Nutrition Programs - History

The Nutrition program has a long history at ASU. In 1909, the program was a part of Domestic Science at Tempe Normal School with the first degrees granted in 1915. During the 1930s, Home Economics Education was the primary departmental career emphasis, and by this time, Home Economics graduates could earn a master's degree in education. Subsequently, a new building was constructed to house the Child Development Laboratory and a Home Management Residence program was added to department facilities. By 1974, the preschool evolved from a nursery school to today's Child Development Laboratory. In 1951, a new Home Economics building was completed and dedicated, and in 1990, this building's name was changed to the Cowden Family Resources Building.

In the early 1980s, research and scholarly productivity increased, as the priorities at the department, college and university levels became focused on programmatic research as a condition for tenure and promotion. At this time, the name of the department was changed from Home Economics to Family Resources and Human Development (FRHD). Consequently, a determination was made to focus on achieving excellence within the two strongest areas: Child Development and Family Studies (FAS/CDE), and Foods and Nutrition (FON). Because of the focus on building strength in the FAS/CDE and FON areas, the programs in Textiles/Clothing and Consumer Economics were phased out. 

In Spring 1999, the title of the general master's degree in FRHD was changed to Master of Science in Human Nutrition. In November 1999, the Board of Regents approved the transfer of the Nutrition program to the Department of Nutrition in the School of Applied Arts & Sciences at ASU's Polytechnic campus, and the student enrollments increased markedly from around 100 students to near 500 students in spring 2009. 

In April 2009, with the purpose of centralizing the health-related programs at ASU at the Downtown Phoenix campus, the Board of Regents approved the transfer of the Nutrition program to the College of Nursing & Health Innovation at the Downtown Phoenix campus.