Nutrition & Dietetics (Graduate)

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 Intership
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, 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 (MS)
Nutrition (MS)
Nutrition w/a Concentration in Dietetics (MS)

Older Certificate*
Dietetic Internship Certificate (CRH) *

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

Joint Degree Pathway Program
Master of Science in Nutrition/Doctor of Pharmacy (MS/PharmD)
_________________________________________________
The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics offers an online master of science degree (MS) in nutrition with an optional concentration in dietetics. The goal of the program is to prepare students and dietitians for positions in healthcare, research, academia, community settings, or the private sector.

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 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. See the 2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog and/or the department chair for more information.

In cooperation with the McWhorter School of Pharmacy, the department offers a joint degree leading to both a master of science (MS) in nutrition and a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD). Some credit sharing is allowed, and overall credits of the combined programs are reduced.
———-
*This program is under review and subject to change/closure/replacement. It is currently closed to new admits.

Master of Science: Nutrition (MS)

The master of science degree (MS) in nutrition provides advanced training in human nutrition science. The program’s dietetic concentration provides students with the didactic learning and supervised experiential learning needed to fulfill the competencies for registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) eligibility established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

Admission Requirements

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.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to 9 hours of graduate credit from another regionally accredited college or university. Transfer credit is eligible for courses with an earned grade of B or better completed within the last ten years. Students must complete the Credit Transfer Request Form and send it to the MS in nutrition program director along with a copy of the syllabus from the course in which the student desires to transfer graduate credit. Requests for institutional graduate credit transfer must be approved by the Samford instructor who teaches the analogous course, the program director, and the chair of the department. Students are not able to use credit from other institutions in place of taking NUTR 610 (Capstone Project in Nutrition) , which must be completed at Samford University. Requests for graduate credit transfer are typically made during the application process or immediately after admission to the program. Requests at all other times will be considered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the program director.

Progression Policies

In order to progress in the Master of Science (MS) in nutrition program, the student must:

Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above on all coursework.
Make a grade of B or better in each required or prescribed course in the MS in nutrition curriculum. Note: A grade of C or lower constitutes failure in any required or prescribed course in the MS in nutrition curriculum.
A student will be allowed to take a failed MS in nutrition course one additional time but must make a B or above for a passing grade.
Failure in a course may cause an interruption in the student’s matriculation in terms of scheduling courses.
A student who fails (C or lower) two MS in nutrition courses will be terminated from the program.
A student may not enroll in any MS in nutrition course more than twice.
A student who fails to successfully complete a required MS in nutrition course within one calendar year of academic probation notification will be dismissed from the program.
Students must be aware that matters of plagiarism, unethical, unprofessional, or unsafe conduct may result in immediate dismissal from the MS in nutrition program.

Students may not receive any grades lower than B for MS in nutrition courses. Courses with grades lower than B may be retaken one time. When a course is retaken, both grades remain on the transcript, and both are used in calculating the student’s grade point average (GPA). Students must maintain a GPA of 3.00 or higher and may not retake more than two courses during their MS in nutrition program. Students whose GPA falls below 3.00 will be placed on academic probation and will not be permitted to take more than nine credit hours during any semester they retake courses. Students who remain on academic probation for more than two semesters or students who receive a grade lower than B in two or more courses will be terminated from the MS in nutrition program. Students retain the right to appeal termination decisions via the grievance procedure outlined in the MS in Nutrition Student Handbook.

Master of Science: Nutrition with a Concentration in Dietetics (MS)

The master of science degree (MS) in nutrition with a concentration in dietetics provides students with the didactic learning and supervised experiential learning needed to fulfill the competencies for registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) eligibility established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Students who complete this concentration will be able to sit for the credentialing examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration to become an RDN.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must:

Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
Achieve a C or better in all prerequisite courses from a college or university that holds institutional accreditation. All prerequisite courses must be completed within 10 years prior to application. Required prerequisite courses include statistics or business math, psychology or sociology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, and introductory nutrition.
No GRE scores are required.
Exceptions to any admission requirements will be handled on an individual basis.

