Two new bachelor's degrees -- one in nutrition sciences and one in health sciences -- will be offered by UNLV's College of Health Sciences beginning this fall.

"We're excited about both of these new bachelor of science degrees," said Carolyn Sabo, dean of the college. "Both were created to meet a demand by students for additional paths into careers in the field of health. The demand by companies and government agencies for employees with solid backgrounds in health is growing very quickly throughout the country. We want to do our part to help meet that need."

The nutrition sciences program will prepare students for careers in medical nutritional therapy, community nutrition, consumer nutrition, wellness, food and nutrition management, education, and research, among others, said nutrition professor Susan Meacham, who heads the new program.

"Nutrition is a big buzzword these days," Meacham said. "Everyone talks about better nutrition, but too often the people doing the talking are not sufficiently trained in the area. What our program plans to provide are graduates who are truly knowledgeable about nutrition and, therefore, can make a difference, whether they are working in hospitals, schools, athletic clubs, or anywhere else where good nutrition is considered important."

Additionally, the nutrition sciences program will provide the necessary foundation for students seeking to enter medical school, dental school, physical therapy programs, or other graduate programs requiring strong undergraduate preparation in the sciences, she said.

Nutrition sciences will be available to students as a minor as well as a major, Meacham said.

The nutrition sciences program also will play a role in the new health sciences degree program since nutrition will be one of four areas of emphasis from which students can choose.

"Our health sciences degree program is intended primarily for those students who have earned an associate's degree in one of the allied health fields from the community college or who have completed the radiography certification program here at UNLV and desire to go on and earn a bachelor's degree," Sabo said. The program is not available to entry-level freshmen.

Among the associate's degrees that students may have earned before transferring into UNLV's health sciences program are those for clinical laboratory technicians, physical therapy assistants, dental hygienists, and nurses.

"The bachelor's degree in health sciences will provide students with a broad knowledge base of general health sciences issues," Sabo said. "It also will equip them with the core science knowledge they will need should they decide to pursue medical or dental degrees or other graduate degrees in the science field."

Each student majoring in health sciences will be required to focus on one of four areas -- education, management, nutrition, or pre-professional.

For additional information on the bachelor of science in health sciences program, call 895-3693. For more information on the bachelor of science in nutrition sciences program, call 895-4328.