Skip to Content

This is an archived copy of the 2013-2014 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, pleae visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

Food Science and Human Nutrition (H SCI)

View PDF

 

The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition is jointly administered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Human Sciences. All curricula offered by the department are available to students in either college. These curricula include culinary science, dietetics, diet and exercise, food science, and nutritional science. Visit the department web site at: www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu .

Undergraduate Study

Culinary science is an interdisciplinary degree combining a strong food science foundation with acquisition of culinary skills. The program includes chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, microbiology, and biochemistry as well as quantity food production, fine dining management, and food safety and sanitation. Internships in the food industry and culinary business are required. Culinary science graduates are qualified to work as managers and specialists in food research, product development, culinary applications, and food marketing and sales.

The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, and accrediting agency of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The dietetics undergraduate curriculum meets the academic requirements as the DPD. Additionally, the curriculum for concurrent Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in diet and exercise meets the academic requirements of the DPD. Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for admission to accredited/approved dietetics internships/supervised practice programs. Upon successful completion of the experience program, graduates are eligible to take the national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration to become a Registered Dietitian (R.D.) and to practice in the field of dietetics. The dietetics program includes study in basic sciences, nutrition, and food science with applications to medical dietetics, nutrition counseling and education, and community nutrition. Foodservice management is also an important aspect of the program. Graduates work in clinical settings, consulting, food companies, food services, sports or athletic programs, corporate wellness programs, care facilities for patients from neonatal to geriatric, and community or school health programs. There is a $30 fee for a statement of verification of completion of the DPD. For information about verification statements provided to non-ISU students or students with degrees from international universities, see the departmental website: www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu .

Food science is a discipline in which the principles of biological and physical sciences are used to study the nature of foods, the causes of their deterioration, and the principles underlying the processing and preparation of food. It is the application of science and technology to the provision of a safe, wholesome, and nutritious food supply. Biotechnology and toxicology interrelate with food science in the area of food safety. In the food industry, food scientists work in research and development of products or processes, production supervision, quality control, marketing and sales, test kitchens and recipe development, product promotion and communication. Food scientists also work in government regulatory agencies and academic institutions.

Three options are available in food science: food science and technology, food science and industry, and consumer food science. The food science and technology and food science and industry options are approved by the Institute of Food Technologists, the national professional organization of food science. Students interested in quality control/assurance; production supervision; management and sales; or research careers in the food industry, government, or academia should elect either the food science and technology or the food science and industry option. Students who wish to go to graduate or professional schools or who receive Scholarships of Excellence in Agriculture and Life Sciences should elect the food science and technology option. Students who wish to emphasize business, journalism, or special aspects of food science should elect food science and industry. Students interested in food product formulation and recipe development, food promotion and communication, and consumer services in government and industry should elect the consumer food science option.

Students who wish to combine education in engineering with food science may select additional courses in chemical or agricultural engineering. Double majors are available and may require an additional year.

Nutritional science offers two options: pre-health professional & research and nutrition & wellness. Students in the pre-health professional & research option gain a strong basic science education along with human nutrition expertise that enables them to attain the knowledge and skills necessary to work in research laboratories of colleges and universities, government agencies, industries, and foundations. The pre-health professional & research option can serve as a preprofessional program for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or for graduate study in nutrition or other biological sciences. Students in the nutrition & wellness option will learn about the role of nutrition and healthy eating for disease prevention and wellness with an emphasis on communication of nutrition messages to the public and community agencies and effective program planning and evaluation. Graduates will be prepared for employment opportunities in community and state agencies, nonprofit organizations and health promotion enterprises, public health and related programs and for graduate study.

Students graduating with degrees in culinary science, dietetics, diet and exercise, food science, or nutritional science will be able to: 1) demonstrate a high level of technical competence in their chosen field, perform successfully in a graduate program, supervised practice program or entry-level professional position; 2) communicate effectively as professionals; 3) successfully solve complex problems on their own and as members of a team; 4) correctly interpret and critically evaluate research literature as well as data from professional practice; 5) critically evaluate information related to food science and nutrition issues appearing in the popular press; 6) prepare and deliver effective presentations, orally and in writing, of technical information to professionals and to the general public; 7) thoughtfully discuss ethical, social, multicultural, and environmental dimensions of issues facing professionals in their chosen field.

Communication Proficiency is certified by a grade of C or better in 6 credits of coursework in composition (ENGL 150 Critical Thinking and Communication and ENGL 250 Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition or other communication-intensive courses) and a grade of C or better in 3 credits of coursework in oral communication.

A combined Bachelor of Science and Master of Science (B.S./M.S.) degree in diet and exercise is available. The program is jointly administered by the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (FS HN), within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and College of Human Sciences, and the Department of Kinesiology within the College of Human Sciences. Students interested in this program enroll as freshmen in the pre-diet and exercise program. In the fall of the junior year, students apply for admission to the B.S./M.S. program. Students not accepted into the program continue toward completion of a B.S. degree in dietetics or kinesiology and health. Coursework has been designed to facilitate a 4-year graduation date for those students not accepted into the program and electing to complete a single undergraduate degree. Students accepted into the program will progress toward completion of B.S./M.S. degrees in diet and exercise.

The department offers coursework for minors in culinary science, food science, and nutrition and participates in the interdepartmental minor in food safety. See department office or departmental website for more information about minors: http://www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu/undergraduate-programs/minors/ .

Minor - Food Safety

The Interdepartmental food safety minor is designed to provide undergraduate students with exposure to the principles of food safety to complement their current major and offer new opportunities for their future careers. Depending on the student’s major, the minor enhances the student’s expertise in food safety issues pertinent to the student’s major. Student learning outcomes include: awareness of food safety issues as they appear in each step of the food chain; ability to analyze a situation, identify food safety problems, use resources to gain additional information; develop a procedure or solution to identified problems; examine proposed solutions for viability and effectiveness; and to be able to speak and write about food safety issues. Graduates with a food safety minor are better prepared for employment in agricultural, medical, and veterinary medical agencies and with state, national and international businesses.

The food safety minor requires 15 credits of coursework with 9 credits from 3 core courses and elective courses to supplement the training in the minor. See approved list for minor courses from departmental website:  http://www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu/undergraduate-programs/minors/ .

Postbaccalaureate Program

The Iowa State University Dietetic Internship (DI) began as an AP4 program in 1989. It meets the performance requirements for experience programs for students who have completed the academic requirements of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The internship is administered through the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. Interns are admitted to Iowa State University as graduate students seeking a "Graduate Certificate in Dietetics Internship" which will be indicated on the final transcript. Successful completion of this program will result in the receipt of the DI Verification Statement which establishes eligibility to sit for the national standardized exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Successful completion of the exam results in the Registered Dietitian (RD) credential. For more information, refer to Special Interest Programs listed under the College of Human Sciences or visit the website at www.dietetics.iastate.edu . There is a nonrefundable application fee of $75.