Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology 194:
Senior Seminar in Dietetics

Class Time and Location
Monday and Wednesday 3:00 ­ 4:00 in 138 Morgan Hall

Reading Assignments
Students will be sent a copy of On the Pulse, the weekly electronic legislative newsletter of the American Dietetic Association. This newsletter and the issues included in it will be the basis for class discussion. In addition, readings relative to specific topics will either be handed out in seminar the week prior to the scheduled discussion or will be disseminated via the class listserv. To sign up for the listserv, send an e-mail to ns194-request@nature.berkeley.edu with the single word "subscribe" in the message.

Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Students will explore the laws and regulations that govern food and nutrition policy, programs and standards.
2. Students will be able to describe the changes that have been implemented in national nutrition policies and standards in the last five years.
3. Students will discuss emerging science that will have an impact on future practice, such as bioengineering and genomics.
4. Students will identify the issues related to the regulation of botanicals and other substances used in complementary and alternative medicine and nutrition.
5. Student will determine how health care policy and health care delivery systems impact the profession and the practice of dietetics.
6. Student will explore the role of the dietitian in the development of public policy related to nutrition, health care, and food security.
7. Students will explain the purpose for using a variety of quality management techniques in the field of dietetics.
8. Students will discuss the current status of reimbursement for dietetic services and identify strategies for improving how practitioners are compensated for their services.
9. Students will document at least three contacts with legislators related to nutrition and health issues during the course of the semester.
10. Student will analyze and interpret the Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics.
11. Student will begin the transition from student to professional by setting the agenda and acting as the chairperson for one class meeting.
12. Students will update their professional portfolios to reflect the work done in this course.

Grading:
Grading for this class will be as follows:

Assignments	Points
Analysis of one herb, botanical or similar product	15
Letter to Legislator	10
Documentation of two other legislative contacts	5
Analysis of a change in a nutrition policy or standard	10
Essay on the Code of Ethics	15
Agenda for class session*	5
Conducting class meeting*	10
Meeting minutes*	5
Participation in class discussion	15
Portfolio update	10
TOTAL	100

* Classes that are designated as student run will be in the format of staff meetings, with one student serving as a chairperson and another responsible for taking minutes. The "chairperson" is to set the agenda and lead the meeting. The "secretary" is responsible for keeping a record of the meeting and copying and distributing those minutes for approval at the next meeting. All "staff members" are to come to the meeting prepared to discuss the topic designated for that meeting.