Consumer and Family Studies/Dietetics

College of Health and Human Services
Dean: Don Taylor

Department of Consumer and Family Studies/Dietetics
BH 329
415-338-1219
Chair: Nancy Rabolt

Graduate Coordinator: Nancy Rabolt

Faculty

Professors—Rabolt, Sands, Stark

Associate Professor—Johnson-Carroll

Assistant Professors—Charlson, Ulasewicz, Vouchilas

Programs

B.A. in Family and Consumer Sciences
B.S. in Apparel Design and Merchandising
B.S. in Dietetics
B.S. in Interior Design
M.A. in Family and Consumer Sciences
Certificate in Dietetics

Program Scope

Undergraduate students in the accredited Consumer and Family Studies/Dietetics programs develop competencies requisite for employment in a variety of professional roles. Among these roles are: apparel designer; cooperative extension family and consumer scientist; consumer adviser or advocate; supervisor of a preschool or child care center; family support officer; services for victims of family violence; fashion merchandiser; food specialist; teacher at the secondary, adult education, or community college levels; textile specialist; residential and commercial interior designer.

Students earning a baccalaureate in family and consumer sciences, dietetics, apparel design and merchandising, or interior design, with a 3.0 grade point average, may qualify for admission to the Master of Arts in Family and Consumer Sciences. The M.A. is aimed toward: increasing competencies for teaching in high schools, colleges and universities; developing competencies needed in professional roles in business, community services, education and health; in the areas of apparel, interiors and dietetics; and developing competencies essential for supervising and administering consumer and family sciences programs. The program also prepares one for further graduate study. Students are expected to observe the general requirements outlined in this Bulletin and to consult with a graduate adviser. Requests for an adviser should be directed to the department chair.

The CFS/D Department also offers a 24 unit graduate certificate program in Dietetics which provides the knowledge and practice requirements of The American Dietetic Association.

Career Outlook

Graduates with a family and consumer sciences, apparel design and merchandising, dietetics, or interior design baccalaureate degree are employed in business; community service; journalism, and health and hospitality units. Students seeking the Family & Consumer Sciences Single Subject Teaching Credential or the California Child Development Site Supervision Permit should consult the department. The certificate program (internship) is one means by which graduates of the B.S. in Dietetics may become eligible to take the examination to become a Registered Dietitian (R.D.).

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

This major enables a student to specialize in one of two subject areas or to generalize in family and consumer sciences with the option of taking the subject matter preparation courses for the Single Subject Credential that prepares one for teaching in family and consumer sciences secondary education programs. The common core of the Bachelor of Arts is devoted to students acquiring an understanding of child growth and development/family relations; management dynamics; food and nutrition, apparel design and merchandising, and interior design/housing as solutions to the physical, social, and psychological needs of individuals and families; sensitivities to the needs and value systems of individuals, families, and groups which vary by age, socio-economic status, and ethnic heritage; and the role expectations of professional family and consumer scientists. Students pursuing this major, depending upon their areas of specialization, may complete field experiences in business, education, industry, government, or private agencies. These field experiences serve as integrating experiences for students prior to their entry into professional roles.

In order to ensure completion of all degree requirements, students are expected to consult on a regular basis with an adviser. Students who wish credits earned at another institution to be accepted in lieu of courses offered for the major at San Francisco State University must obtain acceptance from the instructors of the courses and the department chair. To select an adviser and to set up a file, see the department office coordinator.

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN APPAREL DESIGN AND MERCHANDISING

The B.S. in Apparel Design and Merchandising prepares students for a career in the fashion industry including apparel design, manufacturing, promotion, and retail companies. Two emphases are offered, Apparel Design and Fashion Merchandising. A common core of classes enables students to develop a consumer and socially conscious approach to the industry and a basic knowledge of the field including career opportunities, terminology, and professional practices as applied to the industry.

Application Filing Period. The Apparel Design and Merchandising program is impacted which means there are more applications than capacity. Applications for admission to this major by transfer students are accepted by the university’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions only during the application filing period of October 1 to November 30 (for admission the following fall). No late applications or applications for spring will be considered. For both new students and on-campus students wishing to change majors, there is an additional departmental application which is due February 15. See departmental website for supplemental program application http://cfsd.sfsu.edu.

