About
If you are interested in having a broad-based degree in nutrition but do not plan to become a registered dietitian, this concentration may interest you. Students will have the ability to take a variety of general nutrition, community and food systems, public health and science courses and choose a minor of their choice to complement personal educational and career goals.
The program trains nutrition and wellness professionals who:
- Understand the basic role of nutrition in the development and prevention of chronic diseases in communities across the lifecycle.
- Understand the socio-environmental factors, determinants of health and health disparities that impact the accessibility, availability, adequacy and safety of food, nutrition and water systems in communities, and the relationship between these systems and health outcomes.
- Demonstrate skills in the health assessment of communities, with a focus on community and public health nutrition, food systems and security, and local to global health outcomes.
- Understand and value the role of public health nutrition policy in influencing the food environment at local, state, national and international levels.
After Graduation
Employment: Graduates will work with communities and various populations to impact food and nutrition security and improve health status. This includes jobs within community/public health nutrition and government health agencies such as USDA Food and Nutrition Services, FDA and Public Health Departments with roles in WIC, National School Lunch Program and Food Safety, Food and Nutrition Program; Family and Consumer Science Cooperative Extension; nutrition programs in the school systems; non-profit agencies; food systems and food security organizations; environmental education; community health programs across the state, region, country and globe; corporate wellness; nutraceuticals; and wellness facilities or further education in the health sciences.
Graduate school: Students with a desire to work specifically in community/public health nutrition may choose to complete a graduate program in public health nutrition such as Appalachian’s online certificate or Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition housed in the Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management. Learn more about Appalachian's Graduate Programs in Public Health Nutrition. Students with a 3.2 GPA or higher may have the opportunity to complete this concentration in Appalachian’s Accelerated Master's Program.
People
Related Programs
Minors
A minor is required in Public Health, Sustainable Development, Global Studies, General Business, Marketing, Non-Profit Organizations, Health Care Management, Child Development, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Biology, or another selected minor with permission from the program director.
Engagement Outside the Classroom
Appalachian Student Dietetics Association (ASDA) - an active professional and academic organization that focuses on promoting nutrition and health within the community and on campus.
Global Learning
Appalachian is committed to introducing students to different cultures and teaching them how to live and interact in a global society.
Admission Requirements
A 2.5 cumulative GPA is required for declaration, retention, and graduation.
Why Appalachian?
- Appalachian’s program requires a 200-hour undergraduate internship in nutrition and wellness before graduation. The internship gives students vastly more hands-on experience during their undergraduate education than other programs in the region.
- This program is housed in the Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management.
Location
*The Hickory Campus location is pending accreditation from SACSCOC for this program. Accreditation is expected in summer 2023.
Contacts
Beaver College of Health Sciences
Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management
Melissa Bryan
Program Director
bryanmm@appstate.edu
828-262-8619