Health and Nutritional Sciences

Matthew Vukovich, Department Head
Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences
Intramural Building 116
605-688-4668
e-mail: matt.vukovich@sdstate.edu
http://www.sdstate.edu/hns/index.cfm

Faculty
Professor Vukovich, Head; Professor Cassel, Dalaly, Hacker, Kattelmann, Krishnan, Sergeev, Specker, Wake, Wang; Professors Emeriti Forsyth, Huether; Associate Professor Dey, Droke, Fokken, Olson; Assistant Professor Binkley, Bowser, Meendering, Roiger, Van Guilder, Zwart; Instructors Brandenburger, Gengler, Hegerfeld-Baker, Kirby, Nelson, Stluka.

Department Overview
The Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences is dedicated to improving quality of life regionally, nationally, and globally by fostering life long learners, conducting innovative science, and delivering effective outreach in the areas of health and nutrition. The integration of academic programs, which focus on nutrition, food science, health, recreation, exercise, and human performance, provides students and faculty with unique opportunities to collaborate and to promote interaction among students in different majors with a common focus on promoting health through proper nutrition and physical activity.

The course offerings help develop students with a strong foundation of knowledge, skills and abilities to enter graduate school or employment within the health care field, industry, or education. Students learn how to critique and analyze research within their designated field and have access to state-of-the-art teaching and research laboratories, nationwide internship programs, and study abroad experiences. The faculty members are nationally recognized as experts in their field and are dedicated to student success.

Department Objectives

• to improve the quality of life regionally, nationally, and globally by fostering life long learners, conducting innovative science, and delivering effective outreach in the areas of health and nutrition.
• to provide premier leadership in health and nutritional sciences dedicated to excellence in learning, discovery, and outreach.

Programs

Student Engagement Opportunities
The department offers a number of opportunities for student involvement. The student organizations provide professional development and social interaction through numerous events on campus, as well as service learning and travel opportunities. Undergraduate research provides opportunities to work in research laboratories with professors. Students are able to become actively involved in data collection and data analysis as well as have the chance to write, travel, and present research.  The department also awards scholarships to incoming and current students.