Nutrition Concentration

The Dietetics emphasis prepares students for an ACEND^®-accredited supervised practice (i.e., dietetic internship) program to become a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (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 (DPD), providing evidence-based training for nutrition and dietetics practice. 

The Basic and Behavioral Science emphasis is designed to provide students with pre-professional coursework in preparation for graduate training in nutrition science, biomedical sciences, medicine, and other healthcare-related fields. The curriculum provides a strong science and social science foundation to fulfill academic requirements for admission into graduate and professional healthcare programs.

Pre-Professional Health Advising

The Clemson Health Professions Advising website provides detailed information on curricular and extra-curricular requirements for admission into graduate programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistance, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and veterinary medicine. Many of the course requirements for professional program acceptance are integrated within the Basic and Behavioral Science emphasis. Students interested in pursuing this emphasis in preparation for graduate training in medicine, dentistry, and allied health are encouraged to meet with the pre-professional health advisor, Harolynn Williams, in addition to their assigned academic adviser within the Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences. 

Career  Opportunities

Career opportunities for students who pursue the Basic and Behavioral Science emphasis area include research, education, and healthcare professions. With the completion of an advanced degree, students may pursue careers in medicine (MD, DO, PA), dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and speech therapy, to name a few. Other opportunities include working in pharmaceutical and biomedical sales, public relations and consumer affairs, and healthcare organizations.

Basic and Behavioral Science Emphasis Requirements

Students in the Basic and Behavioral Science emphasis must complete 17 credits in the emphasis area. One credit of professional development coursework (NUTR 4190 Professional Development in Nutrition) is required. The remaining 16 credits may be selected from the following list of courses. Refer to the Nutrition Concentration Emphasis Area Course List (PDF) for further details.

The Community Health and Wellness emphasis is designed to provide students with coursework in preparation for careers working with generally healthy populations through non-profit, for-profit, and government community health and wellness programs. The curriculum provides a strong science and social science foundation for developing well-rounded professionals who are trained in evidence-based practice and are culturally competent.

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities for students who pursue the Community Health and Wellness emphasis include educating individuals, families and groups concerning nutrition practices intended to prevent disease and enhance health. Employment settings include community health programs, senior centers, home-delivered meal services (i.e., Meals on Wheels), cooperative extension, public health agencies, non-profit organizations, worksite wellness programs, health and fitness centers, government programs (i.e., Women, Infants, and Children [WIC], National School Lunch Program [NSLP], Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP], Older Americans Programs, etc.), and international food and health organizations (i.e., Peace Corps, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, etc.).

Community Health and Wellness Emphasis Requirements

Students in the Community Health and Wellness emphasis must complete 17 credits in the emphasis area. One credit of professional development coursework (NUTR 4190 Professional Development in Nutrition) is required. The remaining 16 credits may be selected from the following list of courses. Refer to the Nutrition Concentration Emphasis Area Course List (PDF) for further details.

• PSYC 3450 Adulthood and Aging¹ – 3 credits
  
  
• PSYC 3400 Lifespan Developmental Psychology¹ – 3 credits
  
  
• PSYC 4800 Health Psychology¹ – 3 credits
  
  
• SOC 2010 Introduction to Sociology – 3 credits
  
  
• SOC 2020 Social Problems – 3 credits
  
  
• SOC 3600 Social Class and Poverty¹ (preq SOC 2010 or 2020) – 3 credits
  
  
• HLTH 2980 Human Health and Disease – 3 credits
  
  
• HLTH 2020 Introduction to Public Health² – 3 credits
  
  
• HLTH 2030 Overview of Health Care Systems² – 3 credits
  
  
• HLTH 3800 Epidemiology² (preq any 2000-level HLTH course) – 3 credits
  
  
• MICR 4000 Public Health Microbiology – 3 credits
  
  
• MICR 4160 Introduction to Virology – 3 credits
  
  
• COMM 3210 Communication Across Media (preq COMM 2010) – 3 credits
  
  
• BIOL 2030 Human Disease & Society – 3 credits
  
  
• MKT 3010 Principles of Marketing¹ – 3 credits
  
  
• ELE 3010 Introduction to Entrepreneurship¹ – 3 credits
  
  
• FDSC 4500 Creative Inquiry – 1 or 2 credits

¹CBBS course fee applies when taking this course.

The Food Industry emphasis is designed for students who are interested in pairing nutrition and food science knowledge for job opportunities in foodservice management, food product development, and hospitality. The curriculum provides a strong science, nutrition, and food science foundation for developing well-rounded professionals prepared for today’s demands in business and industry.

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities for students who pursue the Food Industry emphasis include food service management, food product development, food manufacturing, food distribution, food marketing, food sales, public relations and consumer affairs. Employment settings include school nutrition and foodservice; healthcare facilities; food production, manufacturing, and distribution companies; and government agencies such as the USDA and FDA.

Food Industry Emphasis Requirements

Students in the Food Industry emphasis must complete 17 credits in the emphasis area. One credit of professional development coursework (NUTR 4190 Professional Development in Nutrition) is required. The remaining 16 credits may be selected from the following list of courses. Refer to the Nutrition Concentration Emphasis Area Course List (PDF) for further details.

• FDSC 4010 Food Chemistry I (preq BCHM 3050) – 3 credits

• FDSC 4020 Food Chemistry II (preq FDSC 4010) – 3 credits

• FDSC 4030 Food Chemistry & Analysis (preq FDSC 4010) – 2 credits

• FDSC 3070 Restaurant Food Service Management – 3 credits

• NUTR 4070/4071 Quantity Food Production and Lab – 3 credits

• FDSC 4090 TQM Food & Package Industries (preq STAT 2300) – 3 credits

• FDSC 4100 Food Product Development (preq FDSC 4030) – 4 credits

• FDSC 4500 Creative Inquiry – 1 or 2 credits