International Student Applicants must:

Review the ACEND guidance for International Students.
Certified copies of all academic work not completed in an English-speaking school should be submitted to the World Evaluation Service (WES), or Education Credential Evaluators (ECE), requesting a Course-by-Course Evaluation.
American citizens or permanent residents who learned English as a second language must score at least 575 (paper) or 90 (internet) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a 6.5 on IELTS.
Communicate any questions with the program director and admissions office.

Progression Policies

Successful completion of the program requires the achievement of the required education and Future Education Model Accreditation Standards for Graduate Degree Programs (GP) as demonstrated by:

Successful completion of graduate degree requirements by achieving a grade of B (80%) or higher in all didactic courses and on specific didactic assignments for each course (as indicated on course syllabi).
Achieving a minimum rating of “average” (3 on a 5-point scale, 80%) in all planned supervised experiential learning experiences and associated assignments.
Completing all didactic coursework and mandated 1,000 hours of supervised experiential learning hours within 150% of the program length (3 years).
Minimum of satisfactory (“average” 3 on a 5-point scale, 80%) evaluations from rotations.
Adherence to all behavioral and academic integrity standards as outlined in the Academy’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Performance and the Samford University policy on academic integrity as outlined in the student handbook.

Verification of successful completion of the GP will be given to all students who are awarded the MS degree and have met all didactic and supervised experiential learning requirements according to the established performance requirements of the MS dietetics concentration. Verification statements and other required information will be submitted to the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) to establish eligibility to sit for the Registered Examination for Dietitians. Copies of the Verification Statement will be provided to students to use for state licensure applications and proof of registration eligibility for potential employers. After completing the MS dietetics concentration, graduates will be competent to function as entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists, pass the national registration examination for registered dietitian nutritionists, and obtain state licensure (if applicable) within a certain period as specified by a new employer.

Dietetic Internship Certificate*

The dietetic internship program has been accredited 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 consists of four graduate courses and 1,000+ supervised practice internship hours completed in healthcare organizations and other community-based settings. Interns complete the program with 25 graduate credits which may be applied toward the master’s degree (MPH or MS). The university awards a certificate to the program’s graduates.

Progression Policies

In order to progress in the post-baccalaureate certificate program in Dietetic Internship (DI), the intern must:
Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above on all coursework.
Make a grade of B or better in each required or prescribed course in the Dietetic Internship curriculum. Note: A grade of C or lower constitutes failure in any required or prescribed course in the Dietetic Internship curriculum.
An intern will be allowed to take a failed Dietetic Internship course one additional time but must make a B or above for a passing grade.
Failure in a course may cause an interruption in the intern’s matriculation in terms of scheduling courses.
An intern who fails (C or lower) two Dietetic Internship courses will be terminated from the department.
An intern may not enroll in any Dietetic Internship course more than twice.
An intern who fails to successfully complete a required Dietetic Internship course within one calendar year of academic probation notification will be dismissed from the program.
Interns must be aware that matters of plagiarism, unethical, unprofessional, or unsafe conduct may result in immediate dismissal from the Dietetic Internship program.

A minimum GPA of 3.00 is required to be awarded the Dietetic Internship Certificate. An intern must earn a B or higher in a Supervised Practice course (rotation) before moving onto the next course or rotation. Courses with grades lower than B may be retaken one time. When a course is retaken, both grades remain on the transcript, and both are used in calculating the intern’s grade point average (GPA). Interns may not retake more than two courses during their DI program. Interns whose GPA falls below 3.00 will be placed on academic probation and will not be permitted to take more than nine credit hours during any semester they retake courses. Interns who remain on academic probation for more than two semesters and interns who receive a grade lower than B in two or more courses will be terminated from the DI program. Interns retain the right to appeal termination decisions via the grievance procedure outlined in the DI intern handbook.
———-
*This program is under review and subject to change/closure/replacement. It is currently closed to new admits.

Programs

Master

Certificate - Graduate

Dietetic Internship Certificate (CRH)

Courses

Nutrition & Dietetics