Department of Nutrition and Food Systems

Elaine F. Molaison, Chair
118 College Drive, Box 5172
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5377
www.usm.edu/nfs

Cartwright, Connell, Huye, Kingston, Lemacks, Molaison, Rupp, Yadrick

Nutrition and Dietetics

Community Nutrition Emphasis

The Community Nutrition Emphasis is designed to meet the needs of students who want training in health promotion, disease prevention, program development, and nutrition interventions. In addition to a strong foundation in nutrition, with background knowledge in food and food systems, this track allows for a minor in Public Health. However, this track is not designed to allow students to enter a dietetic internship. If students in this track wish to pursue the registered dietitian credential, additional requirements will need to be met, and the student must meet with an advisor to discuss the additional course and grade requirements.

Dietetics Emphasis

The Dietetics Emphasis is a Didactic Program in Dietetics that is currently granted continued accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312.899.5400. The mission of the Didactic Program in Dietetics is to prepare students for careers as dietetics professionals who will enhance the quality of life for individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities in the state, region and nation. The Didactic Program in Dietetics provides the knowledge, skills and values required for successful entry into a supervised practice program, graduate school or the job market. There are three steps to becoming a registered dietitian (RD):

Earn a bachelor’s degree and complete the didactic program requirements for entry-level dietitians in an accredited program;
Successfully complete an accredited supervised practice program/dietetic internship; and
Earn a passing score on the national Registration Examination for Dietitians.

Many work environments, particulary those in medical and health care settings, require that an individual be crendentialed as a registered dietitian (RD). Registered dietitians are employed in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, public health departments, nursing homes/retirement centers, food service establishments, private practice, colleges and universities, food and nutrition-related businesses, contract food service companies, and military service.

Nutrition and Food Systems Management Emphasis

The Nutrition and Food Systems Management Emphasis is designed to meet the needs of students who are interested in food, nutrition, and delivering the food to the customer in a variety of settings (hospitals, extended care facilities, schools, etc.). Students enrolled in this emphasis will have a background in nutrition, but they will have broad knowledge base in food, food delivery systems, and management and business skills needed in a variety of settings. Students that complete this degree will be eligible to sit for the exam to become a Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professional (CDM, CFPP). However, this track is not designed to allow students to enter a dietetic internship. If students in this track wish to pursue the registered dietitian credential, additional requirements will need to be met, and the student must meet with an advisor to discuss the additional course and grade requirements. Students in the Nutrition and Food Systems Management Emphasis who complete NFS 425 and 473 as electives are eligible to receive an undergraduate certificate in Child Nutrition Program Management.

Nutrition Science Emphasis

The nutrition science emphasis is suitable for students who wish to study nutrition, but do not intend to enter into dietetics practice or pursue registered dietitian credentialing. This emphasis is appropriate for students who wish to pursue post-baccalaureate professional or graduate education in nutrition or the health sciences. Completion of this degree program will provide a foundation for further study in the health sciences, and will satisfy some, but not all, admission requirements for professional programs in medicine and allied health. Admission requirements for graduate and professional programs in the health sciences, including medicine, optometry, dentistry, physical and occupational therapy differ by program. Students choosing the nutrition science emphasis in nutrition and dietetics as a foundation for a professional degree should check with the admissions office of the program of their choice to determine its admission requirements. However, this track is not designed to allow students to enter a dietetic internship. If students in this track wish to pursue the registered dietitian credential, additional requirements will need to be met, and the student must meet with an advisor to discuss the additional course and grade requirements.

Laboratories

Students gain valuable knowledge and skills through laboratory and field experiences in food preparation, food service management operations, medical nutrition therapy and community nutrition.

Program and Degree Progression Requirements for all NFS Degree Plans

All students must meet and maintain the following requirements in order to enroll in each subsequent NFS course and/or semester:

Earn a minimum grade of B in NFS 362 , and
Earn a minimum grade of C in all courses and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 within the Program Curriculum (DEG 01 and DEG 02).

Additional Requirements for the Didactic Program in Dietetics and the Nutrition Science Degree Plans

Earn a minimum grade of C and a GPA of 2.5 on all required science courses (DEG 02) prior to enrolling in NFS 410 , and
Program Curriculum courses (DEG 01 and DEG 02) may not be repeated more than once.

Students who fail to meet program requirements after two consecutive semesters may not continue in the program and must seek a new major.

Child Advocacy Studies Minor

The Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) minor will provide students with knowledge of how to organize and implement a multidisciplinary response to child maltreatment. CAST focuses on experiential, interdisciplinary, ethical, and culturally sensitive content that provides a collective knowledge base for responding to child maltreatment for professionals who work with children. Students completing this minor will be better equipped to carry out the work of various agencies and systems (i.e. healthcare, criminal justice, social services) as they advocate on behalf of the needs of children as victims and survivors of child abuse.

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Non-degree

Nutrition and Dietetics Minor

Certificate

Management of Child Nutrition Programs Certificate