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Major in Nutrition and Dietetics
Major in Nutrition and Dietetics
The nutrition and dietetics major includes all courses required for the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). The Simmons College Nutrition Department's Didactic Program in Dietetics is currently granted accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL, 60606-6995, tel: (312) 899-5400. Dr. Elizabeth Metallinos-Katsaras is the Simmons College DPD Director. She can be reached either by telephone - 617-521-2708 or by email - elizabeth.metallinoskatsaras@simmons.edu.
It should be noted that fulfilling the courses required for the Didactic Program in Dietetics is only one step towards completing the requirements to becoming a Registered Dietitian. In addition to a minimum of a bachelor's degree, the undergraduate DPD course completion must be followed by the successful completion of an accredited supervised practice program (i.e., a dietetic internship program (DIP)) to ensure eligibility to take the RD examination. The application to the DIP is a separate process and completion of the DPD in no way guarantees acceptance into a DIP.
The Didactic Program in Dietetics' goals and corresponding program outcomes are shown below. Current students should refer to their Nutrition Student Guide for more detailed information about the DPD.
1. The Simmons College DPD will prepare graduates to become competent entry level professionals.
Corresponding program outcomes:
- At least 70% of those students enrolled in the BS will complete it within 150% (6 years) of the time planned for completion.
- Over a five year period, the pass rate for program graduates taking the registration examination for the first time will be at least 80%.
- At least 75% of graduates will assign a 4 (i.e., agree) or a 5 (i.e., strongly agree) to being well prepared on 75% of the items on the graduate survey.
- At least 75% of Directors of Supervised Practice will rate Simmons College DPD graduates as acceptable or higher on 75% of items listed on the survey.
2. The DPD will prepare graduates to succeed in one or more of the following: a graduate program, an accredited dietetic internship program, or employment.
Corresponding program outcomes:
- Over a five-year period, 60% of DPD graduates will apply to supervised practice programs the academic year they complete the program.
- Over a five year period, 80% of those applying to supervised practice programs the academic year that they complete the program will be accepted.
- Within 12 months of completing the program at least 70% of those who did not apply or were not accepted to a DIP will secure one or more of the following: appointment to a graduate program, or employment.
3. The DPD will prepare graduates to serve a culturally diverse population.
Corresponding program outcomes:
- 80% of DPD students will demonstrate academic preparation in cultural factors affecting both nutrition and counseling via their DPD coursework.
BS Nutrition & Dietetics Required Courses
Prerequisites
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 14 Courses | ||
| Anatomy & Physiology I | BIOL-231 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Anatomy & Physiology II | BIOL-232 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Anatomy & Physiology II Lab | BIOL-232L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Anatomy and Physiology Lab | BIOL-231L | 0.00 | LAB |
| General Biology | BIOL-113 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| General Biology Lab | BIOL-113L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Intro Biochemistry | CHEM-223 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro Chem/Organic Lab | CHEM-112L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Intro to Chem. - Lab | CHEM-111L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Intro. Chemistry: Inorganic | CHEM-111 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro. Chemistry: Organic | CHEM-112 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Introductory Statistics | MATH-118 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Microbiology | BIOL-221 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Microbiology Lab | BIOL-221L | 0.00 | LAB |
Required Courses
You may select either NUTR 111 or NUTR 112 to fulfill the requirements.
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 16 Courses | ||
| Adv. Community Nutr (6 Hr Lab) | NUTR-381L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Adv. Food Lab | NUTR-201L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Adv. Food Science | NUTR-201 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Advanced Community Nutrition | NUTR-381 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Clinical Dietetics Lab | NUTR-231L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Food Prod/Serv Systems | NUTR-248 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Fund Ntr Sci Lab | NUTR-111L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Fundamentals of Nutrition Sci | NUTR-111 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Introduction to Nutrition Sci | NUTR-112 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Med. Nutrition Therapy | NUTR-334 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Mgt Food Serv Systems | NUTR-249 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Nutrient Metabolism | NUTR-311 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Nutrient Metabolism Lab | NUTR-311L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Pract Clinical Dietetics | NUTR-231 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Practice Commun Nutrition | NUTR-237 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Sem: Topics in Nutrition | NUTR-390 | 4.00 | Lecture |
First Year (Suggested Courses)
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 8 Courses | ||
| Intro Chem/Organic Lab | CHEM-112L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Intro to Chem. - Lab | CHEM-111L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Intro. Chemistry: Inorganic | CHEM-111 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro. Chemistry: Organic | CHEM-112 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Introduction to Nutrition Sci | NUTR-112 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Multidisciplinary Core Course | MCC-102 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Simmons 101 | FYS-101 | 2.00 | Lecture |
| Writing Seminar | FYW-101 | 2.00 | Lecture |
Second Year (Suggested Courses)
Students may select to take either CHEM 111 or CHEM 113 and either CHEM 112 or CHEM 114 to fulfill the requirements.
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 10 Courses | ||
| General Biology | BIOL-113 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| General Biology Lab | BIOL-113L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Introductory Statistics | MATH-118 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Microbiology | BIOL-221 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Microbiology Lab | BIOL-221L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Organic Chem I | CHEM-114 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Organic Chem I Lab | CHEM-114L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Practice Commun Nutrition | NUTR-237 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Princ. of Chem. - Lab | CHEM-113L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Principles of Chemistry | CHEM-113 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Third Year (Suggested Courses)
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 9 Courses | ||
| Anatomy & Physiology I | BIOL-231 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Anatomy & Physiology II | BIOL-232 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Anatomy & Physiology II Lab | BIOL-232L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Anatomy and Physiology Lab | BIOL-231L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Clinical Dietetics Lab | NUTR-231L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Food Prod/Serv Systems | NUTR-248 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro Biochemistry | CHEM-223 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Mgt Food Serv Systems | NUTR-249 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Pract Clinical Dietetics | NUTR-231 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Fourth Year (Suggested Courses)
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 8 Courses | ||
| Adv. Community Nutr (6 Hr Lab) | NUTR-381L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Adv. Food Lab | NUTR-201L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Adv. Food Science | NUTR-201 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Advanced Community Nutrition | NUTR-381 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Med. Nutrition Therapy | NUTR-334 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Nutrient Metabolism | NUTR-311 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Nutrient Metabolism Lab | NUTR-311L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Sem: Topics in Nutrition | NUTR-390 | 4.00 | Lecture |