AcademicDepartment
Health, Nutrition, Exercise Science

Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science

The Marywood University Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science Department integrates the theories, practices, and skills of nutrition and exercise science, applying them to the challenges that both athletes and non-athletes face in choosing diet and exercise regimens that will maintain optimum health and maximize performance. Our programs also address the challenges of choosing appropriate diet and exercise patterns to prevent chronic diseases. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) or Registered Dietitians (RDs) are food and nutrition experts who have met criteria and earned the opportunity to continue to refer to themselves with an RD or RDN credential. RDNs work in a wide variety of professional fields, including health care, business and industry, public health, education, research, and private practice. Many RDNs work in organizations, particularly those in medical and health care settings, that require that an individual be credentialed as an RDN.

Undergraduate Programs

Exercise Science
Health Sciences
Nutrition and Dietetics

Graduate Programs

Nutrition and Dietetics
Sports and Human Performance Nutrition

Accreditations

Institutional:
Middles States Commission on Higher Education

The Didactic Program, Internship Program, and Distance Internship Programs in the Nutrition and Dietetics department are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:

120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL. 800/877-1600, ext. 5400 312/899-0040 Fax: 312/899-4817

All Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited programs must meet certain basic requirements. One such requirement is that the Master's Dietetic Internship Program (MSDI) clearly states its mission, goals, and expected program outcomes. This outcome data collected is used to maintain or improve the program.

Professional Memberships

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

About The Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science Department

The mission of the department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise science is to provide dedicated faculty, quality facilities, and a diverse environment which support nationally recognized undergraduate and graduate education, research and service in the areas of nutrition, dietetics, family/consumer sciences, and sports nutrition/exercise science.

The programs offer several options allowing each student to choose the best path to achieving their professional goals. We use an individualized approach to providing a high quality, broad-based educational experience that empowers graduates to develop skills needed for future specializations. We offer a challenging but supportive and nurturing environment that facilitates both professional and personal growth.

The programs have identified five goals to guide achievements and student learning outcomes:

  1. To foster a learning environment that leads to quality teaching and learning, original research contributions, and scholarly pursuits.
  2. To prepare students who can think critically in the theoretical and practical areas of nutrition, dietetics, and family/consumer sciences.
  3. To promote student commitment to lifelong learning, professional development, and community service.
  4. To encourage mentoring, teamwork, and collaboration.
  5. To empower students to excel in their knowledge and skill development in order to competitively enter the job market, internships, or graduate programs.

Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science Faculty

Howard, Lindsay

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Frable, David T

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Orlowsky, Micheline

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Tullio, Kathryn Louise

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Bodzio, Jessica R

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Burke, Maureen Tara

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Culp, David

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Danilovitz, Kristine A

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Escobar, Eduardo Rene

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Falzone, Ciarra

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Gay, Jason

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Giordano, Gabrielle Celeste

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Goff, Kevin Jay

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Groninger, Erikah M

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Leonard, Julie M

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Levine, Dr. Alan M

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Macano, Nicholas J

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McDonnell, Dr. Alice E

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Moyle, Margaret Bisignani

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O'Hora, Dr. Erin Ann

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Rosser, Karina L

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Rotell, Sarah Gabrielle

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Schlesser, Brittany Marie

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Schofield, Nicole

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Smith, Stefanie M

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Summers, Scott Robert

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Tetlak-Adelstein, Joy C

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Wargo, Emily J

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Wolfel, Maria

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Food Science Lab
In addition to traditional food testing tools, our Food Science Lab contains equipment to prepare students for food preparation in real-world commercial settings:

  • Blast chiller and rethermalization unit
  • Metabolic kitchen
  • Sensory evaluation lab
  • Ingredient room

Healthy Demo Classroom
Our Healthy Demo Classroom is used for instruction and demonstrations, for both students and the community at large.

Sensory Evaluation Lab
Our Sensory Evaluation Lab allows students to test the products they make in the Food Science Lab. The two laboratories are connected for easy evaluation.

The Exercise Science program is housed in the Center for Athletics and Wellness, which features a fitness center, aquatics center, climbing wall, arena, running track, training rooms, and an Exercise Science Lab. The Exercise Science Lab provides students with a variety of research equipment.

