History - Location of the Department
The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics of the School of Health Sciences at the University of the Peloponnese was founded through Law No 4610/19 and began operating in the academic year 2019-2020. The first students admitted in the Department were 150. The Department is located in a campus building of the University of the Peloponnese in the area of Antikalamos, Messinia, seven (7) km away from the centre of Kalamata.
The same building hosts the Department of Speech and Language Therapy of the School of Health Sciences, while in the 100.000 m2 campus there are the building facilities of the Departments of the School of Agriculture and Food and the School of Management.
In the facilities of the campus there is also a Library with a printing unit, a dining area, a cafeteria, sports courts and greenhouses, while in the city of Kalamata there is a University Dormitory.
The Department has modern classes and lecturing halls, and for the time being, the majority of the laboratory exercises take place in the very well-equipped laboratories of the Department of Food Science and Technology.
The Department has one Teaching and Research Staff member (DEP) on the level of Associate Professor, while elections are is progress for the appointment of six (6) new Teaching and Research Staff members (DEP). From an educational aspect, the Department is supported by Teaching and Research Staff members (DEP) of other Departments of the University, as well as by external partners.
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies
The Undergraduate Curriculum aims to educate new scientists, who will acquire knowledge in the area of improving eating habits and the diet of individuals as well as special population groups, such as newborns, infants, children, teenagers, athletes and chronic disease patients.
The education off ered at the Department covers a wide range of subjects; from general courses, such as Chemistry, Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, to subjects related to Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, Diet and Metabolic Process, to subjects specialising in the diet of particular population groups.
The Undergraduate Curriculum combines theoretical teaching with laboratory and practical exercise, and follows any current scientifi c developments.
The studies last four years and the courses are allocated within the 8 semesters of studies. Prerequisite for the acquisition of the degree is succeeding at the exams of all Undergraduate Curriculum courses, the successful participation in the Internship and the preparation of a Thesis during the fourth year of studies. The Curriculum off ers 240 ECTS-credits in total.
The Curriculum of the Department has not yet been certifi ed by the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education, and the certifi cation processes are going to begin as of the next academic year.
Carrer Prospects
The Department has not established any professional rights yet, but we are currently awaiting the issue of a Presidential Decree, which will award professional rights to the Department’s graduates equal with those of graduates from other departments of Nutrition and Dietetics in Greece. The Department’s graduates can work as dieticians in public or private sector or as freelancers.
Apart from any professional opportunities off ered by the degree, graduates can continue their academic studies – in case they are interested –, in order to acquire a postgraduate or doctoral degree.
Research
The Department has a Human Physiology Laboratory, which is operating at an educational and research level, and a fully-equipped Informatics Laboratory, while Chemistry, Biochemistry and Dietetics laboratories are under construction. The Department has a Doctoral Studies Regulation approved by the University’s Senate and as of the next academic year, the first doctoral candidates will arrive at the Department.
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