Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Wellness
Increase your knowledge of nutrition throughout the life span. Learn how to work with diverse groups of clients including people interested in weight loss or improving athletic performance.
Increase your knowledge of nutrition throughout the life span. Learn how to work with diverse groups of clients including people interested in weight loss or improving athletic performance.
Are you interested in disease prevention and health promotion? Would you like to help others understand confusing nutrition information and work with them to change their food-related behaviors? The Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Wellness program challenges students to increase their knowledge of the science of nutrition as they learn how to coach individuals to help them set goals to improve their health and reduce their risk of chronic disease.
Explore a variety of career paths with community and public health programs, non-profit organizations (health promotion, health policy), weight management programs, corporate wellness programs, or the fitness industry.
Work toward a career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). The BS in Dietetics program starts students on a path toward the RDN credential. The curriculum covers science, food science and nutrition. Students gain skills in nutrition assessment, creating nutrition care plans and educating clients of diverse backgrounds.
The BS in Nutritional Sciences is designed for students who want to pursue graduate school in nutrition, food science, medicine or physical therapy or otherwise want a degree that is very heavy in science. Students gain research experience by creating and conducting their own research project.
Ph.D. Michigan State University
M.S. Iowa State University
B.S. University of Iowa
Dietetic Internship, University of Michigan School of Public Health
734-432-5534
Franciscan Center S217-U
Dr. Schmitz is a former Peace Corps volunteer who became interested in the field of nutrition while working as a high school science teacher in Lesotho, Africa. She is a Registered Dietitian who has worked in the areas of research, nutrition education and nutritional counseling. She enjoys teaching courses in Nutrition Assessment, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Advanced Human Nutrition and Experimental Foods and Research.
Karen has been active in many professional associations related to nutrition and dietetics, most recently serving as an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Position Paper editor and on the board of the Southeastern Michigan Dietetics Association. She has served as a reviewer for several nutrition textbooks and on advisory boards for dietetic internships. Her recent research includes collaborating with nursing faculty on the project titled, "Teaching Nutrition Screening and Assessment of the Geriatric Patient: An Inter-professional Approach."
In addition, she has worked with many students on research projects related to fat replacers, sugar substitutes, oil absorption and consumer acceptability of food products. Several of these students have presented their research and won awards at the Michigan Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Conference.
Ph.D. Wayne State University
B.S. Oakland University
Dietetic Internship, WSU Coordinated Program
734-432-5514
Franciscan Center 217D
Rachel Sochocki is the Director of the Undergraduate Programs in Nutrition and Dietetics. She began teaching at Madonna University in 2025. Her interests include clinical nutrition, public health nutrition, and obesity management. Rachel also serves as the faculty advisor for the Nutrition Network Student Organization.
Rachel is a Registered Dietitian with experience in acute care clinical dietetics. Her doctoral research at Wayne State University, supported in part by the Thomas C. Rumble University Graduate Fellowship, focused on the relationship between eating behaviors, weight loss maintenance and inflammation.
M.S. Eastern Michigan University
B.S. Madonna University
Dietetic Internship, DMC
734-32-5515
Franciscan Center 217-P
Ph.D., Walden University
M.S. Michigan State University
B.S. Madonna University
MPH University of Michigan
B.S. University of Wisconsin-Stout
Dietetic Internship Iowa State University