Research Equipment

  • Treadmills
  • Cycle ergometers
  • Kayak/rowing ergometers
  • Upper-body ergometer
  • ECG
  • Lactate analyzer
  • Climate-controlled room

Internship Information

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) or Registered Dietitians (RDs) are food and nutrition experts who have met criteria and earned the opportunity to continue to refer to themselves with an RD or RDN credential.

RDN Internship Program Info

2023-2025 Dietetic Internship Handbook

Practicum Manual

Forms

Clearances

Onsite Interns require all 3 clearances - Distance Interns may vary by state

Dietetic Internship - Distance Track

Other Forms

Resources

National Associations

Community Nutrition

Nutrition Education And Educational Resources

Clinical Nutrition

Food Technology

Sports Nutrition & Exercise Science

Government Resources

Research Resources

DIETETICS (DPD) -TRADITIONAL OR SPANISH EMPHASIS »

Students can apply to the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) with either the Traditional or Spanish Emphasis. Marywood's Nutrition and Dietetics program is one of just a handful nationwide that offers both a traditional and a Spanish emphasis course of study that includes a study abroad component. After completing the DPD and a 1,200-hour accredited Dietetic Internship program, you’ll be prepared to take the national registration examination for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs).

Five-year Degree Option »

Students have the option of earning their bachelor's and master's degrees in just five years. Qualified DPD students can apply (through a pre-selection process) to complete their bachelor’s and master’s degrees, along with their DPD Verification Statement (VS) in five years, making them eligible to apply to a dietetic internship program. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the RDN exam after these five years of preparation. Advanced coursework begins in the "bridge" year overlapping the fourth year of undergraduate study and the first year of graduate work. The fifth year encompasses the supervised practice component with rotations in facility sites including community nutrition, food systems management, medical nutrition therapy, and professional practice.

Nutrition and Wellness Track »

The Nutrition and Wellness Track provides a broad curriculum that includes liberal arts, science, health, nutrition, and psychology courses. This educational framework provides the knowledge, skills, and values needed for entry into graduate school or a career in nutrition and wellness. All undergraduate students follow this track upon admission to the Nutrition and Dietetics Department. If a student does not meet the acceptance criteria for either the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) or the Coordinated Program (CP), the student remains in this Nutrition and Wellness track. Additionally, students can select this program after they complete their second year-level courses, if they are not interested in pursuing the RDN credential. Students following this track may consider earning a minor in science and or psychology.

Careers

Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) work in a wide variety of professional fields, including health care, business and industry, public health, education, research, and private practice.

Many RDNs work in organizations, particularly those in medical and health care settings, that require that an individual be credentialed as an RDN.

Work Settings

  • Community and public health teaching, monitoring, and advising the public, and helping to improve their quality of life through healthy eating habits as well as planning public health programs.
  • Hospitals, HMOs, and other health care facilities educating and counseling patients about nutrition and administering medical nutrition therapy as part of the health care team. They may also manage the food service operations in these settings, as well as in schools, day-care centers, and correctional facilities, and oversee a number of areas from food purchasing and preparation to managing staff.
  • Sports nutrition and corporate wellness programs educating and counseling clients about the connection between food, fitness, and health.
  • Food and nutrition-related businesses communications, consumer affairs, public relations, marketing, pharmaceutical companies, or product development.
  • Private practice and consulting working under contract with physician's offices, health care food service companies, or in private practice. RDs may provide services to food service or restaurant managers, food vendors, distributors, athletes, nursing home residents, or company employees.
  • Universities and medical centers teaching physicians, nurses, and dietetics students, and others the sophisticated science of nutrition and foods.
  • Research at food and pharmaceutical companies, universities, and hospitals; directing or conducting experiments to answer critical nutrition questions and find alternative foods or nutrition recommendations for the public.

Careers in Exercise Science

Our Exercise Science major is designed for students interested in positions related to:

  • Personal Trainers
  • Strength and Conditioning Coach
  • Exercise Physiologist
  • Health fitness instructors with hospital-based and corporate fitness programs
  • Graduate studies in Exercise Physiology
  • Post-graduate studies in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, or Physician's Assistant programs.

Practicum Manual

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master's degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) In most states, such as Pennsylvania, graduates must also obtain licensure or certification to practice. Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics at Marywood University are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program/apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

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Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science Events

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