2024-2025 Student Catalog 
    
    Dec 03, 2024  
2024-2025 Student Catalog

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Dietetics Studies, A.S.



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Contact Information

Program Requirements

Typical Program

Degree/Certificate:   Associate in Science
HEGIS Code:           5613
SUNY Code:            2643
Major Code:            DIET

The Career

Upon completion of the program, students who continue on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics may become registered dietitians and will have favorable job prospects in a variety of settings, which may include long term care facilities, hospitals, community settings, schools, industry, research, and in private practice.

According to the US Department of Labor, “…employment of nutritionists and dietitians is projected to grow 21 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations…” and will add a projected 14,200 new job openings a year. Recently, interest in the role of food promoting health and wellness has increased, particularly as a part of preventive healthcare in medical settings.  There will be more demand for dietetic services, especially given diet-related diseases, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and obesity. An aging population will also increase the need for nutritionists and dietitians in nursing homes and in home healthcare.

The SUNY Niagara Approach

Nutritionists and dietitians are experts in food and nutrition. The Dietetics Studies program offers a comprehensive study of nutrition, proper food preparation, and food chemistry as it relates to physiological functioning in all stages of life.

The program stresses the importance of science as related to nutrition and dietetics.  An Associate in Science degree preparing students to ultimately earn a Bachelor’s degree is viewed as favorable since nutritionists and dietitians who have earned advanced degrees and certifications may enjoy better job prospects.

Admission

Students are admitted in fall, spring and summer.

Because of the sequencing of courses, it may take more than two academic years of full-time study if a student begins this program in a spring or summer semester.

Articulation Agreements

Buffalo State University

SUNY Oneonta

SUNY transfer path in Dietetics

The Transfer Paths summarize the common lower division requirements shared by all SUNY campuses for similar majors within most disciplines.  These courses are guaranteed to transfer across the SUNY system within each discipline.

For more information on the Dietetics transfer path, visit the SUNY website:  http://www.suny.edu/attend/get-started/transfer-students/suny-transfer-paths/              

Program Goals and Objectives

  • To educate students in the fundamental study of food and its physiological effects in all stages of life
  • To prepare students for transfer into a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics, after which students may become registered dietitians
  • To assist students in meeting General Education requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to: 

  • Demonstrate knowledge in food preparation, chemistry, and safety, and nutrition as it relates to physiological functioning in all stages of life

  • Utilize principles of health literacy, including critical thinking skills, literature searches, data collection and interpretation, and be able to use information effectively

  • Employ technologies to locate and apply evidence-based guidelines and protocols

  • Develop interventions to affect positive change in health and wellness amongst a variety of groups and individuals

Program Requirements (DIET)


  1. A total of 64-credit hours with a minimum curriculum grade-point average of 2.0.  Academic Foundations courses do not count toward the degree.
  2. Nutrition:  A minimum of 11-credit hours to include:
    NTR 215 - Integrative Lifespan Nutrition  
    CUL 121 - Culinary Foundations  
    HED 205 - Nutrition & Health   
    HED 214 - Advanced First Aid and CPR  
  3. Biology:  A minimum of 14-credit hours to include:
    BIO 109 - General Biology I  
    BIO 109L - General Biology I Lab  
    BIO 213 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I  
    BIO 213L - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab  
    BIO 214 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II  
    BIO 214L - Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab II  
  4. Chemistry:  A minimum of 10-credit hours to include:
    CHE 120 - General Chemistry I  
    CHE 111L - General Chemistry I Lab  
    CHE 121 - General Chemistry II  
    CHE 113L - General Chemistry II Lab  
  5. Communication - General Education:  A minimum of 6-credit hours to include:
    ENG 101 - Writing I  
    SPE 102 - Public Speaking  OR
    SPE 103 - Interpersonal Communication  
  6. Mathematics - General Education:  A minimum of 11-credit hours to include:
    MAT 110 - Intermediate Algebra  
    MAT 111 - Advanced Algebra & Trigonometry  
    MAT 164 - Introduction to Statistics  
  7. Social Science - General Education:  A minimum of 6-credit hours to include:
    PSY 110 - Introduction to Psychology  
    SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology  
  8. Arts/Western Civilization - General Education:  A minimum of 3-credit hours to be selected from:
    ART 137 - Ancient to Gothic Art  OR
    ART 138 - 14th to 19th Century Art  OR
    MUS 100 /THA 100 - Exploring the Arts  
  9. Foreign Language - General Education:  A minimum of 3-credit hours to include:
    SLA 101 - American Sign Language I  OR
    SPA 101 - Elementary Spanish I  

Scholarship Opportunities


There are several scholarships available to SUNY Niagara students. Scholarship deadline dates vary each semester.  For more information, please visit the scholarship webpage at www.niagaracc.suny.edu/scholarships. The SUNY Niagara Foundation/Scholarship Office is located within the Foundation Office, A-265 or by phone (716) 614-5910.

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