Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition Ready to Serve in Northern Idaho
Monday, August 25 2008
Aug. 25, 2008 Degree offers a leg-up to students applying for increasingly competitive admission to dental, nursing and medical school MOSCOW, Idaho – Laurel Branen, professor of family and consumer sciences at the Univeristy of Idaho Coeur d’Alene, points out that some students pursue a degree in nutrition in pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. But the degree is versatile, Branen notes. It also helps graduates effectively compete for coveted spots in medical, dental and nursing schools. A University of Idaho bachelor’s degree in nutrition is offered for the first time in northern Idaho this fall. The program incorporates classes taught live in University of Idaho classrooms on the North Idaho College campus, online classes and classes delivered via compressed video. Registration for the fall 2008 program is open through Tuesday, Sept. 2. Students also can register now for the spring 2009 semester. “The degree program allows students to get a really solid nutrition background, yet there’s enough room in the curriculum for them to fit in the pre-med requirements,” said Branen. Graduates of the program also find work in public health or community nutrition, health and nutrition communications, cooperative extension and other fields. The bachelor’s degree in nutrition is one of 80 degree programs offered through joint admissions at the Univeristy of Idaho and North Idaho College. Freshman and sophomore year requirements can be met at NIC. Upper division courses are offered through the University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene. Both upper and lower division courses of the Univeristy of Idaho degree also are offered in Moscow. The transfer of credits from NIC to University of Idaho is a seamless process, facilitated by Branen and student adviser at NIC. Students pursuing the bachelor’s degree in nutrition are supported by academic advisers at both institutions. The northern Idaho program provides students the opportunity to live and work in the region while they earn a degree. Christina Ellefson, who recently earned a University of Idaho nutrition degree, currently works at Gritman Medical Center in Moscow as a phlebotomist and spent the summer of 2007 as a student health intern for Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene. “It actually was my nutrition classes that first gave me a real academic glimpse into the medical field,” said Ellefson. “When I decided to pursue my medical degree, I already had taken many of the pre-requisite classes. So professionally, my nutrition degree really helped set the stage for my career goals.” Ellefson is currently applying to medical schools and hopes to be accepted into the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho (WWAMI) medical education program this spring. The program gives students from those five states preference for admission to the prestigious University of Washington Medical School. Students complete their first year of medical school in their home state. In the second year, the students travel to the University of Washington in Seattle. The third and fourth years are clinical training years that can be completed in Idaho or through placements across the five WWAMI states. The nutrition degree program includes the study of foods, nutrition, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, statistics and communications. Summer internships and opportunities to work collaboratively on research projects with students and professors in related fields of study also are available to nutrition students. “Nutrition is a key component of any healthcare plan,” Ellefson said. “Having this background will allow me to be a more effective physician.” Those inquiring about the new Univeristy of Idaho Coeur d’Alene program encompass a wide variety of professionals, including personal trainers and caterers, Branen notes. “The nutrition degree program would definitely give them a competitive edge as well.” For more information, call (208) 667-2588, e-mail cdactr@uidaho.edu or visit www.cda.uidaho.edu. # # # About the University of Idaho Founded in 1889, the University of Idaho is the state’s flagship higher-education institution and its principal graduate education and research university, bringing insight and innovation to the state, the nation and the world. University researchers attract nearly $100 million in research grants and contracts each year; the University of Idaho is the only institution in the state to earn the prestigious Carnegie Foundation ranking for high research activity. The university’s student population includes first-generation college students and ethnically diverse scholars. Offering more than 150 degree options in 10 colleges, the university combines the strengths of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu. Contact: Joni Kirk, University Communications, (208) 885-7725, joni@uidaho.edu DE-8/25/08-UICDA
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.