Nutrition and Dietetics

Faculty

Patricia Hart Terry, Chair, Professor
Debra W. Morrison, Assistant Professor, Director Dietetic Internships
Donna Seibels, Assistant Professor, Director, Didactic 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, and dietetic internship all offer students the opportunity to pursue knowledge and competency in a distinctive Christian environment. The faculty of the department is committed to the preparation of graduates who are well informed, scientifically and empirically competent, self-educated, and ethically responsible. Graduates are capable of entering successful careers in foods, nutrition, and dietetics, while also contributing to the needs of their community and society at large.

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Majors	Minor
Foods and Nutrition Major, B.S.	Nutrition and Dietetics Minor
Nutrition and Dietetics Major, B.S.

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics offers majors in foods and nutrition and nutrition and dietetics, both leading to a bachelor of science degree. The department also offers a minor in nutrition and dietetics.

A minimum grade of C- must be achieved in all KINE and NUTR prefix courses within each major and minor.

University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements

General Education Requirements are detailed in the individual degree tables, with some exceptions. In those cases where a requirement is not specified, consult the University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements and the Physical Activity Program for a list of applicable activity courses.

Graduate Programs and Requirements

Certificate/Major

Dietetic Internship Certificate

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics offers a graduate-level dietetic internship certificate.

Admission Requirements

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 $50.00 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 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Have a minimum of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale of all major courses.
Have a minimum of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in all science courses.
Submit a GRE or MAT within the past 5 years. GRE minimum scores: Verbal: 153; Quantitative: 144; Analytical: 4.0. MAT minimum score: 402. The MAT or GRE is waived if the applicant has successfully completed a graduate program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
Submit a resume and/or portfolio.
Submit thoughtful answers to all questions for your personal/career statement.
Submit three letters of reference submitted 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.
Possess good written and verbal communication skills in English; for international students or American citizens learning English as a second language, a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 (paper), 213 (computer), or 80 (internet) or better.
Submit a recorded personal interview via Likelive online video software. Applicants with visual or hearing impairment will be accommodated as is appropriate, and must make special requirements known to the DI director early in the application process. A link will be provided upon submission of the application.
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.

Priority consideration will be given to applicants who have:

Passed professional nutrition courses (community nutrition, food service, and medical nutrition therapy with a “B” or better).
150 hours or more dietetics-related and/or food service work experience, volunteer or paid.
Service work in the community.
Clear professional goals stated in their career statement.
Strong letters of reference.
Professional presentation and communication skills demonstrated in the video interview.

Programs

Major

Minor

Nutrition and Dietetics Minor

Certificate - Graduate

Dietetic Internship Certificate

Courses

Nutrition and Dietetics - Undergraduate

NOTE: Beginning 2013-2014, all courses formerly designated with the KINS prefix now have the KINE or NUTR prefix. Old course numbers are noted in parentheses at the end of each course description. NUTR courses are listed below while KINE courses can be found in the catalog section for the Department of Kinesiology .

Nutrition and Dietetics - Graduate