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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 | ||
| General Biology | BIOL-113 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| General Biology Lab | BIOL-113L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Microbiology | BIOL-221 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Microbiology Lab | BIOL-221L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Anatomy & Physiology I | BIOL-231 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Anatomy and Physiology Lab | BIOL-231L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Anatomy & Physiology II | BIOL-232 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Anatomy & Physiology II Lab | BIOL-232L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Intro. Chemistry: Inorganic | CHEM-111 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro to Chem. - Lab | CHEM-111L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Intro. Chemistry: Organic | CHEM-112 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro Chem/Organic Lab | CHEM-112L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Intro Biochemistry | CHEM-223 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Introductory Statistics | MATH-118 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Required Courses
You may select either NUTR 111 or NUTR 112 to fulfill the requirements.
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 16 Courses | ||
| Fundamentals of Nutrition Sci | NUTR-111 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Fund Ntr Sci Lab | NUTR-111L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Introduction to Nutrition Sci | NUTR-112 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Adv. Food Science | NUTR-201 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Adv. Food Lab | NUTR-201L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Pract Clinical Dietetics | NUTR-231 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Clinical Dietetics Lab | NUTR-231L | 0.00 | LAB |
| 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 |
| Nutrient Metabolism Lab | NUTR-311L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Med. Nutrition Therapy | NUTR-334 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Advanced Community Nutrition | NUTR-381 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Adv. Community Nutr (6 Hr Lab) | NUTR-381L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Sem: Topics in Nutrition | NUTR-390 | 4.00 | Lecture |
First Year (Suggested Courses)
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 8 Courses | ||
| Intro. Chemistry: Inorganic | CHEM-111 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro to Chem. - Lab | CHEM-111L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Intro. Chemistry: Organic | CHEM-112 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro Chem/Organic Lab | CHEM-112L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Simmons 101 | FYS-101 | 2.00 | Lecture |
| Writing Seminar | FYW-101 | 2.00 | Lecture |
| Multidisciplinary Core Course | MCC-102 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Introduction to Nutrition Sci | NUTR-112 | 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 | 10 Courses | ||
| General Biology | BIOL-113 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| General Biology Lab | BIOL-113L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Microbiology | BIOL-221 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Microbiology Lab | BIOL-221L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Principles of Chemistry | CHEM-113 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Princ. of Chem. - Lab | CHEM-113L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Organic Chem I | CHEM-114 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Organic Chem I Lab | CHEM-114L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Introductory Statistics | MATH-118 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Practice Commun Nutrition | NUTR-237 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Third Year (Suggested Courses)
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 9 Courses | ||
| Anatomy & Physiology I | BIOL-231 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Anatomy and Physiology Lab | BIOL-231L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Anatomy & Physiology II | BIOL-232 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Anatomy & Physiology II Lab | BIOL-232L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Intro Biochemistry | CHEM-223 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Pract Clinical Dietetics | NUTR-231 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Clinical Dietetics Lab | NUTR-231L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Food Prod/Serv Systems | NUTR-248 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Mgt Food Serv Systems | NUTR-249 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Fourth Year (Suggested Courses)
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 8 Courses | ||
| Adv. Food Science | NUTR-201 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Adv. Food Lab | NUTR-201L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Nutrient Metabolism | NUTR-311 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Nutrient Metabolism Lab | NUTR-311L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Med. Nutrition Therapy | NUTR-334 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Advanced Community Nutrition | NUTR-381 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Adv. Community Nutr (6 Hr Lab) | NUTR-381L | 0.00 | LAB |
| Sem: Topics in Nutrition | NUTR-390 | 4.00 | Lecture |