Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics Major and Didactic Program in Dietetics

Mission Statement

The Carson-Newman Didactic Program in Dietetics provides students high quality academic preparation for professional roles as entry-level dietitians and for graduate study while providing service courses and expertise to other areas of the University. The specialized program offers an integrated, generalist, undergraduate preparation in family and consumer sciences in the context of a caring, nurturing Christian liberal arts environment.

Goals and Measurable Outcomes of the Dietetics Program

The program will provide a high quality Bachelor of Science degree program in foods, nutrition and dietetics which enables students to gain a mastery of the knowledge, skills, and competencies required for entry-level dietitians and nutritionists.

Prepare competent and caring graduates who aspire to professional growth and development by offering a program that meets the 2012 Accreditation Standards.

Over a five year period:

• Seventy percent of enrolled DPD students in the third year of the bachelor’s level DPD will complete the program/degree requirements within 150% of the time planned for completion.
• Sixty percent of DPD graduates will apply to supervised practice programs the same academic year they complete the program.
• Eighty percent of those applying to supervised practice programs the academic year they complete the program will be accepted.
• Fifty percent of DPD graduates not continuing on to supervised practice will be employed in an entry level position or have enrolled in an advanced education program.
• The pass rate for DPD graduates taking the registration examination will be 80% on the first attempt.
• Seventy percent of DPD graduates completing supervised practice programs will be employed in entry level positions.
• One hundred percent of the 2012 Accreditation Standards will be integrated into the DPD course content and evaluations.
• Eighty percent of graduates surveyed will evaluate their coursework as good or excellent preparation for professional work in foods, nutrition, and dietetics.
• Eighty percent of DPD students will participate as members of the C-N Student Dietetic Association (SDA) and as student members of the Association of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Support other program areas within the college including student life, nursing, pre-health professions, exercise science, and athletic training by providing require and elective courses as well as service learning.

• The introductory foods and nutrition courses will serve an average of 80 students annually from health related professions and other majors (non FCS/DPD).
• Seventy five percent of students from the health/sports related majors will rate the introductory foods and nutrient courses as overall good to excellent in an exit survey.
• The DPD students and/or faculty will provide annually at least one educational program related to food/nutrition and well-being for Community Life and Worship (CLW) credit.
• Seventy five percent of DPD students will participate annually in at least one service learning project sponsored by the College, Department, or Student Dietetic Association (SDA).
• Over a five-year period, at least 80% of DI program directors will indicate positive satisfaction with DPD graduates.
• Over a five-year period, at least 80% of employers will indicate positive satisfaction with DPD graduates.
• Over a five-year period, at least 75% of graduates will report active membership/participation in at least one professional organization.
• Over a five-year period, at least 60% of graduates will report at least one community activity or civic contribution.

Accreditation Status of the Didactic Program in Dietetics

The current food, nutrition, and dietetics program at Carson-Newman University was accredited as a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) by the Accreditation Council for Education in Dietetics (ACEND) in 2006. ACEND is located at AND headquarters at 120 Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606; 800-877-1600. Students are eligible to be verified to apply for an accredited Dietetic Internship after receiving the degree in Foods, Nutrition, and Dietetics and meeting GPA requirements and the competencies for the DPD. After the Dietetic Internship is completed, verification is given to the students to take the Registration Examination to earn the Registered Dietitian (RD) credential.

Admission Requirements

Once the student meets the university admission requirements, there are no additional requirements for admission to the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. Admission to the Didactic Program in Dietetics upper division course requires a 2.8 GPA.  College admission requirements are listed in the current Carson-Newman Undergraduate Catalog.

Academic Calendar

Carson-Newman’s academic calendar can be viewed in the Carson-Newman Undergraduate Catalog.