Mandatory Advising. Majors must see an advisor to prepare an Advising Plan for graduation which outlines course sequence. Some major classes will require that this Advising Plan be presented on the first day of classes. See Department office (Burk Hall 329) for information that must be in the advising folder.

Students who wish credits earned at another institution to be accepted in lieu of courses offered for the major at San Francisco State University must obtain acceptance from their adviser and the department chair.

Writing Competence: Good writing skills are necessary for success in the major. Second year written composition (ENG 214 or equivalent) with a grade of C- or better is required to take ADM 360, the beginning of the sequence of upper division ADM courses.

Degree Requirements. The major includes 18 units of prerequisite work and 40 units of advanced courses. Within the 40 units, all students take 16 units of core courses and 24 units in one emphasis: apparel design or fashion merchandising. All major courses must be passed with a letter grade of C- or better. A prescribed sequence of courses must be adhered to as some classes are offered only in the fall or spring semesters. Students should consult course descriptions in this Bulletin for prerequisites.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DIETETICS

The B.S. in Dietetics is an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and meets the 2008 Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards of The American Dietetic Association (ADA). The curriculum provides competencies in the required areas of study and meets ADA's foundation knowledge requirements. The program prepares students for careers in clinical dietetics, foodservice systems management, and nutrition education position in hospitals, industry, or government agencies. Most positions require an R.D. (Registered dietitian) status. See Certificate in Dietetics section of this bulletin.

Dietetics majors should consult the designated DPD director/advisor for planning and evaluation of courses transferred from other institutions. Students should consult the course description in the current Bulletin for prerequisites and co-requisites.

All courses must be completed with a 2.0 grade point average with no grade below a C-. All courses in Foundation, Professional, and Elective Requirements must be completed with a letter grade. A 2.7 overall DPD GPA and a 3.0 GPA in the Professional Requirements portion of the program are required to receive a Verification Statement. Students will receive a Verification Statement, signed by the DPD Director, on completion of the degree and submission of an official transcript indicating that the degree has been awarded. The Verification Statement is then submitted as part of the dietetic internship application process.

Note: To become a Registered Dietitian (R.D.) one must a) complete the B.S. in Dietetics, b) complete a Dietetic Internship, c) pass the R.D. exam.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INTERIOR DESIGN

The B.S. in Interior Design prepares students for a career in the interior design industry. Required classes cover design elements, materials, history, contemporary design, computer applications, and professional development. Course work incorporates both hands-on and theoretical approaches to the study of interior design. The requirements enable students to develop basic knowledge of interior design including career opportunities, terminology, and common business practices as applied to the interior design industry. The program focuses on residential and commercial design. Students earning a degree in interior design are eligible to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination two years after graduation if they have been employed full time in the field of interior design.

Application Filing Period. The Interior Design program is impacted which means there are more applications than capacity. Applications for admission to this major by transfer students are accepted by the university’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions only during the application filing period of October 1 to November 30 (for admission the following fall). No late applications or applications for spring will be considered. For both new students and on-campus students wishing to change majors, there is an additional departmental application which is due February 15. See departmental website for supplemental program application http;//cfsd.sfsu.edu.

Mandatory Advising. Majors must see an advisor to prepare an Advising Plan for graduation which outlines course sequence. Some major classes will require that this Advising Plan be presented on the first day of classes. See Department office (Burk Hall 329) for information that must be in the advising folder.

Students who wish credits earned at another institution to be accepted in lieu of courses offered for the major at SFSU must obtain acceptance from their adviser and the department chair.

Writing Competence: Good writing skills are necessary for success in the major. Second year written composition (ENG 214 or equivalent) with a grade of C or better is required to take ID 340, the beginning of the sequence of upper division ID courses.

Degree Requirements

The major includes 12 units of prerequisite work and 48 units of additional major courses. All major courses must be passed with a letter grade of C- or better. Upon completion of ID 242 students must present a "Qualifying Design Project" for review to the ID faculty. A passing score and an official status of ID major are required for registration in ID 243 and upper division ID courses. Criteria for the "Qualifying Design Project" are available in ID 240, ID 242, and on the ID supplemental program application form found on the CFS/D website. A prescribed sequence of courses must be adhered to as some classes are offered only in the fall or spring semesters. Students should check Bulletin descriptions for prerequisites to individual courses.

