Dietetics/Journalism and Mass Communications

OUTCOMES: WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU
With a degree in Dietetics/Journalism & Mass Communications career possibilities are:
• Journalist
• Consumer Educator
• Public Health Nutritionist
• Marketing/Sales Representative

PROGRAM DEFINITION
Would you like to make a difference in peoples lives, promote healthy lifestyles, inform the public about current food and nutrition issues? The dietetics/journalism and mass communication option allows students to combine a career in dietetics with advertising, broadcasting, or news editorial. This option provides the registered dietitian with additional media related employment opportunities.

UNL POINTS OF DIFFERENCE
• American Dietetic Association Accreditation. The dietetics option is currently granted approval status by the Commission of Accreditation of Dietetic Education of the American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312/899/4876
• Nationally and internationally recognized faculty
• Challenging curriculum designed jointly with the College of Journalism & Mass Communications in advertising, broadcasting, or news editorial

FACILITIES
The Department of Nutrition & Health Sciences is located in Ruth Leverton Hall on East Campus. This facility contains:
• Specialized laboratories for sensory analysis of food, food preparation, and testing
• Nutrition research laboratories including state-of-the-art equipment
• Computer lab

PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS
• Recommended grade point of 3.0 or above in order to be competitive in dietetic internship program application
• Work experience, both paid and volunteer is needed to be competitive for dietetic internship program application
• For meeting the American Dietetic Association academic requirements a minimum of 15 credits from 300- or 400 level courses must be completed at UNL. Nine of the 15 credit hours must come from three of the following classes: NUTR 450 Medical Nutrition Therapy I, NUTR 452/452L Medical Nutrition Therapy II, NUTR 455 Advanced Nutrition, or NUTR 473 Organization and Administration of Foodservice
• 141 credit hours are required for graduation
• Only grades of C or above will count toward graduation requirements for department classes

The mission of the Didactic program in Dietetics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is to provide a challenging and high quality curriculum which prepares graduates to successfully enter a dietetic internship, post-baccalaureate program and/or a variety of employment opportunities related to nutrition and food.

The philosophy of the Didactic Program in Dietetics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln includes the following:
• The program is consistent with the mission of the College of Education & Human Sciences through the education of nutrition professionals who will be able to promote the health of the public and address the nutritional needs and concerns of individuals, families, and communities.
• The program will reflect current dietetic practice.
• The program will expose students to a variety of settings, individuals, groups, and interdisciplinary experiences which will reflect the environment in which they will practice.
• The program will provide opportunities for students to develop skills to communicate, collaborate, solve problems, and apply critical thinking.
• The program will provide opportunities for students to develop personal and professional attitudes and values, leadership and decision-making skills, and a commitment to life-long learning.

The goals of the Didactic Program in Dietetics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are the following:
• The program will provide the Foundation Knowledge and Skills for the Didactic Component of Entry-Level Dietitian Education Programs for admission in a dietetic internship program and/or post-baccalaureate program.
• The program will provide the Foundation Knowledge and Skills for the Didactic Component of Entry-Level Dietitian Education Programs for successful completion of the Registration Examination for Dietitians.
• The program will contribute to the number of professionals working in nutrition and food related careers in Nebraska and beyond its borders.

REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A REGISTERED DIETITIAN
1. Complete the American Dietetic Association Didactic Program in Dietetics academic requirements plus a minimum of a Bachelors degree.
The Didactic Program in Dietetics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is currently granted approval status by the Commission of Accreditation for Dietetic Education of the American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312/899/4876.
2. Complete a dietetic internship program accredited by the Commission of Accreditation for Dietetic Education of the American Dietetic Association.
The dietetic internship program provides students with the opportunity to perform the duties of a dietitian in different practice settings while being supervised by Registered Dietitians. Some programs include the opportunity to complete graduate course work. You will apply to a program during your senior year. As part of the dietetics curriculum you will complete NUTR 150 Foundations in Nutrition and Health Promotion and NUTR 490 Professional Preparation for Careers in Dietetics. These two courses will assist you in identifying what you can do to enhance your opportunities to be matched to a dietetic internship program (NUTR 150) and assist you in the actual application process (NUTR 490).
3. Pass the Registration Examination for Dietitians.
The Registration Examination is a national exam which is a computerized exam administered by Sylvan Learning Centers.