Program Costs

Family and consumer sciences majors will be responsible for tuition, room and board, and meal costs listed in the current Carson-Newman Undergraduate Catalog. Foods, nutrition, and dietetics majors at Carson-Newman University will be responsible for the following additional estimated costs:

• Laboratory coat $25.00
• Student Organization Membership Fee (varies) $50.00-$60.00 per year
• Family and Consumer Science Lab Fees (FN 310, FN 316) $60.00
• Duncan Cooperative Management Lab Fee $100

Dietetics Program Degree Requirements

All areas of study within the department include a senior internship/field experience program for application of college concepts and training. Foods, Nutrition, and Dietetics majors complete a 150-hour field experience with a Registered Dietitian and one-semester cooperative managment learning experience in Duncan Hall Cooperative Management Lab.

Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences
Major: Foods, Nutrition, and Dietetics

For a BS with a major in foods, nutrition, and dietetics and requirements for the ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics, a student must complete courses within the family and consumer sciences core and the following:

Liberal Arts Requirements	45 Hours
Liberal Arts, (2 hours)
Liberal Arts 101	2
Studies in Biblical Traditions, (6 hours)
Religion 101, 102	6
Studies in Communications, (6 hours)
English 101	3
Communications 135 or 230	3
Studies in Mathematics and Science (12 hours)
Mathematics 201	3
Biology 207 and 208	8
Studies in Personal/Social Responsibility (7 hours)
Child and Family Studies 206	4
Economics 204 or 210	3
Studies to Enhance a World Perspective (12 hours)
English 201, 301	6
Fine Arts	3
HIST 133, 134, or 135	3
Senior Capstone Course, 1 Hour
Family and Consumer Sciences 421	1

 

	Family and Consumer Sciences Core	13 Hours
FCS 121	Professional Orientation	1
CS 135	Personal and Family Management	3
FMD 141	Design, Culture, and the Near Environment	3
*CFS 206	Human Development through the Life Span	4
FN 214	Science of Nutrition	3
CFS 301	Family Relationships	3
*FCS 421	Senior Seminar	1

 ^*FCS courses in Liberal Arts Requirement (5 hours)

	Foods, Nutrition, and Dietetics Requirements	61 Hours
CS 432	Cooperative Management	4
FCSE 424	Methods of Teaching	2
FN 114	Food and People	3
FN 310	Principles of Food Preparation, Management, and Service	4
FN 311	Nutrition Education and the Community	3
FN 313	Food Systems Management	4
FN 316	Experimental Food Science	4
FN 411	Advanced Nutrition	3
FN 412	Medical Nutritional Therapy	3
FN 421	Seminar in Foods, Nutrition, and Dietetics	1
FN 466	Field Experience in Foods, Nutrition, and Dietetics	3
ACCT 201	Accounting I	3
BAD 215	Business Information Tools	3
BIOL 305	Medical Terminology I	2
BIOL 306	Medical Terminology II	2
BIOL 316	General Microbiology	4
CHEM 101	Introductory Chemistry	4
CHEM 102	Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry	4
MKT 301	Essentials of Management	3
PSY 101	Introduction to Behavioral Science
	or PSY 102 Understanding Human Behavior
	orSOC 101 Introduction to Sociology	3
	Electives	8

 

Additional requirements related to Didactic Program in Dietetics required courses: Students must earn a grade of C or above on all foods, nutrition, and dietetics required courses and must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.8. A grade of D constitutes failure in foods, nutrition, and dietetics. In most cases, the student must repeat the failed course before taking any other required foods, nutrition and dietetics courses.

Completion of the liberal arts core requirements; the family and consumer sciences core; and foods, nutrition, and dietetics requirements with designated courses from supporting disciplines, along with electives sufficient to total 128 hours, leads to the BS degree.

Field Experience/Internship Policies

Field experiences/internships in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences are required as part of the course curriculum. In order to qualify for field experience, students must comply with the policies as outlined in the Family and Consumer Sciences Comprehensive Internship Manual. It is not a college requirement that student interns be paid for the field experience. Student interns are required to complete 50 hours on site for each hour of credit the course carries. The internship experience should provide a variety of learning opportunities.

