Nutrition

Return to: College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences

http://nutrition.utk.edu

Jay Whelan, Head
Guoxun Chen, Director of Graduate Studies

Professors
Burney, J., PhD – Tennessee
Karlstad, M., PhD – Loyola
Raynor, H., PhD – State University of New York (Buffalo)
Whelan, J., PhD – Penn State

Associate Professors
Chen, G., PhD – University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas)
Colby, S., PhD – North Carolina (Greensboro)
Hansen-Petrik, M., PhD – Tennessee
Kavanagh, K., PhD – California (Davis)
Spence, M., PhD – Tennessee
Zhao, L., PhD – California (Berkeley)

Assistant Professors
Anderson-Steeves, E., PhD – Johns Hopkins
Bettaieb, A., PhD – University of Quebec (Montreal)
Donohoe, D., PhD – Louisiana State Health Sciences Center (Shreveport)

Senior Lecturer
Wetherall, K., MS – Boston

Lecturer
Murphy, L., MS-MPH – Tennessee

Emeriti Faculty
Haughton, B., EdD – Columbia
Sachan, D., PhD – Illinois
Skinner, J., PhD – Oregon State

The study of nutrition is heavily grounded in the biological sciences and biochemistry that underlie the understanding of how nutrients and non-nutritive food components contribute to human health and disease. The Nutrition major is designed for students interested in basic and applied health sciences and students are able to pursue one of two concentrations: the Dietetics Concentration and the Basic Science Concentration. Both concentrations include a foundation in the basic sciences and introductory nutrition coursework which is built upon through advanced coursework in nutrient metabolism, nutrition in disease prevention and treatment, community nutrition, and interpretation of nutrition research literature. The Dietetics Concentration additionally includes coursework in nutrition counseling, food science, and foodservice management that prepares graduates to apply for dietetic internships and careers as Registered Dietitians (RDs)/Registered Dietitian/Nutritionists (RDNs). The Basic Science Concentration includes advanced coursework in the basic sciences to prepare graduates for graduate study in biomedical health sciences and, with additional coursework planned with an advisor, provides a solid background for application to health professional programs. Students interested in preparing for both dietetic internships and other health professional programs should choose the Dietetics Concentration.

uTrack Requirements (for students entering Fall 2013 or later)

Universal Tracking (uTrack) is an academic monitoring system designed to help students stay on track for timely graduation. In order to remain on track, students must complete the minimum requirements for each tracking semester known as milestones. Milestones may include successful completion of specified courses and/or attainment of a minimum GPA. uTrack requirements only affect full-time, degree-seeking students who first entered Fall 2013 or later. uTrack does not apply to transfer students who enter prior to Fall 2015.

Progression and Retention Requirements

Progression in the nutrition major, regardless of concentration, requires a minimum undergraduate UT cumulative GPA of 2.8 after a minimum 45 hours of undergraduate coursework and completion of CHEM 120 *-CHEM 130 *, BCMB 230 , and NUTR 100 * with a grade of C or higher. Applications are due February 1 and are available on the departmental website. Transfer cumulative GPA will be used for new transfer students. If all courses are not yet completed, provisional admission may be offered contingent upon successfully meeting course requirements prior to start of the fall semester.

Students admitted to the Nutrition major, with a Dietetics Concentration, must enroll in NUTR 311  and should enroll in HRT 210  in the fall semester in order to remain in the program. Students admitted to the Nutrition major, with a Basic Science Concentration, must enroll in NUTR 311  in the fall semester in order to remain in the program. Students admitted to the major, regardless of concentration, must enroll in NUTR 313  and NUTR 314  in the subsequent spring semester in order to remain in the program. If a student earns a grade of less than C in a nutrition course, he/she will be dropped from the program and must reapply. In order to graduate with a major in nutrition, students must earn a grade of C or better in every required nutrition course.

Requirements for Transition to Upper Division

Students who have completed 45 hours of coursework and are on track to enter term 5 of the Basic Science Concentration curriculum must complete orientation followed by an application for transition to upper division courses and faculty advisor assignment. Applications are due February 1 and August 1 and are available on the CEHHS Office of Student Services website http://ehhsstudentservices.utk.edu/. Students must follow the curriculum and complete the prerequisite requirements on schedule in order to complete the degree program on time. Missed prerequisites may delay graduation by at least one year. In order to graduate with a major in nutrition, regardless of concentration, students must earn a grade of C or better in every required nutrition course plus in prerequisite courses where noted.

Return to: College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences