2023-2024 College Catalog

Nutrition and Dietetics

 

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SMC’s Nutrition and Dietetics program prepares individuals to integrate and apply the principles of the food and nutrition sciences, human behavior, and the biomedical sciences to design and manage effective nutrition programs, and utilize food for human growth in a variety of settings including health care organizations, food service operations, business and industry (product development, marketing, consulting), education and research, health promotion, and private practice counseling. The program examines human nutritional requirements, chemicals and nutrients in food, and how nutrients function and affect the body and overall health. Careers include: nutritionist, nutrition educator, weight loss counselor, diet technician, food services manager, patient services manager, dietician, pediatric dietician, nutrition researcher, sports and cardiac rehabilitation dietician, nutrition consultant, diabetes educator, and many others.

The Associate degree track may be completed in two years and consists of a core of liberal arts, nutrition, and science courses. The support courses in the curriculum pattern allow the student to explore special interests that are related to their personal/professional goals/interests.

Nutrition and Dietetics, Associate Degree for Transfer

The Associate in Science in Nutrition and Dietetics for Transfer (AS-T) involves the understanding of nutrient metabolism and the relationship to optimal health including prevention of degenerative diseases. The course of study provides an integrated curriculum of nutrition coursework along with a solid background in the human body, chemical function and metabolism of nutrients, and the sociological implications of food and behavior. Throughout the degree students will acquire and develop knowledge and skills that will provide a solid background in nutrition so that students can make informed decisions on their personal health.

Upon completion of the Associate in Science in Nutrition and Dietetics for Transfer (AS-T), students will have a strong academic foundation in the field and be prepared for upper-division baccalaureate study. Completion of the degree indicates that the student will have satisfied the lower-division requirements for transfer into a Nutrition and Dietetics program for many campuses in the California State University system.

Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the relationship of nutrients and lifestyle factors and the associated risk of degenerative diseases. Students will demonstrate knowledge of physiological processes such as digestion, absorption, transport and metabolism of nutrients. Students will also be able to recognize and separate scientifically supported information from misinformation, and identify ways in which social factors influence food related choices, practices and beliefs.

Area of Emphasis: (26 units)

Required Core Courses: (15 units minimum)

NUTR 1,Introduction to Nutrition Science(3)
CHEM 11,General Chemistry I(5)
MCRBIO 1,Fundamentals of Microbiology(5)
PSYCH 1,General Psychology(3)
LIST A: Select 2 courses from the following: (8 units minimum)
ANATMY 1,Human Anatomy(4)
CHEM 21,Organic Chemistry I(5)
MATH 54,Elementary Statistics(4)
LIST B: (3 units minimum)
Any course from List A not used above or one of the following:
ACCTG 2,Corporate Financial and Managerial Accounting(5)
ANTHRO 2,Cultural Anthropology(3)
BIOL 3,Fundamentals of Biology(4)
BIOL 21,Cell Biology and Evolution(4)
BIOL 22,Genetics and Molecular Biology(4)
BIOL 23,Organismal and Environmental Biology(5)
BUS 5,Business Law and the Legal Environment(3)
BUS 6,Advanced Business Law (formerly same as ACCTG 26)(3)
CHEM 10,Introductory General Chemistry(5)
CHEM 12,General Chemistry II(5)
CHEM 22,Organic Chemistry II(4)
CHEM 24,Organic Chemistry II Laboratory(2)
CHEM 31,Biochemistry I(5)
COM ST 11,Elements of Public Speaking(3)
COM ST 21,Argumentation(3)
CIS 4,Business Information Systems with Applications(3)
ECON 1,Principles of Microeconomics(3)
ECON 2,Principles of Macroeconomics(3)
ENGL 1,Reading and Composition 1(3)
ENGL 2,Critical Analysis and Intermediate Composition(3)
ENGL 31,Advanced Composition(3)
HEALTH 10,Fundamentals of Healthful Living(3)
HIST 47,The Practice of History(3)
JOURN 1,The News(3)
MATH 2,Precalculus(5)
MATH 7,Calculus 1(5)
MATH 8,Calculus 2(5)
MATH 28,Calculus 1 for Business and Social Science(5)
MEDIA 1,Survey of Mass Media Communications(3)
NUTR 3,Introduction to the Dietetics Profession(1)
NUTR 7,Food and Culture in America(3)
NUTR 8,Principles of Food with Lab(3)
PHYSCS 6,General Physics 1 with Lab(4)
PHYSCS 7,General Physics 2 with Lab(4)
PHYSCS 8,Calculus-based General Physics 1 with Lab(4)
PHYSCS 9,Calculus-based General Physics 2 with Lab(4)
POL SC 1,American and California Politics(3)
PSYCH 19,Lifespan Human Development(3)
SOCIOL 1,Introduction to Sociology(3)
SOCIOL 1s,Introduction to Sociology – Service Learning(3)