The amount and quality of training the student will receive in the internship cannot be guaranteed by the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences since there may be significant differences in participating firms and agencies. The success and quality of the internship experience is also dependent upon the student's initiative.

Student Responsibilities for field experiences include the following:

Meet eligibility requirements. The student must have attained senior status (96 hrs.), be in good academic standing (2.8 GPA), and have completed required prerequisite courses (see undergraduate catalog).

Attend required orientation meeting with faculty coordinator during the semester preceding the field experience.
Complete application process including:

• file Degree Plan (see FCS Student Handbook) with Registrar,
• complete Résumé,
• identify one or more potential field experience sites and arrange for interview(s) (See Field Experience Site Selection in Handbook),
• file and discuss Internship Proposal with faculty coordinator,
• select most suitable site and obtain signed agreement,
• notify contact person at site chosen and write thank you letters to others,
• register for field experience course, and
• pay tuition.

Arrange appointment with the supervisor at the site chosen to identify specific objectives of the field experience and to review the FCS Comprehensive Internship Manual noting the dates for the supervisor's completion of the mid-term and final evaluations, which he/she is to mail directly to the faculty coordinator.

Other Policies

For all other policies, students should refer to the Carson-Newman Undergraduate Catalog and/or the FCS Student Handbook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a dietitian? A dietitian is a highly qualified professional who is recognized as an expert on food and nutrition.

Where are dietitians found? Dietitians can be found in a variety of settings, including Management (healthcare institutions, schools, cafeterias, restaurants); Clinical (hospitals, nursing homes, HMO's); Community (home and health care agencies, daycare centers, health and recreation clubs); Research (government agencies, food and pharmaceutical companies, major universities and medical centers); Consultation (contract with a healthcare facility or in private practice — full or part-time); and Business (food and nutrition related industries).

How does one become a dietitian? There are two different path ways to becoming a dietitian:

Pathway 1: You can enroll in an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited Coordinated Program in Dietetics, which is a bachelor's or master's degree program providing the required dietetics coursework and at least 900 hours of supervised practice. Upon successful completion of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics you are eligible to sit for the registration examination for dietitians.

Pathway 2: You can enroll in an ACEND accredited/developmentally accredited bachelor's degree program such as the foods, nutrition, and dietetics major at CNC. After you receive your degree, you then will meet supervised practice experience by completing an ACEND accredited Dietetic Internship. After you complete the Dietetic Internship, you are eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians.

When you pass the Registration Examination, you become a Registered Dietitian and can use the initials "RD" after your name, signifying that you are an expert on food and nutrition.

What is AND?
The Association of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) is the largest professional organization of food and nutritional professionals in the world with membership of over 70,000. It is a powerful advocate on behalf of the dietetics profession, serving the public through the promotion of optimal nutrition, health, and well-being. If you want more information, you may call the Association of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) at 312/899-0040 or view their web site http://www.eatright.org or write them at the following address:

Association of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995

What is ACEND?
The foods, nutrition, and dietetics major (Didactic Program in Dietetics) has been granted accreditation by the Association of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995. You also can contact the ACEND at 312-899-0040 ext. 5400 for more information or view the web page at http://www.eatright.org.

Where are our C-N foods, nutrition, and dietetics graduates employed?
Many of our dietetics graduates are employed in clinical settings such as community hospitals. One graduate is serving as the regional dietitian for a denominational, residential, geriatric facility; another is a physician with a specialty in pediatric neurology; and another is a nurse practitioner with a rape crisis center. Over 50 percent of our graduates have acquired advanced degrees; some are affiliated with teaching or nutrition education in colleges and universities. One of our dietetic graduates has served as a missionary in Turkey.

Additional Questions?
If you have questions about the program, please feel free to contact:

Kitty Coffey, PhD, RD, LDN, CFCS
Professor and Director, Didactic Program in Dietetics
Chair, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Phone: (865) 471- 3295

Fax: (865) 471-7119
Campus PO Box: 71881
E-mail: kcoffey@cn.edu