Simmons College

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.
• 75% of graduates will report satisfaction with their ability to serve culturally diverse groups.

 

BS Nutrition & Dietetics Required Courses

Prerequisites

Course Name	Number	Credits	Type
Total	8 Courses
General Biology	BIOL-113	4.00	Lecture
Intro. Chemistry: Inorganic	CHEM-111	4.00	Lecture
Intro Biochemistry	CHEM-223	4.00	Lecture
Introductory Statistics	MATH-118	4.00	Lecture
Microbiology	BIOL-221	4.00	Lecture
Anatomy & Physiology I	BIOL-231	4.00	Lecture
Anatomy & Physiology II	BIOL-232	4.00	Lecture
Intro. Chemistry: Organic	CHEM-112	4.00	Lecture

Required Courses

You may select either NUTR 111 or NUTR 112 to fulfill the requirements.

Course Name	Number	Credits	Type
Total	11 Courses
Introduction to Nutrition Sci	NUTR-112	4.00	Lecture
Adv. Food Science	NUTR-201	4.00	Lecture
Practice Commun Nutrition	NUTR-237	4.00	Lecture
Food Prod/Serv Systems	NUTR-248	4.00	Lecture
Mgt Food Serv Systems	NUTR-249	4.00	Lecture
Nutrient Metabolism	NUTR-311	4.00	Lecture
Med. Nutrition Therapy	NUTR-334	4.00	Lecture
Sem: Topics in Nutrition	NUTR-390	4.00	Lecture
Fundamentals of Nutrition Sci	NUTR-111	4.00	Lecture
Pract Clinical Dietetics	NUTR-231	4.00	Lecture
Advanced Community Nutrition	NUTR-381	4.00	Lecture

First Year (Suggested Courses)

Course Name	Number	Credits	Type
Total	6 Courses
Introduction to Nutrition Sci	NUTR-112	4.00	Lecture
Simmons 101	FYS-101	2.00	Lecture
Writing Seminar	FYW-101	2.00	Lecture
General Biology	BIOL-113	4.00	Lecture
Multidisciplinary Core Course	MCC-102	4.00	Lecture
Microbiology	BIOL-221	4.00	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	6 Courses
Intro. Chemistry: Inorganic	CHEM-111	4.00	Lecture
Principles of Chemistry	CHEM-113	4.00	Lecture
Introductory Statistics	MATH-118	4.00	Lecture
Practice Commun Nutrition	NUTR-237	4.00	Lecture
Intro. Chemistry: Organic	CHEM-112	4.00	Lecture
Organic Chem I	CHEM-114	4.00	Lecture

Third Year (Suggested Courses)

Course Name	Number	Credits	Type
Total	6 Courses
Intro Biochemistry	CHEM-223	4.00	Lecture
Food Prod/Serv Systems	NUTR-248	4.00	Lecture
Mgt Food Serv Systems	NUTR-249	4.00	Lecture
Anatomy & Physiology I	BIOL-231	4.00	Lecture
Anatomy & Physiology II	BIOL-232	4.00	Lecture
Pract Clinical Dietetics	NUTR-231	4.00	Lecture

Fourth Year (Suggested Courses)

Course Name	Number	Credits	Type
Total	5 Courses
Adv. Food Science	NUTR-201	4.00	Lecture
Nutrient Metabolism	NUTR-311	4.00	Lecture
Med. Nutrition Therapy	NUTR-334	4.00	Lecture
Sem: Topics in Nutrition	NUTR-390	4.00	Lecture
Advanced Community Nutrition	NUTR-381	4.00	Lecture