Graduate Nutrition & Dietetics

Faculty

Suresh T. Mathews, Chair; Professor
Patricia Hart Terry, Professor; Director, Food Labs
Katie C. Coate, Assistant Professor; Director, Master of Science, Nutrition
Keith E. Pearson, Assistant Professor
Donna Seibels, Assistant Professor; Director, Didactic Program
Miriam J. Gaines, Assistant Professor; Director, Dietetic Internship Program

Mission

The mission of the Samford University Department of Nutrition and Dietetics is to provide a comprehensive study of all areas of food, nutrition, and dietetics. The nutrition and dietetics major, foods and nutrition major, dietetic internship, and master of science in nutrition programs all offer students the opportunity to pursue knowledge and competency in a distinctive Christian environment. Faculty are committed to preparing graduates who are well-informed, scientifically and empirically competent, and ethically responsible. Graduates are capable of entering successful careers in foods, nutrition, dietetics, and healthcare, while contributing to the needs of their community and society at large.

Graduate Programs and Requirements

Degree/Major
Master of Science (M.S.)
          Nutrition w/a Concentration in Clinical Nutrition (M.S.)
          Nutrition w/a Concentration in General Nutrition (M.S.)
          Nutrition w/a Concentration in Dietetic Internship (M.S.)

Certificate
Dietetic Internship Certificate

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics offers an online master of science degree in nutrition. The goal of the program is to prepare students and dietitians for positions in healthcare, research, academia, community settings, or the private sector.

Students applying to the master of science degree in nutrition have the choice of a concentration in clinical nutrition or a concentration in general nutrition. Additionally, students applying through the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS) have the opportunity to complete coursework towards the master of science in nutrition degree and practice experiences necessary to become a registered dietitian. Students are required to complete a capstone/culminating research project in nutrition science, community nutrition, or public health. All classes are offered online, and students may pursue either fulltime or part-time study for all programs. The coursework, research experiences, internships, and certifications prepare students for careers in academia, hospitals, long-term care, schools, wellness programs, industry, government, and public health.

The department also offers a stand-alone, graduate-level dietetic internship certificate.

Master of Science: Nutrition (M.S.)

The master of science degree (M.S.) in nutrition, with a concentration in clinical or general nutrition, provides advanced training in human nutrition science. The program can be combined with a dietetic internship, which provides students with the supervised practice experience needed to fulfill the competences for dietitians established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

Admission Requirements for the Master of Science in Nutrition

Applicants must:

Possess a baccalaureate degree in any field from an accredited college or university, or be in the senior year of undergraduate study.
Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
Achieve a C or better in all prerequisite courses. All prerequisite courses must have been completed within 10 years prior to application. Required prerequisite courses include mathematics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology I and II, and introductory nutrition.
Submit valid GRE, MCAT, or DAT scores:
1. GRE minimum scores: Verbal: 153; Quantitative: 144; Analytical: 4.0
2. MCAT equivalent of 492
3. DAT minimum score of 14
Submit three letters of reference through the application system. References should be from 1) a current or previous professor, 2) a work supervisor, and 3) a registered dietitian or another current or previous professor.
International applicants or American citizens who learned English as a second language must score at least 550 (paper), 213 (computer), or 80 (internet) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
If accepted, a non-refundable fee of $1,000 is required to secure admission into the program. This fee is applied to the first semester’s tuition.
Exceptions to any admission requirements may be considered on an individual basis.

Dietetic Internship Certificate

The dietetic internship program has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). It qualifies graduates to take the exam for professional credentialing as a Registered Dietitian (RD). The program of study has a concentration in community nutrition and public health, and consists of four graduate courses and 1,272 supervised practice internship hours completed in healthcare organizations and other community-based settings. Interns complete the program with 21 graduate credits which may be applied toward the master’s degree (M.P.H. or M.S.). The university awards a certificate to the program’s graduates.

Admission Requirements for the Dietetic Internship Certificate

Applicants to Samford’s dietetic internship program must complete the online centralized internship application, DICAS. The fee to use DICAS is $40 for the first application submitted and $20 for each additional internship application. All applications become the property of the Dietetic Internship at Samford University and will not be returned. Digital Matching: Applicants must also register online at D & D Digital for computer matching and select dietetic internship priority choices. There is a $50 computer matching fee.

Additional requirements:

Possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
Possess an official Verification Statement of Completion or Declaration of Intent to Complete from an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), with original signatures issued within the last 5 years.
Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
1. GRE minimum scores: Verbal: 153; Quantitative: 144; Analytical: 4.0
2. MAT minimum score: 402
Have a minimum GPA of 3.20 on a 4.00 scale of all major courses.
Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale in all science courses.
Submit a résumé.
Submit three letters of reference through the application system. Two references must be from a prior faculty member, academic advisor, or other professional who has supervised the applicant’s academic studies; the other professional reference may be from an employer or other who can provide a knowledgeable testament regarding character, ethics, responsibility, potential for success, and other attributes which predict an applicant’s favorable performance in an internship.
International applicants or American citizens who learned English as a second language must score at least 550 (paper), 213 (computer), or 80 (internet) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Submit a Kira video interview. A link will be provided upon submission of the application.
Possess 150 hours or more dietetics-related and/or food service work experience, volunteer or paid.
Exceptions to any admission requirements will be handled on an individual basis.
If accepted, a non-refundable fee of $500 is required to secure admission into the program. This fee is applied to the first semester’s tuition.

To apply, go to https://portal.dicas.org.

Programs

Master

Certificate - Graduate

Dietetic Internship Certificate

Courses

Nutrition and Dietetics