Graduate Catalog: Nutrition and Dietetics Programs

Mission || Philosophy || Goals and Objectives || General Program Requirements || MS Nutrition || MS Sports Nutrition || Dietetic Internship || Distance Education Dietetic Internship

Co-Chairpersons: Lee Harrison, Ph.D., R.D., F.A.D.A.
Kathleen McKee, Ph.D., R.D.

Mission

The mission of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics is to provide dedicated faculty, quality facilities, and a diverse environment, which supports nationally recognized graduate education, research, and service in the areas of nutrition, and sports nutrition/exercise science.

Philosophy

The program promotes scholarship with a central focus on current research and advanced education. By providing a supportive environment, the program seeks to enable students and faculty to synthesize, interpret, and apply research for the advancement of their discipline and improvement in their practice.

Goals and Objectives

The overall goals of the graduate nutrition programs are to develop proficient professionals who will be proactive in scholarship and leadership in their respective fields.

The objectives of the programs are:

1. To foster a learning environment that leads to quality teaching and learning, original research contributions, and scholarly pursuits within the nutrition discipline.
2. To prepare students who can think critically in the theoretical and practical areas of nutrition, exercise science, and sports nutrition.
3. To promote student commitment to life-long learning, professional development, and community service.
4. To encourage mentoring, teamwork, and collaboration among students and faculty.
5. To empower students to excel in their knowledge and skill development in order to competitively enter the job market or doctoral programs.

 

General Program Requirements

M.S. in Nutrition

Applicants to the program leading to a degree in Nutrition are required to have earned a degree in nutrition, foods, or dietetics from an accredited undergraduate institution. Individuals with other degrees are encouraged to apply with the understanding that they may be required to take various undergraduate courses as prerequisites to satisfy the departmental admissions committee. GREs are required for admission into the program. The M.S. in Nutrition is a 36-credit program requiring 9 credits in core nutrition courses, 9 credits in the research sequence, and 18 credits of electives. In addition to the required courses, the candidate must successfully complete and defend an original research project. Students, after consultation with the Chairperson, will be assigned a member of the Nutrition/Dietetics faculty as a mentor. The mentor and two other committee members will work with the candidate on an individual basis throughout the research project.

Program of Study

36 semester hours

CORE COURSES
9 semester hours

N D 560	Biochemistry of Nutrition and Exercise	3
N D 581	The Energy Nutrients and Alcohol	3
N D 582	Vitamins and Minerals	3

RESEARCH SEQUENCE

9 semester hours

N D 590	Research Methodology	3
N D 591	Statistical Analysis	3
N D 595 A, B and C	Research Thesis (1 credit each)	3

ELECTIVE COURSES

18 semester hours

N D 501	Recent Trends in Medical Nutrition Therapy	3
N D 502	Exercise Testing and Nutrition Assessment (with lab)	3
N D 503	Endocrine Disorders, Nutrition and Exercise	3
N D 504	Nutrition and Gerontology	3
N D 505	Maternal and Child Nutrition	3
N D 506	Nutrition and Human Behavior	3
N D 507	International Nutrition	3
N D 508	Recent Trends in Food Service Management	3
N D 511	Environmental Nutrition	3
N D 520	Recent Trends in Normal Nutrition	3
N D 523	Immunology, Exercise and Nutrition	3
N D 525	Clinical Nutrition: Pharmacology and Fluid-Electrolyte Balance	3
N D 530	Health Promotion	3
N D 534	Private Practice in Nutrition, Exercise Science and Health Promotion	3
N D 536	Communication Techniques in Nutrition and Exercise	3
N D 541	Nutrition and Women’s Health	3
N D 549	Sports Nutrition	3
N D 575	Nutrition and Exercise for Weight Management	3
N D 577	Exercise and Nutrition Prescriptions In Health and Disease	3
N D 598	Field Work Experience	3
N D 599	Independent Study	3

Additional courses from the core or electives in the M.S. in Sports Nutrition and Exercise Science may be selected with permission of the department Chairperson.

N D 524	Nutrition Support	3
N D 526	Critical Care I	3
N D 528	Critical Care II	3
N D 530	Health Promotion
N D 540	Community Nutrition
N D 521	Variables Affecting the Nutrient Value of Food

Other courses may be acceptable from Gerontology, Psychology, or other departments with permission of the chairperson.

