Department of Nutrition and Family Sciences

[1] Purposes

The nutrition and family sciences programs at the baccalaureate and master’s levels are designed to prepare professionals for employment in broad career options. Graduates are employed in nutrition, business, education, healthcare facilities, industry, government, community agencies, and other organizations.

The focus of nutrition and family sciences is on the individual, the family, their health and their community, and the interaction between families and their changing social and physical environments.

The curriculum provides professional preparation built upon an interdisciplinary knowledge base drawn from research in family and consumer sciences; nutrition and wellness; economics; and the biological, physical, and social sciences.

The Department of Nutrition and Family Sciences offers five undergraduate degrees: the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Family & Consumer Sciences, the Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) in Family & Consumer Sciences, the BS in Dietetics, the BS in Community Nutrition, and the BS in Nutrition Sciences.

At the graduate level, the Department of Nutrition and Family Sciences offers the Master of Science (MS) degree in Family and Consumer Sciences, the MS in Nutrition and the MS Dietetic Internship (see the Graduate Bulletin for information about these programs). The graduate student may select the thesis or non-thesis option. The undergraduate (BS) dietetic program and the post-baccalaureate dietetic internship (MSDI) programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The undergraduate (BSE) program in Family and Consumer Sciences Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of  Educator Preparation.

[2] Honors in Family and Consumer Sciences

Students who major in Family and Consumer Sciences, Nutrition or Dietetics and who demonstrate exceptional ability may be invited to enter the Honors in the Major Program. For details, see Honors in the Major Program.

[3] Baccalaureate Degree Programs

[3.1] Bachelor of Science

The degree of Bachelor of Science, with a major in family and consumer sciences or nutrition (dietetics, community nutrition, or nutrition science) requires successful completion of a minimum of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using major, minor, or elective courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) degree requirements; (3) program/major requirements; and (4) supporting requirements. No minor is required.

Family and Consumer Sciences or Nutrition core courses are used to satisfy the lower-division UCA Core requirements in Responsible Living. Family and Consumer Sciences and Nutrition courses are used to satisfy the upper-division UCA Core requirements in Critical Inquiry, Communication, Diversity, and Responsible Living. To fulfill the UCA Core Capstone requirement, students seeking a degree in Dietetics will take NUTR 4335 Nutrition Senior Seminar; those seeking a degree in Community Nutrition will complete NUTR 4339 Community Nutrition Practicum; those seeking a degree in Nutrition Science will complete FACS 3356 Methods in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and those in Family and Consumer Sciences will complete FACS 4340 FCS Professional Practice.

[3.1.1] Dietetics

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Students will apply to the DPD program in the semester in which they will complete 60 hours. At least 45 credit hours must be completed prior to applying. Criteria includes a “B” or better in NUTR 1300, NUTR 2311, NUTR 3310, BIOL 3406, BIOL 3407, and CHEM 2450. Students will complete an online application and interview with the DPD Director as part of this process.

Students who elect and successfully complete the BS in Dietetics will be issued a verification statement and can apply for Dietetic Internships or apply for the Dietetic Technician Registered exam. Students will also have a ServSafe Certification and will be well prepared for graduate school.

The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at the University of Central Arkansas is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Major requirements (61 hours):

Supporting requirements to meet the academic requirements of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (27 hours):

This program does not require a minor.

* indicates courses needed for application into program with a “B” or better.

Eligibility to take the registration examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration requires the BS degree plus completion of an approved internship (see § 4, below). Contact the department chair for further information.

[3.1.2] Community Nutrition

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The BS in Community Nutrition program affords its graduates the skills needed to work in various employment positions including Department of Health and Human Services (Women, Infants, and Children program), Child Nutrition programs in public schools, Cooperative Extensions, corporate wellness programs, entrepreneurship, nonprofit feeding programs such as The Hunger Relief Alliance, as well as others. Students will be able to take the exam for the ServSafe Certification and will be prepared to go to graduate school. Students who elect a BS in Community Nutrition will not be awarded a verification statement to make them eligible to apply for a dietetic internship. If the student decides at a later date to apply for an internship, classes like Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, and the DPD requirements of Medical Nutrition Therapy I and II (as well as others) will be required.

Major requirements (58 hours):

Additional degree requirements (11 hours):

This program does not require a minor.

Eligibility to take the registration examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration requires the BS degree plus completion of an approved internship (see § 4, below). Contact the department chair for further information.

[3.1.3] Nutrition Science

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Students who elect the BS in Nutrition Science will be eligible for application into professional degree programs such as Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and others. They also will be qualified to apply for lab technician and research jobs at various institutions (e.g., Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute).

Major requirements (44 hours):

Additional degree requirements (28 hours)

Supporting requirements (7 hours)

Note 1

[3.1.4] Family and Consumer Sciences (42 hours)

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Major Requirements (27 hours):

Major Electives (15 hours, choose from the following):

[3.2] Bachelor of Science in Education

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The degree of Bachelor of Science in Education, with a major in family and consumer sciences, requires successful completion of (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using major, minor, or elective courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) degree requirements; (3) family and consumer sciences requirements; and (4) supporting professional education requirements, including the minor in Teaching and Learning.

Nutrition or Family and Consumer Sciences Core courses are used to satisfy the lower-division UCA Core requirement in Responsible Living and the upper-division UCA Core requirements in Critical Inquiry, Communication, Diversity and Responsible Living. Students with a Family and Consumer Sciences Education degree will take FACS 4680 and 4681 Internship II as the required UCA Core Capstone.

[3.2.1] Family and Consumer Sciences

Major requirements:

Professional Education course work:

Professional Education course work includes the minor in Teaching and Learning, the content methods course, and the intense internship experience. For information about teacher education Admission, Exit, and Retention Requirements, see the College of Education page in this bulletin.

[3.3] Minor in Family and Consumer Sciences (18 hours)

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Eighteen hours of family and consumer sciences, nutrition or interior design courses, 3 hours of which must be upper-division, may be selected from various areas of family and consumer sciences and approved by the department chair. The minor is offered for students who desire family and consumer sciences for cultural and personal value or for supporting work for a related major.

[4] Master of Science Dietetic Internship

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The dietetic internship is a graduate-level supervised dietetic practice and study program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The dietetic internship meets performance requirements for eligibility to write the national registration exam, administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), to become a registered dietitian.  The dietetic internship is to be completed in 15 months. The first year includes instruction and practicum experiences in community nutrition and research food-service management. Instruction and practicum experiences during the second year includes clinical nutrition and clinical management. Practice sites include various community, wellness, and health care facilities in Arkansas.

Dietetic Internship Entrance Requirements:

• Baccalaureate degree.
• Verification statement of completion of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)
• Official transcript(s) of course work from all colleges and universities attended.
• Minimum of 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
• Recommended GRE score of 300 (150 verbal, 150 quantitative) with 3.0 on writing.
• ServeSafe Certification
• Work experience in nutrition-related area.
• Completed dietetic internship application. (See https://uca.edu/facs/programs/dietetic-internship/)

[5] Master’s Degree

See Graduate Bulletin.

[6] Course Links

Follow this link for NUTR – Nutrition and Food Sciences course descriptions: course link.

Follow this link for FACS – Family and Consumer Sciences course descriptions: course link.