Human Nutrition and Dietetic Science ( Pre-Dietetics/Dietetics ) - Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences

The Dietetics option prepares students to become registered dietitians (RD) and dietetic technicians, registered (DTR). This option encompasses nutritional science, clinical dietetics, community nutrition, food science and food service management. 

All students enrolled in this option begin as Pre-Dietetics students. All Pre-Dietetics students are required to apply for admission into the Dietetics option in the fall semester of their junior year as indicated on the Pre-Dietetics/Dietetics road map. Please refer to the HNDS Undergraduate Student Handbook for information on the admissions criteria, application instructions, and the application process. Pre-Dietetic students are termed Dietetic students upon formal notification of admission into the Dietetics program.

The Dietetics option is a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). This option enables graduates to continue pursuing the credentials of a registered dietitian (RD). Becoming an RD is currently a three-step process:

  1. Successfully complete an ACEND-accredited DPD program (e.g. the NMSU Dietetics Option), earn a degree and a verification statement
    1. The verification statement ensures eligibility to apply to the next step.
  2. Successfully complete an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) program, earn another verification statement.
    1. This 2nd verification statement ensures eligibility to begin the next step.
  3. Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) registration exam.

To earn a Verification Statement from the NMSU DPD, students must:

  1. Complete all classes outlined in the Dietetics option roadmap.
  2. Attain a C or higher (on campus or transfer) in classes with CHEM, BCHE, BIOL, SPMD, AHS/CHSS/NURS, FSTE and NUTR prefixes (C- does not count toward degree).

Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements, Viewing a Wider World requirements, and elective credits to total at least 121 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.

Prefix Title Credits
General Education
Area I: Communications10
English Composition - Level 1 1
English Composition - Level 2 1,4
Choose one ENGL course from the following:
Advanced Composition3
Professional & Technical Communication3
Professional and Technical Communication Honors3
Advanced Technical and Professional Communication3
Writing in the Humanities and Social Science3
Oral Communication 1
Area II: Mathematics
MATH 1220GCollege Algebra 23
or MATH 1430G Applications of Calculus I
Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences11
Personal Health & Wellness (Recommended) 13
General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors4
Choose one sequence from the following (4 credits):
Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution
and Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution Laboratory
4
Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology
and Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory
4
Area V: Humanitites3
Philosophy, Law, and Ethics (recommended)3
Introduction to Ethics
Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts 13
General Education Elective
FSTE 2110GFood Science I4
Viewing A Wider World 36
Departmental/College Requirements
FCSC 348Teaching in Informal Family and Consumer Sciences Settings3
FSTE Upper Division Course - any 300 or 400 level FSTE, except FSTE 4303-4
NUTR 2110Human Nutrition3
NUTR 2120Seminar I - Becoming a Nutrition Professional1
NUTR 3110Nutrition Throughout the Lifecycle3
NUTR 3120Food for Health4
NUTR 3710Food Systems & Policy in Dietetics3
NUTR 3750Applied Nutrition Research3
NUTR 4110Advanced Nutrition3
NUTR 4210Community Nutrition3
NUTR 4220Food Service Organization and Management3
NUTR 4230Medical Nutrition Therapy I3
NUTR 4230LMedical Nutrition Therapy I Lab1
NUTR 4233Nutrition Counseling and Education3
NUTR 4235Entering the Field of Dietetics1
NUTR 4240Medical Nutrition Therapy II3
NUTR 4240LMedical Nutrition Therapy II Laboratory1
NUTR 4565Field Experience Community Nutrition1
Choose one from the following:4-5
Food Microbiology4
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
5
Public Health Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
5
Non-Departmental Requirements (in addition to Gen.Ed/VWW)
A ST 311Statistical Applications3
or MATH 1350G Introduction to Statistics
ACCT 2110Principles of Accounting I3
CHEM 1225GGeneral Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors4
Choose one from the following:4-8
Survey of Organic Chemistry and Laboratory4
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
8
BCHE 341Survey of Biochemistry4
HRTM 2110Safety, Sanitation and Health in the Hospitality Industry1
HRTM 2120Food Production and Service Fundamentals3
Select one from the following:4
Human Anatomy and Physiology I for the Health Sciences4
Anatomy and Physiology I
and Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory
4
Select one from the following:3-4
Human Anatomy and Physiology II4
Human Physiology3
Anatomy and Physiology II
and Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
4
Exercise Physiology3
Choose one from the following:3
Medical Terminology3
Medical Terminology3
Medical Terminology3
Second Language: (not required)
Electives, to bring the total credits to 1210
Total Credits121-128
1

See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list.

Please refer to the HNDS Undergraduate Student Handbook for a list of recommended courses to choose from in order to fulfill these requirements.

2

MATH 1220G College Algebra or MATH 1430G Applications of Calculus I is required for the degree but students may need to take any prerequisites needed to enter MATH 1220G or MATH 1430G first.

3

See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.

Refer to the "List of Recommended GE courses" for HNDS students in the HNDS Undergraduate Student Handbook for a list of field-related course options that can be selected from the GE Core Curriculum and Viewing a Wider World course requirements.

4

Students who have taken a second level English course may be required to take another to fulfill the program's technical/ scientific writing requirement.