SAMPLE OF CURRICULUM

Along with comprehensive education courses the following are requirements for the Dietetics/Journalism & Mass Communication option:
Nutrition and Health Sciences (37-38 credit hours)
*Only grades of C or above will count toward graduation requirements for NUTR courses

• NUTR 150 Foundations in Nutrition and Health Promotion
• NUTR 151 Introduction to Nutrition
• NUTR 244 Scientific Principles of Food Preparation
• NUTR 245 Scientific Principles of Food Prep. Lab.
• NUTR 344 Food & Nutrition for Healthy Living
• NUTR 356 Nutrition Ed. in the Community
• NUTR 370 Food Production Management
• NUTR 371 Applied Food Production Laboratory
• NUTR 450 Medical Nutrition Therapy I
• NUTR 452 Medical Nutrition Therapy II
• NUTR 452L Medical Nutrition Therapy II Laboratory
• NUTR 453 Comm. Strategies for the Dietetic Prof.
• NUTR 455 Advanced Nutrition
• NUTR 470 Cost Control for Foodservice
• NUTR 473 Org.& Adm. of Foodservice
• NUTR 490 Prof. Prep. for Careers in Dietetics
• NUTR 454 Peer Nutrition Education Experience OR NUTR 457 Classroom and Outreach Experiences in Food and Nutrition OR NUTR 498 Research Experiences

Supporting Sciences (23-24 credit hours)

• CHEM 109 General Chemistry I
• CHEM 110 General Chemistry II
• BIOS 111 The Biology of Microorganisms OR BIOS 312 Fund. of Microbiology AND BIOS 314 Microbiology Lab OR NUTR 372 Food Safety and Sanitation
• BIOS 213 Human Physiology OR ASCI 240 Anatomy & Physiology of Domestic Animals
• CHEM 251 Organic Chem. AND CHEM 253 Organic Chem. Lab.
• BIOC 321 Elements of Biochemistry AND BIOC 321L OR BIOC 431 Biomolecules & Metabolism

ADVERTISING EMPHASIS (35 credit hours)

ADVT 281 Intro to Advertising,
ADVT 283 Promotional Writing,
ADVT 333 Comm Graphics,
ADVT 357 Comm Research & Strategy,
ADVT 460 Adv Media Strategy,
ADVT 489 Adv & Public Relations Camp.,
JOUR 485 Mass Media History,
JOUR 486 Mass Medica Law,
JOUR 487 Mass Media & Society,
Select 6 hours of electives in journalism

BROADCASTING EMPHASIS (35 credit hours)

BRDC 226 Intro to Broadcasting,
BRDC 227 Principles of Radio/TV,
BRDC 228 Broadcasting Prod.,
BRDC 228L Broadcasting Prod Lab, BRDC 369 Cinematography/Video,
BRDC 370 Broadcast Writing, BRDC 372 Adv Report Broadcasting,
BRDC 372L Adv Report Broadcasting Lab,
JOUR 485 Mass Media History,
JOUR 486 Mass Media Law,
JOUR 487 Mass Media & Society, Select 6 hours of electives in journalism, 3 of which must be in broadcasting

NEWS-EDITORIAL EMPHASIS (35 credit hours)

NEWS 180 Journalism Today,
NEWS 280 Principles of Editing,
NEWS 282 News Writing/Report,
NEWS 217 Typography,
NEWS 284 Intro to Photojournalism,
NEWS 371 Advanced Reporting,
NEWS 381 Newspaper Editing,
JOUR 485 Mass Media History,
JOUR 486 Mass Media Law,
JOUR 487 Mass Media & Society ,
Select 3 hours of elective in journalism