M.S. in Sports Nutrition and Exercise Science

Applicants to the program leading to a degree in Sports Nutrition and Exercise Science usually have an undergraduate degree in nutrition/dietetics or an exercise-related field. Individuals with other backgrounds are encouraged to apply with the understanding that they will need at least one year of anatomy and physiology (minimum six credits) and one chemistry course (minimum three credits). These courses may be completed at Marywood during the first year of graduate course work. GREs are required for admission into the program. The M.S. in Sports Nutrition and Exercise Science is a 45-credit program requiring 24 credits in core nutrition and exercise courses, 9 credits in the research sequence, and 12 credits of electives. In addition to the required courses, the candidate must successfully complete and defend an original research project. Students, after consultation with the Chairperson, will be assigned a member of the Nutrition/Dietetics faculty as a mentor. The mentor and two other committee members will work with the candidate on an individual basis throughout the research project.

Program of Study

45 semester hours

CORE COURSES
24 semester hours

N D 502	Exercise Testing and Nutrition Assessment (with lab)	3
N D 510	Kinesiology	3
N D 549	Sports Nutrition	3
N D 560	Biochemistry of Nutrition and Exercise	3
N D 574	Exercise Physiology (with lab)	3
N D 577	Exercise and Nutrition Prescriptions in Health and Disease	3
N D 581	Energy Nutrients and Alcohol	3
N D 582	Vitamins and Minerals	3

RESEARCH SEQUENCE

9 semester hours

N D 590	Research Methodology	3
N D 591	Statistical Analysis	3
N D 595 A, B, C	Research Thesis (1 credit each)	3

ELECTIVES

12 semester hours

N D 503	Endocrine Disorders, Nutrition, and Exercise	3
N D 509	Principles of Strength and Conditioning	3
N D 513	Exercise and Aging	3
N D 523	Immunology, Exercise and Nutrition	3
N D 525	Fluid and Electrolyte Balance/ Pharmacology	3
N D 530	Health Promotion	3
N D 534	Private Practice in Nutrition, Exercise Science, & Health Promotion	3
N D 536	Communication Techniques in Nutrition and Exercise	3
N D 572	Sports Psychology	3
N D 575	Nutrition and Exercise for Weight Management	3
N D 578	Sports Supplements	3
N D 598	Field Work Experience	3
N D 599	Independent Study	3

Additional courses from the electives in the M.S. in Nutrition may be selected with permission of the department Chairperson.

Dietetic Internship (DI)

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Marywood University offers a Dietetic Internship leading to achievement of the core competencies and general emphasis of the American Dietetic Association. The Marywood University Dietetic Internship Programs are granted accreditation by The Commission on Accreditation For Dietetics Education (CADE). Address and phone number of CADE: Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606, (312) 899-5400.

Program Goals and Outcomes

1. The DI program will provide quality supervised practice experiences to produce competent entry-level dietitians.
2. The DI program will provide a foundation for expanded professional opportunities and/or for further academic studies.

 

Outcome with Target Measures:

Goal 1:

• Alumni will achieve, over a five-year period, a pass rate of 80% on the Registration Examination.
• On the one year survey 90% of graduates will recommend Marywood’s internship to others.
• Upon completion of the self-evaluation, 90% students will rate themselves as competent in all core competency (CD’s) statements.
• On one-year employer evaluations, 90% of the competency statements will have a mean of 3.00 or greater.
• 100% of the students will present an acceptable portfolio for each course.
• 100% of the students will achieve a passing score of greater than or equal to 80% on the program’s final exam provided in N D 500.
• 90% of students beginning the program will successfully complete all experiences.

 

Goal 2:

• On the one, 6 and 11 year post program completion survey, 90% will be professionally employed or enrolled in an academic program.

 

Admission to the Dietetic Internship

Students who have completed a didactic program approved by the ADA Commission on Accreditation/Approval for Dietetics Education are eligible to apply. Admission to the program is competitive. Ten students are usually selected each year.

Applicants to Dietetic Internship (DI) must participate in computer matching.
Applicants should request instructions and a mark/sense card to prioritize their DI preferences. Applicants should request this material from any CADE-accredited/ approved Didactic Program in Dietetics program director or from D & D Digital. D & D Digital is located at 304 Main St, Suite 301, Ames, Iowa 50010; 515-292-0490 or register online at www.dnddigital.com. This request should be made to allow turnaround time for submitting by the established deadline dates for the April computer matches. There is no charge for the computer matching material. However, there is a $50.00 charge for computer matching that is due with the applicant’s prioritized ranking.

