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