Dietetics, B.S.
Program Description
Students completing the Bachelor of Science in Dietetics are prepared for careers in or relevant to nutrition and dietetics, including areas of clinical, public health, food service and research. The Dietetics Program Professional Nutrition and Dietetics Concentration at James Madison University is a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:
120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
800-877-1600, ext. 5400
Those seeking to earn the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential upon graduation must complete an ACEND-accredited graduate program, coordinated program or dietetic internship paired with a graduate degree to be eligible for the national registration exam.
Special Admission Requirements and Program Prerequisite Courses
Any student admitted to JMU can declare dietetics as their major and will be permitted to enroll in NUTR 280 and NUTR 295. However, to make progress in the major beyond the first few courses, students need to apply and be admitted to the program.
Students wishing to be admitted to the dietetics program at JMU must apply by February 15 in the spring semester during which admission requirements will be met, usually the sophomore year.
To be admitted, students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.7 in the prerequisite courses listed under the requirements section and a minimum grade of "C-" in each course.
Degree Requirements
| Degree Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| General Education 1 | 41 |
| Quantitative requirement (in addition to General Education) | 3 |
| Scientific Literacy requirement (in addition to General Education) 2 | 3-4 |
| Prerequisite requirements for admission to the major 1 (7 credits are counted in General Education and 4 credits are counted in Scientific Literacy) | 20 (11) |
| Foundational courses (16 credits fulfill General Education requirements) | (16) |
| Dietetics major requirements including concentration | 32-60 |
| University electives 3 | 3-31 |
| Total | 120 |
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The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Many of the General Education requirements may be fulfilled through courses that are listed as prerequisite and foundational courses for the major.
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The scientific literacy requirement is met by courses required in the major.
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These electives may include additional NUTR courses.
Prerequisite Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 270 & 270L | Human Physiology [C3NS] and Human Physiology Laboratory [C3L] 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 131 & 131L | General Chemistry I [C3PP] and General Chemistry Laboratory [C3L] 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 132 & 132L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| HTH 210 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| NUTR 280 | Nutrition for Wellness | 3 |
| NUTR 295 | Foundations of Nutrition Practice | 2 |
| Total Credits | 20 | |
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May also fulfill General Education or B.S. degree requirements.
Foundational Courses
The following courses also fulfill General Education requirements:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 220 | Elementary Statistics [C3QR] | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | General Psychology [C5SD] | 3 |
| or PSYC 160 | Life Span Human Development [C5SD] | |
| HIST 225 | U.S. History [C4AE] | 4 |
| or POSC 225 | U.S. Government [C4AE] | |
| SCOM 121 | Fundamental Human Communication: Presentations [C1HC] | 3 |
| or SCOM 122 | Fundamental Human Communication: Individual Presentations [C1HC] | |
| or SCOM 123 | Fundamental Human Communication: Group Presentations [C1HC] | |
| WRTC 103 | Rhetorical Reading and Writing [C1W] 1 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Retention and Receiving Didactic Program in Dietetics Verification Statement
To remain in the major, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.8 in the major and earn a minimum grade of "C-" in all NUTR and HTH courses. In order to earn the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics verification statement, students in the Professional Concentration must also pass program core knowledge assessments. Transfer credit will not be accepted for the following courses: NUTR 295, NUTR 363, NUTR 482 and NUTR 484.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Dietetics Core Courses | ||
| BIO 290 & 290L | Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Laboratory | 4 |
| HTH 354 | U.S. and Global Health Care Systems | 3 |
| IPE 415 | Ethical Decision-Making in Healthcare: An Interprofessional Approach | 1 |
| NUTR 340 | The Science and Culture of Food | 3 |
| NUTR 350 | Emerging Research in Nutrition and Dietetics | 3 |
| NUTR 384 | Clinical Nutrition I | 3 |
| NUTR 385 | Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle | 3 |
| NUTR 482 | Nutrition and Metabolism | 3 |
| Subtotal | 23 | |
| Concentrations | ||
| Complete one of the following concentrations. See below for more information. | 9-37 | |
Professional Nutrition and Dietetics | ||
Pre-Professional Nutrition and Health | ||
| Subtotal | 9-37 | |
| Total Credits | 32-60 | |
Concentrations
Professional Nutrition and Dietetics Concentration
This concentration is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Education for Nutrition and Dietetics as a Didactic Program in Dietetics for students pursuing an accredited graduate program, coordinated program or dietetic internship after graduation.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 245 & 245L | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 241 & 241L | Organic Chemistry I and Concepts of Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 260 & 260L | Concepts of Biochemistry and Concepts of Biochemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| NUTR 363 | Quantity Food Production | 4 |