The admissions decision is based on: 1) completed Internship and Graduate Admissions applications – GREs are required; 2) written statement of career goals; 3) professional recommendations; 4) official college transcripts; 5) original verification statement of Didactic Program completion or “intent to complete” declaration. All students must be accepted into M.S. in Nutrition or the M.S. in Sports Nutrition Exercise Science. Acceptance into a graduate program may come prior to internship decisions. Acceptance into an M.S. program does not guarantee internship acceptance.

Retention in the Dietetic Internship Program

Required maintenance of:

1. a satisfactory (B–) grade in all courses with a supervised practice component and at least a competent score in all core and emphasis competencies. Failure to achieve a B– in each course and at least a competent rating in each competency will cause a student to be put on probation and possibly dismissed from the program. Opportunities will be offered for remediation before dismissal.
2. satisfactory completion of all other required course work (overall 3.0 required in graduate courses).

 

Completion

On successful completion of the internship, which includes passing a final competency exam with a grade of 80 or better, students will be awarded a Marywood University certificate of completion and a signed verification statement of internship completion. This statement as well as verification of the didactic program is required to take the ADA Registration Exam.

Curriculum

The Dietetic Internship at Marywood University offers classes and experiences in clinical dietetics, food systems management, long term care, and community nutrition. The experiential program complements supervised practice with classroom learning, using many health care facilities within the greater Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area. The internship requires 33 credits for completion. The cost per credit is listed in Marywood University Financial Facts.

Additional Costs After Acceptance

• 33 graduate credits
• books for three semesters
• transportation for 3 semesters – a car is necessary
• clothing for professional components
• medical exam and immunizations
• field trip expenses
• criminal background check
• child abuse check
• medical insurance

 

Call Program Director for details.

Courses

Summer II – 9 credits

* N D 500	Professional Practice in Dietetics/Staff Relief	2
N D 565	Supervised Practice: Community Nutrition	4
* N D 536	Communication Techniques in Nutrition and Exercise	3

Fall Semester – 12 credits

N D 566	Supervised Practice: Food Systems Management	6
* N D 508	Recent Trends in Food Systems Management	3
* N D 581	The Energy Nutrients and Alcohol	3

Spring Semester – 12 credits

N D 568	Supervised Practice: Clinical Dietetics	6
* N D 582	Vitamins and Minerals	3
* N D 590	Research Methodology	3

*Didactic Component of Program

Program Calendar: A Typical Year

Program begins in late June and lasts until early May – 10 months.

Community Nutrition update	Late June - Mid July
Community Nutrition Rotation	Mid July
Food Systems update	September
Thanksgiving Break	November (1 week)
Holiday Break	December - January (2 weeks.)
Medical Nutrition Therapy update	Late November
Medical Nutrition Therapy Rotation	December - April
Spring Break	March
Staff Experience Rotation	Mid April - Early May

Distance Education Dietetic Internship (DEDI)

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Marywood University offers a Distance Education Dietetic Internship leading to achievement of the core competencies and general emphasis of the American Dietetic Association. The Marywood University Distance Education Dietetic Internship Program is granted accreditation by The Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE). Address and phone number of CADE: Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606, (312) 899-5400.

Mission Statement of the Distance Education Dietetic Internship (DEDI)

The mission of the Distance Education Dietetic Internship program is to provide a broad-based educational curriculum, preparing students to meet the ADA’s core competencies and general area of emphasis. The DEDI program provides the knowledge, skills, and values required not only for successful entry into today’s job market as competent entry-level dietitians, but also for the flexibility which permits changing roles and the development of skills needed for future specializations which the students wish to pursue. This educational framework also supports the mission of the college to educate graduate students in “an atmosphere of respect, individuality, and flexibility for the best collaborative practices to address current and emerging health and human service needs,” together with the mission of Marywood University that “calls upon students to seek their full potential and invites all to engage in a lifelong process of learning.”

Program Goals and Outcomes

1. The DEDI program will provide quality supervised practice experiences to produce competent entry-level dietitians.
2. The DEDI program goal will provide a foundation for expanded professional opportunities and/or for further academic studies.

