Nutrition & Dietetics (Undergraduate)

Faculty

Suresh T. Mathews, Chair; Professor
Emily Bourne, Assistant Professor
Megan H. Kaal, Assistant Professor, DPD Director and Clinical Coordinator
Ashley Licata, Assistant Professor
Amy C. Cameron, Instructor; Director, Dietetic Internship
Katie C. Coate, Instructor
Clara Darling, Instructor

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 culinary and wellness nutrition management major, nutrition and dietetics 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.

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Majors
Culinary and Wellness Nutrition Management Major (BS)
Nutrition and Dietetics Major (BS)

Minor
Nutrition Minor

Accelerated Bachelor-to-Graduate Pathway Program
Fast Track Master of Science in Nutrition w/a concentration in Dietetics (BS/MS) with a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics

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The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics (NUTR) offers majors in culinary and wellness nutrition management and nutrition and dietetics, both leading to a bachelor of science degree. Additionally, the culinary and wellness nutrition management major requires a 20-credit minor or cognate from outside the department. The department also offers a minor in nutrition.

The department also offers a fast-track version for students pursuing both the bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics and the master of science in nutrition with a concentration in dietetics (MS). With the fast-track option, undergraduate students have the opportunity to earn their BS and master’s degrees in just five years of study.

General Education: University Core Curriculum and Distribution Requirements

General Education Distribution Requirements are noted in the individual degree tables. In those cases where a requirement is not specified, see General Education Overview in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses.

Accelerated Bachelor-to-Graduate Pathway Program

Fast-Track Master of Science in Nutrition with a Concentration in Dietetics with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (BS/MS)

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to this accelerated bachelor-to-graduate pathway program must be:

Enrolled in the BS in nutrition and dietetics major
Have a documented approval form from their advisor
Be in good academic standing with a 3.00 cumulative GPA

Progression Policies

Completion Requirements for the master of science in nutrition with a concentration in dietetics:

Completion of required academic coursework and 1,000 hours of experiential learning within 150% of the two-year program length (3 years).
Documentation of satisfactory performance in all supervised experiential learning (SEL) experiences and associated assignments. Satisfactory performance corresponds to a rating of “average” or 3 on a 5-point scale.
Evaluation scale: 1 = Unsatisfactory, requires remediation; 2 = Below Average, requires remediation; 3 = Average; 4 = Above Average; 5 = Superior.
Achievement of 83% (a B in Samford’s Letter Grading System policy, see Graduate Course Catalog) or higher in all didactic courses and a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher (this includes both didactic and experiential learning courses).
Adherence to all behavioral and academic integrity standards as outlined in the Academy’s Code of Ethics and Scope and Standards of Practice for RDNs and the Samford University policy on academic integrity.

Master of Science and Verification Statement: Upon fulfilling the Samford Graduation Requirements and meeting the Completion Requirements of the MS dietetics concentration, students will be granted their degrees. The program director will submit Verification Statements and necessary information to the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) to confirm eligibility for the Registered Examination for Dietitians. Subsequently, the program director will present students with copies of the Verification Statement for use in state licensure applications and as evidence of eligibility for potential employers.

Time-to-Degree Completion

It is estimated that completion of the entire fast-track program - undergraduate and graduate portions - can be done in five years.

Programs

Major

Minor

Nutrition Minor

Accelerated Bachelor-to-Graduate Pathway Program

Fast-Track Master of Science in Nutrition, w/Dietetics Conc, w/BS in Nutrition & Dietetics (BS/MS)

Courses

Nutrition & Dietetics