Nutrition
Department Chair: Mark Glen
Faculty: Bernadette Elhard, Mark Glen, Emily Heying, Wendy Nevarez, Linda Shepherd
The study of Nutrition investigates the ways in which food and nutrients promote health and well-being of individuals, communities, and the environment. Nutrition is an inherently interdisciplinary field. Studying nutrition means engaging questions that span biology, chemistry, psychology, sociology, economics, environmental studies, exercise science, and communication — preparing you for careers that cross traditional boundaries and are applicable to your own well-being.
The Nutrition Department offers a major and a minor. All Nutrition majors complete a set of required introductory courses in biology, chemistry, statistics, and nutrition. Additional nutrition course work is then selected based on the area of student interest and/or prerequisite guidelines for post-graduate education.
Our major allows for students to explore courses in public health, food and culinary science, and health science investigation and application.
The Nutrition major prepares students for a variety of career options or graduate study. Examples of professional areas that Nutrition majors pursue post-graduation include: Dietetics*, Medicine, Public Health, Food Service Management (in education, health care and private industry), Public Policy, Nutrition Communications, Health Education, and Wellness.
Nutrition majors are well equipped to attend graduate programs in Dietetics, Medicine, Physician’s Assistant, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Dentistry, Chiropractic, Health Care Administration and Law, and graduate studies in Food Science, Food Studies, Nutrition, and Public Health.
*The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics requires aspiring Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) to complete a graduate degree and supervised practice program. A nutrition major at CSB/SJU is an excellent starting point, and while it does not guarantee admission to these programs, meeting with faculty early to develop an individualized advising plan will help you pursue that goal with intention and preparation.
Nutrition Department Mission Statement
The CSB and SJU Nutrition department integrates nutrition knowledge and skills with the liberal arts, which are rooted in the Catholic Benedictine values. We aim to foster a life-long love of learning and an open-hearted response to the needs of others through the appreciation and respect for the food habits and traditions of diverse peoples, balanced with the principles of scientific methodology and open inquiry. The intellectual growth of our students is promoted through innovative laboratory experiences, student research, community engagement, and study abroad opportunities. We are committed to helping our students develop skills in critical thinking, effective communication, ethical decision-making, and leadership to prepare them for contemporary nutrition careers, graduate studies, service to their communities, and life-long learning. We contribute to the liberal arts tradition by providing courses that meet Integrations Curriculum and other academic program requirements.
Assessment
The Nutrition Department completes an annual assessment of student learning outcomes. Assessment measures are imbedded into coursework and focus on evidence-based knowledge of nutrition and food science, the role of food and dietary patterns in the prevention of disease and promotion of health and wellness, food systems, food policy, and the reading, interpretation, and communication of food and nutrition information and research. Seniors in the major are surveyed every three years to assess student perception of the department’s ability to meet specific learning outcomes. The learning goals for our nutrition major were revised in 2024 and are as follows:
GOAL 1: Students will evaluate how the social determinants of health, cultural identity, and physiological factors impact dietary intake, nutrient needs, and health outcomes.
GOAL 2: Students will analyze how food makes its way from production to plate through agricultural systems, food preparation applications, and food and culinary science principles.
GOAL 3: Students will integrate nutrition knowledge with evolving evidence-based research in nutrition, public health, culinary science, and food sciences.
Registered Dietitian Certification and Licensure Disclosure
What is a professional licensure disclosure?
A professional licensure disclosure is a requirement by the U.S. Department of Education for all colleges and universities to communicate publicly and directly to prospective and current students about academic programs that will or will not fulfill educational requirements for specific professional licensure that is required for employment in that field; and academic programs that meet or do not meet the education requirements for licensure for each state and U.S. territory regardless of the delivery mode of the program. The regulations are published in the Code of Federal Regulations, CFR §668.43, section (a)(5)(v) and section (c).
Does The Nutrition Major at CSB & SJU Meet Requirements for RDN Licensure?
Completing the nutrition major at CSB & SJU alone does not meet the requirements for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential or Minnesota state licensure. As of January 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requires aspiring RDNs to earn a graduate degree and complete a supervised pre-professional practice experience before sitting for the national examination. Students interested in pursuing the RDN credential are strongly encouraged to review current requirements at the CDR (cdrnet.org) and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (eatright.org), check Minnesota-specific licensure requirements through the Minnesota Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice, and meet with nutrition faculty early to develop an advising plan that prepares them for graduate programs and beyond.
Also, note that each state and territory have different professional licensure and certification requirements for dietetics. Other licensure requirements may include
- professional examinations,
- background checks,
- years of work experience,
- fingerprinting requirements,
- etc.
Students who are considering an academic program that may allow them to pursue professional licensure in their state/territory are strongly encouraged to check the appropriate licensing agency to seek information and additional guidance before beginning a program outside of their state/territory.
Professional Licensure Requirements
Licensure and certification in dietetics are post-graduation processes and cannot be completed without a posted degree. The Commission on Dietetic Registration has changed the requirements for becoming a dietitian, so beginning January of 2024, students must obtain a graduate degree and complete a supervised pre-professional practice experience to sit for the national examination to become a registered dietitian. Previously, the Nutrition Department at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University held an accredited dietetics program. This accreditation ended in June of 2026.