A Suggested Plan of Study for Students

During the following semesters, a student may need to submit for an overload to enroll in over 18 credits of course work (see the NMSU Regulations section-Course Load for Undergraduate Students for more information):

  • Third Year- Fall Semester

This roadmap assumes student  placement in MATH 1220G and ENGL 1110G. The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and english. It is only a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
ENGL 1110G Composition I 1 4
MATH 1220G College Algebra 1, 2 3
CHEM 1215G General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors (C or better) 1,3 4
Area IV: Social Behavioral Science Course 1, 4 3
Personal Health & Wellness (Recommended)
Recommended courses (not required)
Freshman Orientation
Financial Fitness for College Students
 Credits14
Spring
CHEM 1225G General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors (C or better) 1, 3 4
Choose one from the following: 4
Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution
and Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution Laboratory (C or better) 1, 3
Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology
and Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory (C or better ) 1,3
Choose one from the following: 3
Advanced Composition (C or better)
Professional & Technical Communication (C or Better)
Professional and Technical Communication Honors (C or better)
Advanced Technical and Professional Communication (C or better)
Writing in the Humanities and Social Science (C or Better)
NUTR 2110 Human Nutrition (C or better) 1, 3 3
NUTR 2120 Seminar I - Becoming a Nutrition Professional (C or better and only available in Spring Semesters) 1, 3 1
 Credits15
Second Year
Fall
FSTE 2110G Food Science I (C or better) 1,3 4
HRTM 2110 Safety, Sanitation and Health in the Hospitality Industry 1,3 1
Choose one from the following: 4-8
Survey of Organic Chemistry and Laboratory (C or better) 1 ,3
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory (C or better) 5
ACCT 2110 Principles of Accounting I 1, 3 3
Choose one from the following: 3
Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture 1
Introduction to Communication 1
Public Speaking 1
 Credits15-19
Spring
HRTM 2120 Food Production and Service Fundamentals 1,3 3
Area V: Humanities Course 1, 4
PHIL 1145G
Philosophy, Law, and Ethics (either recommended)
or Introduction to Ethics
3
Choose one from the following: 4
Human Anatomy and Physiology I for the Health Sciences (C or better, at DACC) 1, 3
Anatomy and Physiology I
and Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory (C or Better) 1
BCHE 341 Survey of Biochemistry (C or better) 1, 3 4
A ST 311
Statistical Applications 1, 3
or Introduction to Statistics
3
 Credits17
Third Year
Fall
Choose one from the following: 3-4
Human Physiology (C or better) 1,3
Human Anatomy and Physiology II (C or better, at DACC) 1, 3
Anatomy and Physiology II
and Anatomy and Physiology II Lab (C or better) 1,3
Exercise Physiology (C or better) 1,3
Choose one from the following: 4-5
Food Microbiology (C or better and only available Fall semesters) 1, 3
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory (C or better)
Public Health Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory (C or better)
FCSC 348 Teaching in Informal Family and Consumer Sciences Settings (only available in Fall semesters) 1, 3 3
NUTR 3110 Nutrition Throughout the Lifecycle (C or better, and only available in Fall semesters) 1, 3 3
NUTR 3120 Food for Health (C or better, and only available in Fall semesters) 1, 3 4
Apply to the HNDS- Didactic Program in Dietetics
 Credits17-19
Spring
FSTE Upper Division Course (C or better) Any 300 or 400 level FSTE except FSTE 430 3,6 3-4
Sensory Evaluation of Foods and Product Development
ACES Foods at NMSU-Experiential Learning
NUTR 3750 Applied Nutrition Research (C or better, and only available in Spring semesters) 3,7 3
NUTR 4110 Advanced Nutrition (C or better, Spring only ) 3, 7 3
NUTR 3710 Food Systems & Policy in Dietetics (C or better, Spring only) 3,7 3
Choose one from the following: 3
Medical Terminology (C or better) 3,6
Medical Terminology (C or better) 3,6
Medical Terminology (C or better) 3,6
 Credits15-16
Fourth Year
Fall
Area VI - Creative & Fine Arts Course 3 3
NUTR 4210 Community Nutrition (C or better, Fall only) 3,7 3
NUTR 4235 Entering the Field of Dietetics (C or better, Fall only) 3,7 1
NUTR 4230
4230L
Medical Nutrition Therapy I
and Medical Nutrition Therapy I Lab (C or better, Fall only) 3,7
4
NUTR 4233 Nutrition Counseling and Education (C or better, Fall only) 3,7 3
NUTR 4220 Food Service Organization and Management (C or better, Fall only) 3,7 3
 Credits17
Spring
VWW - Viewing a Wider World Course 6, 8 3
NUTR 4565 Field Experience Community Nutrition 3,7 1
VWW - Viewing a Wider World Course 6,8 3
NUTR 4240
4240L
Medical Nutrition Therapy II
and Medical Nutrition Therapy II Laboratory (C or better, Spring Only) 3,7
4
 Credits11
 Total Credits121-128
1

Pre-Dietetics courses must be completed and/or enrolled in prior to applying to the Dietetics program.

2

MATH 1220G College Algebra or MATH 1430G Applications of Calculus I is required for the degree but students may need to take any prerequisites needed to enter MATH 1220G College AlgebraMATH 1220G College Algebra or MATH 1430G Applications of Calculus IMATH 1430G Applications of Calculus I first.

3

Courses are required for application to a dietetic internship, GPAs in the application will be calculated using these classes.

4

 See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list.

5

CHEM 313 Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 314 Organic Chemistry II, and CHEM 315 Organic Chemistry Laboratory combination for the Organic Chemistry requirement is a total of 8 credits,

6

Required courses are upper-division courses that can be completed in the junior year prior to admission to the Dietetics program.

7

Dietetics courses can only be completed by Dietetic students who have been admitted into the Dietetics program.

8

 See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list.