History

The University of Washington Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program (formerly the Nutritional Sciences Program) has a rich history on campus, dating back to 1909 when it originated as the Home Economics Department. Now, as an interdisciplinary program in the UW School of Public Health, our graduate, undergraduate and RDN training programs and staff and faculty researchers in the Center for Public Health Nutrition address issues in population health at a local, regional, and global level.

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2024

The program is renamed Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health.

2020

The first cohort of students graduate with a major in Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health.

2018

A new undergraduate Major in Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health begins. 

2015

Nutrition for Today course exceeds 1,000 in enrollments for the first time. 

2013

The Nutrition Minor begins.  

2011

The Nutritional Sciences Program, as it is now known, moves into the School of Public Health Office of the Dean. 

2009

Anne Lund becomes the director of the GCPD. 

2008

The DPD and Dietetic Internship programs are combined into the Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics (GCPD). 

2001

The Center for Public Health Nutrition (CPHN) is founded. 

2000

The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) receives initial accreditation along with the continued accreditation of the Dietetic Internship. 

1998

Adam Drewnowski becomes the director of the IGP in Nutritional Sciences. 

1996

The Master of Public Health in Nutrition is added to degrees offered. 

1994

Elaine Monsen becomes Director of the IGP in Nutritional Sciences. 

1994

The pre-professional practice program in dietetics is accredited as a Dietetic Internship. 

1993

The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (IGP) in Nutritional Sciences moves into the School of Public Health and Community Medicine with an administrative home in Epidemiology. 

1990

The PhD in Nutritional Sciences receives approval.  

1984

The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (IGP) leading to a Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences is formed within the UW Graduate School following the closure of the School of Nutritional Sciences and Textiles. 

1978

The School of Home Economics becomes the School of Nutritional Sciences and Textiles with Divisions in Human Nutrition, Dietetics, and Foods and Textile Science and Costume Studies. Degrees include the BS in Clinical Dietetics, BS in Nutritional Science, BS in Textile Science, BA in Costume Studies, MS and MA.

1973

The Coordinated Undergraduate Program in Clinical Dietetics is established. 

1946

In May, the Home Economics Building is renamed Raitt Hall in honor of Effie Isobel Raitt, who directed the unit for more than 30 years until her death in 1945. 

1930

The School of Home Economics is created.  

1916

In September, the Home Economics Building is completed at the cost of $151,000 and is initially occupied by the Home Economics Department, later renamed the Nutritional Sciences Program. 

1909

The Home Economics Department is founded.