 

Outcome with Target Measures:

Goal 1:

• Alumni will achieve, over a five-year period, a pass rate of greater than or equal to 80% on the Registration Examinations.
• On the one-year post completion survey, 90% of the students will indicate that they agree or strongly agree that they were prepared as well as graduates of other programs.
• Upon completion of the self-evaluation, greater than 90% of students will rate themselves as competent in all core competency (CD’s) statements generating a mean value of greater than 3.00
• On one-year employer evaluations, 90% of the competency statements will have a mean of 3.00 or greater.
• On the post completion preceptor’s survey, greater than 90% of the preceptors will state that the DEDI program compared favorably to other internship programs.
• 100% of the students will present a portfolio for each course.
• 100% of the students will achieve a passing score of greater than or equal to 80% on the program’s final exam.
• Greater than or equal to 90% of the students beginning the program will successfully complete all experiences.

 

Goal 2:

• On the one and five year post program completion survey, 90% will be professionally employed or enrolled in an academic program.

 

Admission to the Distance Education Dietetic Internship

Students who have completed a Didactic Program in Dietetics approved or accredited by the CADE, who have a signed verification statement, and who live more than 125 miles from Marywood University are eligible to apply for admission to the Distance Education Dietetic Internship.

Acceptance into the DEDI is contingent upon:

1. Acceptance by Marywood University’s Graduate Admissions, and
2. Admission into the program as per D & D Digital computer matching policy.

 

A fee is charged for the service. Please contact D & D Digital for current cost. Address is: 304 Main St; Suite 301, Ames, Iowa 50010; 515-292-0490 or register online at www.dnddigital.com. See page 235.

The admissions decision is based on: 1) completed Internship and Graduate Admissions applications – GREs are required; 2) written statement of career goals; 3) professional recommendations; 4) official college transcripts; 5) original verification statement of didactic program completion or “intent to complete” declaration; 6) a plan to complete and evaluate competencies for all three rotations that is approved by the program director or representative; 7) signed preceptor agreement statements from all individuals who have agreed to precept planned experiences. Backup preceptors are strongly recommended; 8) signed memorandum of agreements with all facilities in which the student has projected planned experiences. Several backup facilities are recommended; 9) a complete physical exam form; 10) verification of malpractice insurance; 11) residency more than 125 miles from Scranton, Pennsylvania; 12) E-mail address and proof of Internet access; 13) criminal background checks; 14) child abuse checks.

Retention in the Dietetic Internship Program

1. A student needs to achieve a satisfactory (B-) in each course and at least a competent rating in each competency. Failure to achieve these goals will cause a student to be put on probation and possibly dismissed from the program. Opportunities will be offered for remediation before dismissal.
2. All students must make satisfactory progress through the program requirements. Students must complete each rotation within four months.

 

Completion

On successful completion of the internship, including passing a competency exam with at least an 80%, students will be awarded a Marywood University certificate of completion and a signed verification statement of internship completion. This statement, as well as verification of the didactic program, is required to take the ADA Registration Exam.

Curriculum

The Distance Education Dietetic Internship at Marywood University offers experiences in food systems management, medical nutrition therapy, long term care, and community nutrition. The DEDI program provides suggested planned experiences through WebCT. This WebCT based course complements the supervised practice with a bulletin board, chat rooms, numerous links, and essential material necessary to function independently in a supervised practice environment. The internship requires eighteen supervised practice credits for completion. The cost per credit is listed in Marywood University Financial Facts.

Additional Costs after Acceptance

• 18 graduate credits
• books for three semesters
• transportation for 3 semesters – a car is necessary
•  clothing for professional components
• medical exam and immunizations
• field trip expenses
• criminal background check
• child abuse clearance
• e-mail address
• malpractice insurance
• a computer and internet access along with specific computer software; i.e.
  Adobe Acrobat, Real Player, Microsoft Office and others

Call Program Director for details.

Courses

N D 500	Professional Practice in Dietetics/Staff Relief	2
N D 565	Supervised Practice: Community Nutrition	4
N D 566	Supervised Practice: Food Systems Management	6
N D 568	Supervised Practice: Clinical Dietetics	6

Program Calendar: A Typical Year

Students will usually complete the program in the following sequence: N D 566 Supervised Practice in Food Systems Management, N D 567 Supervised Practice in Clinical Dietetics, N D 565 Supervised Practice in Community Nutrition/Staff Relief, and N D 500 Professional Practice. Exceptions can be made at the discretion of the program director to meet special needs of students. Students will be expected to begin experiences within one week of receiving their final acceptance into the DEDI program. This date will be recorded and will be the date that determines their last possible completion date. Students must complete the program within one calendar year of their start date. Students who do not meet these time constraints will not be issued verification statements.

Nutrition and Dietetics Programs Courses