MASTER OF ARTS IN FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

Admission to Program

Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree and a 3.0 GPA with a major in family and consumer sciences, or one of its subdiscipline specializations (apparel, child/family, interior design, nutrition/dietetics). Those without this degree must complete:

• 30 units of prerequisites course work in Consumer & Family Studies/Dietetics approved by an advisor and the Department Chair. Within these 30 units
  • 3 units must be from outside the student’s area of specialization
  • 3 units must include CFS 312 or CFS 600
  • up to 6 units may be counted for past professional experience in area of specialization
• The first level of writing proficiency: The GRE (writing component) must be completed prior to application and scores are required to be submitted as part of the application. Admitted students with scores below 4.0 will be conditionally classified and must pass a writing intensive class within the first two semesters in the program to satisfy the university first level writing proficiency requirement.

The Level Two Written English Proficiency Requirement is demonstrated by completion of CFS 895 or CFS 898.

Culminating Experience (CE) and SFSU Continuous Enrollment Policy: Students should view SFSU Graduate Division policies (www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy/). Proposal for culminating experience, Human Subjects Protocol, and GAP are due the semester prior to enrolling in CFS 895/898. Students have one semester grace period after enrolling in CFS 895/898 to complete their CE. If it is not completed during the semester following enrollment, they must then continually enroll in CEL class until CFS 895/898 is completed.

CERTIFICATE IN DIETETICS

The Dietetic Internship Program at SFSU is part of the Graduate Certificate in Dietetics. The program provides the knowledge and practice requirements necessary to be eligible to take the Registered Dietitian (R.D.) examination. Interns will be placed in rotations in hospitals, long-term care/skilled nursing facilities, community nutrition, and other health organizations in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area for practical experiences. In addition to the internship portion of the program, interns will be required to take graduate level academic courses in nutrition that will cover the lifespan. The Dietetic Internship Program at SFSU is a full-time, 9-10 month program, from mid-August through May.

Before being considered for acceptance to this certificate program, the student must first be eligible in accordance with all university requirements as outlined in the Certificate Programs section of this Bulletin. This same section also includes university program guidelines and procedures to be followed in filing for the award of the certificate when it is completed.

Admission to Program

• Students must apply to the University via CSU Mentor and submit their dietetics application packet to the department. They will enroll as matriculated post-baccalaureate students in the unclassified status.
• Completion of a baccalaureate degree and completion of an approved Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is required.
• Applicants must participate in the American Dietetic Association's (ADA) computer matching process by the posted deadline to apply to our programs.
• A complete application packet must be submitted to Consumer & Family Studies/Dietetics: Dietetic Internship Program by the posted Deadlines.
• A committee composed of dietetics faculty other members will review the applications based on established criteria.
• Applicants will be notified if they were matched to our program by the computer matching company.
• Admission to the certificate program does not guarantee admittance into the M.A. program.

This is a full-time program consisting of 25-35 hours per week of practical experiences and 6 units of academic coursework per semester. Courses are generally held one day a week on campus and internship rotations are done the other four days of the week. No part-time enrollment is allowed.

Supervised practice experiences are completed under the direction of a dietitian or foodservice manager in a facility or program serving children, adults, and/or older adults in a healthcare or community setting. The internship is based on specific experiences and competencies set forth by the American Dietetic Association. A total of 900+ practice hours is required in the internship in order to meet requirements of The American Dietetic Association. Both fall and spring semesters enrollment are required.

Rotations will generally include the following:

• 16-17 weeks in an acute care clinical hospital
• 5-8 weeks in a long-term care/skilled nursing facility, outpatient, or other clinical setting
• 5 weeks in a foodservice systems management rotation
• 3-7 weeks in a community nutrition or public health organization
• 3 weeks in an elective

Total weeks in rotations must be at least 36 weeks. The array of clinical, community, and foodservice rotations will allow the intern to have a variety of experiences in dietetics working with different populations across the lifespan. Each intern must have at least one rotation experience working specifically with the older adult population (5 weeks or more) and one rotation experience working with infants/children (3 weeks or more).