CONTACT INFORMATION

F&N Program Area Coodinator:
Joe Williford
413 Johnston Hall
419-372-7833
jwillif@bgnet.bgsu.edu

Undergraduate Dietetics Program Director
Christine Haar
406 Johnston Hall
419-372-8941
chaar@bgnet.bgsu.edu

ADVISING
Faculty and professional advisors are committed to helping all students succeed. Students in the dietetics program receive advising from Food & Nutrition faculty and from the College of Education and Human Development’s Undergraduate Student Services office, which provides a variety of services to assist students in meeting their personal and professional goals. Once enrolled in the program, students are given an Undergraduate Dietetics Program Student Handbook, which provides information on such things as the curriculum, volunteer opportunities, internship placement, and careers in dietetics.

ALUMNI
Recent alumni of the undergraduate dietetics program are currently clinical dietitians in hospitals, nursing homes, and long term care facilities; community dietitians with the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program; managerial dietitian for university dining services; scientists for nutritional supplement and food product companies; and product representatives for pharmaceutical companies.

GRANT AND RESEARCH ACTIVITY
Dr. Hentges, Associate Professor, has worked with NASA to develop food safety plans for long duration space missions and conducts research on food safety education.
In addition, she studies post-harvest physiological changes leading to the development and reversal of the hard-to-cook defect in legume seeds.

Dr. Houston, Associate Professor, conducts clinical and basic research on the nutritional regulation of the insulin-like growth factor proteins. In addition, she studies the effects of nutrients and food nutraceuticals on apoptosis and other cellular processes related to cancer chemoprevention, as well as zinc deficiency and toxicity.

Dr. Kim, Associate Professor, conducts research on the nutritional status and nutrient intakes of the elderly and the relationship between body weight and blood biochemical parameters. She also studies public health nutrition, vegetarianism, and service learning in dietetics and higher education. Her research involves the database of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Dr. Pobocik, Associate Professor, conductsresearch on community nutrition, diet assessment, and breastfeeding. She also studies school-based nutrition education, children’s nutrition, food pattern formation, and weight management.

Dr. Williford, Associate Professor, conducts research on factors affecting the nutritional status of the elderly and nutrition education programs for the elderly. He also studies the vitamin and mineral status in athletes and phytochemicals. Dr. Williford is currently the Director of the Consortium for Innovative Food Science and Nutrition Research.

DEGREES
The undergraduate dietetics program is a four-year program and will result in a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dietetics.

FINANCIAL AID
Approximately 60 percent of BGSU students receive financial aid.
(Click here to link to the Student Financial Aid office.)

LICENSURE
After graduation from BGSU with a B.S. in Dietetics, completion of an internship, and successfully passing the national registration examination, you will be a registered dietitian, eligible for licensure in most states.

SERVICES AND RESOURCES
Laboratory experiences are an integral part of the dietetics major. A recently renovated 12-unit food preparation laboratory and a new chemistry lab for physical and chemical analysis of foods are located in the Family and Consumer Science Building. Students also have the opportunity to use various software for nutritional analysis, menu planning, and foodservice management.

Opportunities are available for students to interact and conduct research with professionals in the field and related disciplines, such as faculty in the departments of biology and chemistry at BGSU, faculty at the Medical College of Ohio, and professionals working in community/public/clinical nutrition and the food industry. Students are strongly encouraged to obtain paid and/or volunteer experience in the food and nutrition field. Students often complete service at the Wood County Nursing Home, Wood County Hospital, Wood County Public Health Department, the Wood County Senior Center, and other regional healthcare facilities. Students have also interacted with community agencies through partnership grants awarded to faculty.

STUDENTS
Approximately 15-20 new students each year enter into the undergraduate dietetics program at BGSU. Students have the opportunity to join the Student Nutrition Association. The purpose of the Student Nutrition Association is to promote an interest in the field of dietetics, nutrition and food; aid students in learning about professional opportunities and inform students of current issues within the field of food and nutrition. Students are encouraged to join the American Dietetic Association, which automatically gives them membership in the Ohio Dietetic Association. Students also have the opportunity to join the Northwest Ohio Dietetic Association and attend local meetings.