School of Health Sciences and Wellness Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems Degree

Community food and nutrition leaders must have a solid foundation in nutrition. Food systems work often involves partnering with agencies and professionals to address community nutrition issues in diverse populations. A formal academic background in nutrition science and the application of that science across the lifespan is essential.

The two required undergraduate level courses that provide the necessary foundation knowledge are those that are equivalent to UWSP’s FN354 – Introduction to Nutrition and Nutrient Metabolism and FN373 – Nutrition Through the Life Span. Any two-year institution that has an accredited dietetic technician program or a four-year institution with an accredited dietetics program will have both courses, with the introductory course being a pre-requisite to the lifecycle course.

The two undergraduate nutrition courses can be completed at any time prior to graduating with the M.S., so they can be taken prior to starting the M.S. or while completing the M.S.

• COL 700​ – Collaborative Leadership in Community Development (3 cr)
• COL 710 – Organization and Program Management (3 cr)
• COL 791 – Project Planning (3 cr)*
• COL 792 – Project Evaluation (3 cr)*
• FN 770 – Sustainable Food System (3 cr)
  *Alternative Culminating Experience

• COL 720 – Outcome Based Program Evaluation (3 cr)
• COL 730 – Best Practices in Program Development (3 cr)
• COL 791 – Project Planning (3 cr)*
• COL 792 – Project Evaluation (3 cr)*
  *Alternative Culminating Experience

• COL 740 – Grants and Funding for Small Projects (3 cr)
• COL 791 – Project Planning (3 cr)*
• COL 792 – Project Evaluation (3 cr)*
  *Alternative Culminating Experience

For the required electives, students are encouraged to be very selfish and strategic when identifying elective courses. Choosing electives is NOT about simply “seeing what is offered at UWSP.” It involves each individual student FIRST identifying the specific skills and/or areas of expertise that you need to develop during the master’s experience to be successful taking your first professional step with the M.S.

The skills and areas of expertise will be the search words used to google for graduate-level courses that meet your needs. You can also ask the program director about whether any UWSP courses develop these specific topics and skills.

If you are not clear on what you need from electives, you may

• talk with the program director or your adviser to start identifying potential options
• conduct an informational interview of someone who currently holds a position of interest
• or who hires for that position
• search for announcements and descriptions for positions you would like to hold after
• earning the MS
• do a gap analysis to clarify which skills and areas of expertise you already possess so you
• know which electives to prioritize

If a course you need is offered at another university than UWSP, you simply

• work with that other institution to know how to enroll as a non-degree seeking student
• confirm that it is a graduate level course offered for college credit
• communicate your interest in the course with the program director or your adviser
• once your grade for the course is posted you
  • fill out a form and email to the program director
  • request transcripts be sent to the program director

You can enroll at UW-Stevens Point easily, without applying to the university and paying additional fees.

To register for graduate courses as a special, non-degree seeking student, you must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. You will be granted graduate special status when you register. This gives you the same privileges of other registered students, such as access to library resources, etc.

To register, you simply pay the $100 registration deposit accompanying the mail registration form.

Registrations will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis according to the following schedule: summer/fall course registration begins in April and spring/winterim registration begins in November. This schedule is based on when continuing students are done registering. Non-degree seeking students cannot register before degree seeking students.

After your registration is processed, you will be sent an email by the Office of the Registrar. The email includes instructions on how to activate your myPoint account, access texts, and obtain a Point ID Card.   More information >>>

Please note: HWM courses are administered through UW-Extension. Tuition rates may differ from UW-Stevens Point rates.

Job Responsibilities: Graduate assistants serve the School of Health Sciences and Wellness in a variety of capacities including enhancing the delivery of SHSW programs, instruction and scholarly activities. Graduate assistants can serve as a research assistant to a faculty member, assist in teaching undergraduate courses, support department assessment and accreditation efforts, sustain and further SHSW collaborations in the community (e.g., Farmshed, Greenhouse Project, Fruit & Vegetable Rx program, Guiding Good Choices, etc.), and assist faculty in developing new or enhancing existing programs (e.g., CPS Café, UWSP Employee Wellness).

Compensation: The assistantships are half-time (20 hours/week) positions that pay approximately $11,200 annually and include the state health insurance package.

Eligibility: Newly admitted and continuing in the Community and Organizational Leadership or Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems master’s programs.

Benefits to Student: Graduate assistants gain vital skills and professional development experiences that provide a real-world view into the jobs their master’s degree can lead to. Working in community and research projects builds skills in technical and professional writing, research skills useful in grant writing and program assessment, program management and development, building collaborations, teaching experience, among others.

Applications will be accepted electronically to chuck@uwsp.edu until 5 p.m. on the second Friday of July, and must include the following:

1. Resume or CV
2. Brief letter of interest (no more than 1 page, single spaced) that delineates the strengths and abilities you bring to this position and how the opportunities this position offers will assist in your professional development.

Competitive review of applications will take place after the application deadline for appointments to be announced by August 1.