Program Overview

Department of Nutrition

The Department of Nutrition offers various programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Undergraduate Programs

• Biomedical Nutrition Science
• Community Nutrition
• Dietetics

Graduate Programs

• MS in Nutrition
• PhD in Nutritional Sciences
• Maternal & Child Health (MCH)
• Graduate: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Research

• Research on Eating and Activity for Community Health (REACH)

Mission, Goals, and Objectives

The mission of the ACEND-accredited Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (GP) is to effectively integrate didactic and experiential learning in a program that culminates in a graduate degree that effectively prepares graduates for evidence-based nutrition and dietetics practice, practice-based research, and professional mentorship and leadership as RDNs in an interprofessional healthcare environment.

Program Goals and Objectives

Program Goal #1: Graduates will be prepared for effective evidence-based clinical nutrition and dietetics practice as credentialed Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.

• Objective 1.1: At least 80% of program graduates complete program requirements within 3 years (150% of the program length)
• Objective 1.2: Of graduates who seek employment, at least 85% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
• Objective 1.3: At least 85% of employers who respond to the employer survey agree that program graduates were ready and functioned independently in their jobs faster compared to other employees hired to the same position.
• Objective 1.4: At least 90% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
• Objective 1.5: The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.

Program Goal #2: Graduates will be prepared to be effective members of an interprofessional healthcare team.

• Objective 1: By the time of program completion, at least 85% of program graduates will report moderate-level or greater interprofessional beliefs, behavior, and attitudes as measured by the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale (2016).

Program Goal #3: Graduates will be prepared for mentoring and leadership roles in nutrition and dietetics.

• Objective 1: At least 85% of program graduates will agree or strongly agree that the program prepared them well for mentoring and precepting others in the practice setting.
• Objective 2: At least 75% of graduates will occupy mentoring and/or leadership roles in nutrition and dietetics within 3 years of program completion.

Program Goal #4: Graduates will be prepared to be active participants in practice-based research.

• Objective 1: At least 75% graduates will agree or strongly agree that the program prepared them well for engagement in practice-based research.
• Objective 2: At least 20% of graduates will report engagement in practice-based research within 3 years of program completion