  with a B or better; and (6) Complete a Dietetics emphasis application form by the beginning of either spring semester or fall semester.

Students with a GPA of less than 3.20 GPA but greater than 3.00 are conditionally accepted with final acceptance based on posted semester grades. Students are allowed to apply up to two times. Once in the Dietetics emphasis, a student may complete the curriculum, but must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00. To receive a signed Declaration of Intent and/ or Verification Statement, students must comply with the GPA, grade and other requirements indicated in the “Declaration of Intent and Verification Statement Policy.” A signed Verification Statement is required for admission to an ACEND-accredited dietetic internship program, but receipt of a Verification Statement does not guarantee acceptance into an ACEND-accredited dietetic internship program. (See the FNPS Handbook for more details.)

To receive a signed Declaration of Intent and/or Verification Statement, a student must meet the following academic and professional requirements: 1. Earn a minimum of a baccalaureate degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college/university; 2. Complete all the academic requirements of a dietetics education program accredited by ACEND; 3. Demonstrate an overall minimum GPA of 3.00 based on all completed college coursework; 4. Complete all DPD-required NUTR and FDSC courses with a B or better; 5. Complete all other DPD-required coursework with a C or better; and 6. Adhere to Clemson University’s Academic Integrity Policy and the Student Code of Conduct.

Academic Program Fee

Please visit http://www.clemson.edu/cafls/departments/fnps/students/program_fee.html for detailed information about the departmental Academic Program Fee.

Combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science Degree Program

The Department of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences also offers an accelerated five-year combined bachelor’s/master’s program that allows students to count up to twelve hours of graduate credit toward both the BS degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition and the MS degree in Food, Nutrition and Culinary Sciences. Details are available from the Department of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences or at www.clemson.edu/fnps.

Concentration - Nutrition

Total Semester Hours: 123-126

¹ NUTR 4180  is required for Dietetics emphasis area students. NUTR 4190  is required for students in all other emphasis areas.

² See General Education Requirements . Three of these credits must also satisfy the Cross-Cultural Awareness General Education Requirement.

³ Each emphasis area consists of 17 credits. Please course lists below for each emphasis area:

1. Dietetics Emphasis Area: FDSC 3060 , FDSC 4070 , NUTR 4180 , NUTR 4240 , NUTR 4250  and NUTR 4270  
2. Basic and Behavioral Science Emphasis Area: NUTR 4190  and 16 Credits selected from AGRB 3610 , CH 2240 , CH 2280 , FDSC 4500 , GEN 3000 , HLTH 2020 , HLTH 2030 , HLTH 3800 , PHYS 2070 , PHYS 2080 , PHYS 2090 , PHYS 2100 , PSYC 3400 , PSYC 3830 , SOC 3600 , STAT 3300  
3. Community Health and Wellness Emphasis Area: NUTR 4190  and 16 Credits selected from BIOL 2030 , COMM 3210 , ELE 3010 , FDSC 4500 , HLTH 2020 , HLTH 2030 , HLTH 2980 , HLTH 3800 , MICR 4000 , MICR 4160 , MKT 3010 , PSYC 3400 , PSYC 3450 , PSYC 4800 , SOC 2010 , SOC 2020 , SOC 3600 , STAT 3300  
4. Food Industry Emphasis Area: NUTR 4190  and 16 Credits selected from FDSC 3070 , FDSC 4010 , FDSC 4020 , FDSC 4030 , FDSC 4070 , FDSC 4090 , FDSC 4100 , FDSC 4500 

To be accepted into the Dietetics emphasis area, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.2, have earned a C or better in science and social science coursework, and a B or better in food science and nutrition coursework. Refer to Dietetics Program Admission Policy in the FNPS Handbook.