Nutrition and Health Care Management

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Dietetics - The Didactic Program in Dietetics

The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Nutrition and Foods was approved at ASU in the academic year 1945-46, and the dietetic program was first established in 1976. In 1991, the ASU Didactic Program in Dietetics was approved by the CADE of the ADA. Full Accreditation of the Program was granted in 2001. Since the beginning of the dietetics program, the emphasis has been on general dietetics in order to meet the needs of the region served by this university. The capstone experience is a 400 hour internship planned by each student to reflect their interests and to mirror the requirements of the ADA Dietetic Internship. Alumni remain very supportive of the program by providing training opportunities for our students and serving as guest speakers when requested. In fact, nearly every Registered Dietitian in the local district has a relationship or connection with the Nutrition and Foods program at ASU.

Foodsystems Management

Nutrition and Foods majors may concentrate in Foodsystems Management, an option which leads to careers in the food service and hospitality industry through a curriculum that combines the theoretical aspects of management with food production and distribution. Courses cover the planning and preparing of food, developing new food products, catering, and managing the business aspects of food service. Majors gain direct experience in food service settings not only in the foods lab but also in campus food service operations. A capstone experience comes in the senior year with an individually planned, 400-hour internship in a foodsystems operation reflective of the student’s career goals. Graduates in this area become directors of food service operations in resorts, hospitals, hotels, colleges and public schools, etc., in addition to positions with contract food companies.

Nutrition and Foods Minor

Students not majoring in Nutrition and Foods may minor in the subject by taking a variety of courses to gain a basic understanding of foodsystems, nutrition and health, and other related subjects.

Combined Graduate Program/ ADA Internship

The MS degree in Nutrition is a two year program. The first year is comprised of course work, while the second year is an ADA accredited Dietetic Internship. The program has a concentration on rural health. Students spend time in small hospitals and rural health settings in the region. The intervening Summer is spent in active research projects with faculty.

Health Care Management

The undergraduate major in Health Care Management (HCM) prepares students for entry level administrative or management jobs in health delivery organizations (such as hospitals, physician offices, long-term care facilities or outpatient centers), health-related government agencies or other business that support health care delivery (insurers, medical suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, etc.) The HCM degree is certified nationally by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration.