# Nutrition and Dietetics (AS-T)

College of the Desert · 2026-2027 Catalog · Department: Health Sciences

Source: https://catalog.collegeofthedesert.edu/programs/health-sciences/nutrition-and-dietetics-as-t/

The Associate in Science in Nutrition and Dietetics for Transfer, also called the Nutrition and Dietetics AS-T Degree, introduces students to the principles and methodologies used in the study of nutrition and dietetics. Students will acquire the foundational knowledge necessary to pursue post-secondary degrees in nutrition and dietetics. To earn an AS-T in Nutrition and Dietetics degree, a student must complete 60 semester units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University (CSU) system that include completion of California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) and 27-35 units in the major. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework to receive an associate degree for transfer and all courses in the major must be completed with a C (or "P") or better.

Students earning this AS-T degree will not be required to complete any other local graduation requirements. Students transferring to a CSU campus that accepts the AS-T will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree (unless the major is a designated “high-unit” major). Students should consult with a counselor when planning to complete the degree for more information on university admission and transfer requirements.

### Learning Outcomes

#### Learning Outcomes

Upon satisfactory completion of this program students will be able to:

1.  Explain the role of food and nutrients in the human life-cycle stages and nutrition-related chronic diseases by synthesizing relevant theories from the biological and physical sciences.
2.  Demonstrate basic food science principles in food procurement, preparation, and safety for individuals, families, and communities.
3.  Explain social, ethnic and/or environmental dimensions within nutrition and the life sciences.
4.  Be eligible and prepared for transfer to related health science programs.

### Program Requirements

#### Program Requirements

| Course | Title | Units |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Required Courses** | |  |
| HS 013 | General Nutrition | 3 |
| BI 015 | General Microbiology | 5 |
| CH 001A | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CH 001B | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| PSYC C1000 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| **List A** | |  |
| **Select one option from the following: (3-9 units)** | |  |
| STAT C1000 | Introduction to Statistics | 3-4 |
| or SOC 003 | Fundamentals of Statistics |  |
| BI 013 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| **and** | |  |
| BI 014 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 5 |
| **List B** | |  |
| **Select one course from the following (3-5 units):** | |  |
| CH 003 | Introductory General Chemistry | 4 |
| CH 005 | Bio-organic Chemistry | 4 |
| CH 007 | Fundamentals of Chemistry | 5 |
| PSY 003 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| KINE 010 | Personal & Community Health | 3 |
| **Required Subtotal** | | 27-35 |
| **Cal-GETC** | | 34 |
| **Transferable Electives (as needed to reach 60 transferable units)** | |  |
| **DEGREE TOTAL** | | 60 |

1. Units for the major may be double counted for Cal-GETC, confer with a Counselor.
2. Elective units to reach 60 unit total must be CSU transferable, confer with a Counselor.

**Please refer to Associate Degree for Transfer (SB 1440).**