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Nutrition and Food Science

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses Faculty

Associate Degrees for Transfer

A.S.-T. in Nutrition and Dietetics

The Associate in Science in Nutrition and Dietetics for Transfer (AS-T) degree in Nutrition and Dietetics at Sacramento City College allows students interested in pursuing a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics to complete their first two years of requirements at the community college before transferring to a California State University, which offers a Bachelor of Science degree.

Each California State University may have slightly different requirements for transfer so it is critical for students interested in this major to work with their counselor to develop an individual academic plan.

The Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) student completion requirements (as stated in SB1440 law):

(1) Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following:
(A) The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education-Breadth Requirements (CSU GE-Breadth).
(B) A minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district.

(2) Obtainment of a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

ADTs also require that students must earn a “C” or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis.

A ”P” (Pass) grade is also an acceptable grade for courses in the major if the course is taken on a Pass/No Pass basis.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
BIOL 440 General Microbiology 4
CHEM 400 General Chemistry I 5
CHEM 401 General Chemistry II 5
NUTRI 300 Nutrition (3) 3
   or NUTRI 480 Nutrition Honors (3)
PSYC 300 General Principles (3) 3
   or PSYC 480 Honors General Principles (3)
A minimum of 4 units from the following: 4
BIOL 430 Anatomy and Physiology (5)
and BIOL 431 Anatomy and Physiology (5)
CHEM 420 Organic Chemistry I (5)
STAT 300 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (4)
   or STAT 480 Introduction to Probability and Statistics - Honors (4)
A minimum of 3 units from the following: 3
KINES 300 Introduction to Kinesiology (3)
NUTRI 302 Nutrition for Physical Performance (3)
   or KINES 418 Nutrition for Physical Performance (3)
NUTRI 310 Cultural Foods of the World (3)
NUTRI 330 Food Theory and Preparation (4)
SOC 300 Introductory Sociology (3)
Total Units: 27

The Associate in Science in Nutrition and Dietetics for Transfer (AS-T) degree may be obtained by completion of 60 transferable, semester units with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, including (a) a minimum grade of "C" (or "P") for each course in the major or area of emphasis described in the Required Program, and (b) either the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education-Breadth Requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • explain the principles of nutrition and their effects on health.
  • assess the various sources of nutrition information and demonstrate where to find reliable nutrition information.
  • analyze a diet for adequacy, balance, and moderation.
  • demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between chemistry, biology, and nutrition.

Associate Degrees

A.S. in Food Science and Technology

Students majoring in Food Science spend the first two years of study developing the scientific and general background necessary for upper division courses. The science courses include chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics. General background is also provided by course offerings in the social science/humanities area and by a course in Introductory Food Science. At the upper division level, students take courses in nutrition, food microbiology, food chemistry, food analysis, food commodities, food processing, and food engineering. At some institutions specialties such as beer brewing are offered in the junior and senior years of study.

Upon transfer and completion of the Bachelor’s Degree, a Food Science graduate will be prepared to enter the food industry and/or for post-graduate studies leading to careers in research. Food science industry and research are directed towards topics such as: improving the nutritional value of food, understanding the interactions of food components essential to safety and physical properties, improving packaging with attention to environmental concerns, and improving methods of problem detection. Food Scientists are also focused on maximizing the utilization of agricultural resources.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
BIOL 440 General Microbiology 4
BIOL 402 Cell and Molecular Biology 5
CHEM 400 General Chemistry I (5) 10
and CHEM 401 General Chemistry II (5)
CHEM 423 Organic Chemistry - Short Survey 5
MATH 400 Calculus I (5) 10
and MATH 401 Calculus II (5)
NUTRI 300 Nutrition (3) 3
   or NUTRI 480 Nutrition Honors (3)
NUTRI 335 Principles of Food Science 3
PHYS 350 General Physics (4) 8
and PHYS 360 General Physics (4)
STAT 300 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (4) 3 - 4
   or STAT 480 Introduction to Probability and Statistics - Honors (4)
   or PSYC 330 Introductory Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (3)
   or ECON 310 Statistics for Business and Economics (3)
Total Units: 51 - 52

The Food Science and Technology Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of 60 transferable, semester units with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, including (a) a minimum grade of "C" (or "P") for each course in the major or area of emphasis described in the Required Program, and (b) either the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education-Breadth Requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • understand the chemistry underlying the properties and reactions of various food components.
  • identify the important pathogens and spoilage microorganisms in foods and the conditions under which they will grow.
  • explain the operations required to produce a food product.
  • apply and incorporate the principles of food science in practical, real-world situations and problems.

Career Information

A degree in the Food Science area can be the launch pad to many career options. You can start as a technician, go on to supervisor, and pursue research (which may require a graduate degree). Some graduates have also gone on to obtain an MBA. On the other hand, you could follow a career path into technical sales, marketing, distribution, plant supervision, product development. You might even form your own company.


A.S. in Nutrition

Sacramento City College's Nutrition Department offers a rigorous nutrition degree program that is broad enough to prepare the student for further study in a variety of nutrition areas including: nutrition science research, food science and technology, dietetics, industry, and many other evolving nutrition-related fields.

All students must complete the Required Program plus either the CSU Path or the UC Path.

It is important to note that each four-year college or university has slightly different requirements for transfer so it is critical for students interested in this major to map out their academic plan with a counselor.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
CHEM 400 General Chemistry I (5) 5
   or CHEM 305 Introduction to Chemistry (5)
   or CHEM 309 Integrated General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry (5)
NUTRI 300 Nutrition (3) 3
   or NUTRI 480 Nutrition Honors (3)
STAT 300 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (4) 4
   or STAT 480 Introduction to Probability and Statistics - Honors (4)
Subtotal Units: 12
CSU Path
Course Code Course Title Units
BIOL 440 General Microbiology 4
PSYC 300 General Principles (3) 3
   or PSYC 480 Honors General Principles (3)
CSU Path Units: 7
Total Units: 19
UC Path
Course Code Course Title Units
BIOL 402 Cell and Molecular Biology 5
CHEM 420 Organic Chemistry I 5
UC Path Units: 10
Total Units: 22

The Nutrition Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus the local SCC General Education Requirement, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See SCC graduation requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • explain the principles of nutrition and their effects on health.
  • assess the various sources of nutrition information and demonstrate where to find reliable nutrition information.
  • analyze a diet for adequacy, balance, and moderation.
  • demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between chemistry, biology, and nutrition.