| NUTR 380 | Global Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 394 | Culinary Nutrition Therapy | 3 |
| NUTR 465 | Management in Dietetics | 3 |
| NUTR 484 | Clinical Nutrition II | 3 |
| NUTR 485 | Community Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 486 | Counseling Skills for Dietetics | 3 |
| NUTR 495 | Senior Seminar in Dietetics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 37 | |
Pre-Professional Nutrition and Health Concentration
This concentration is for students preparing for a professional health program at the graduate level and especially students concurrently enrolled in a university minor. Students in this concentration must complete 9-10 credits of NUTR electives from the following courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrition Electives | ||
| Choose 9-10 credit hours from the following: | 9-10 | |
| Quantity Food Production | ||
| Global Nutrition | ||
| Sports Nutrition | ||
| Culinary Nutrition Therapy | ||
| Exercise and Nutrition in Chronic Disease | ||
| Management in Dietetics | ||
| Clinical Nutrition II | ||
| Community Nutrition | ||
| Counseling Skills for Dietetics | ||
| Senior Seminar in Dietetics | ||
| Total Credits | 9-10 | |
Recommended Schedule for Majors - Professional Nutrition and Dietetics Concentration
| First Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 131 | General Chemistry I [C3PP] | 3 |
| CHEM 131L | General Chemistry Laboratory [C3L] | 1 |
| NUTR 295 | Foundations of Nutrition Practice | 2 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| General Psychology [C5SD] 1 | ||
| Life Span Human Development [C5SD] 1 | ||
| Quantitative Requirement (B.S. degree requirement) | 3 | |
| WRTC 103 | Rhetorical Reading and Writing [C1W] | 3 |
| Madison Foundations - Critical Thinking (any course in Madison Foundations Critical Thinking area) | 3 | |
| Madison Foundations - Communication (any course in Madison Foundations Communication area) | 3 | |
| General Education requirement | 6 | |
| Credits | 27 | |
| Second Year | ||
| BIO 270 & 270L |
Human Physiology [C3NS] and Human Physiology Laboratory [C3L] 1 |
4 |
| CHEM 132 & 132L |
General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory 1 |
4 |
| HTH 210 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| POSC 225 | U.S. Government [C4AE] 1 | 4 |
| MATH 220 | Elementary Statistics [C3QR] 1 | 3 |
| NUTR 280 | Nutrition for Wellness | 3 |
| General Education requirement | 9 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Third Year | ||
| CHEM 241 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 241L | Concepts of Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 260 | Concepts of Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 260L | Concepts of Biochemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| HTH 354 | U.S. and Global Health Care Systems | 3 |
| NUTR 340 | The Science and Culture of Food | 3 |
| NUTR 350 | Emerging Research in Nutrition and Dietetics | 3 |
| NUTR 380 | Global Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 384 | Clinical Nutrition I | 3 |
| NUTR 385 | Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle | 3 |
| NUTR 394 | Culinary Nutrition Therapy | 3 |
| Credits | 29 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| BIO 245 & 245L |
General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory |
4 |
| BIO 290 & 290L |
Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Laboratory |
4 |
| IPE 415 | Ethical Decision-Making in Healthcare: An Interprofessional Approach | 1 |
| NUTR 363 | Quantity Food Production | 4 |
| NUTR 465 | Management in Dietetics | 3 |
| NUTR 482 | Nutrition and Metabolism | 3 |
| NUTR 484 | Clinical Nutrition II | 3 |
| NUTR 485 | Community Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 486 | Counseling Skills for Dietetics | 3 |
| NUTR 495 | Senior Seminar in Dietetics | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 34 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
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These courses may count for both General Education and the major depending on General Education course choice.
Note: NUTR courses in Years 3 and 4 are offered only one semester per year.
Recommended Schedule for Majors - Pre-Professional Nutrition and Health Concentration
| First Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 131 & 131L |
General Chemistry I [C3PP] and General Chemistry Laboratory [C3L] |
4 |
| CHEM 132 & 132L |
General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory |
4 |
| MATH 220 | Elementary Statistics [C3QR] | 3 |
| PSYC 101 or PSYC 160 |
General Psychology [C5SD] or Life Span Human Development [C5SD] |
3 |
| Quantitative Requirement | 3 | |
| General Education requirement | 15 | |
| Credits | 32 | |
| Second Year | ||
| BIO 270 & 270L |
Human Physiology [C3NS] and Human Physiology Laboratory [C3L] |
4 |
| BIO 290L & BIO 290 |
Human Anatomy Laboratory and Human Anatomy |
4 |
| HTH 210 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| NUTR 280 | Nutrition for Wellness | 3 |
| NUTR 295 | Foundations of Nutrition Practice | 2 |
| General Education requirement | 13 | |
| Credits | 29 | |
| Third Year | ||
| HTH 354 | U.S. and Global Health Care Systems | 3 |
| NUTR 340 | The Science and Culture of Food | 3 |
| NUTR 350 | Emerging Research in Nutrition and Dietetics | 3 |
| NUTR 384 | Clinical Nutrition I | 3 |
| NUTR 385 | Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle | 3 |
| NUTR or General Electives | 15 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| NUTR 482 | Nutrition and Metabolism | 3 |
| IPE 415 | Ethical Decision-Making in Healthcare: An Interprofessional Approach | 1 |
| NUTR or General Electives | 25 | |
| Credits | 29 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |