Overview
The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Nutrition & Dietetics Coordinated Program (CP) is a four-year program with an Interprofessional Education (IPE) emphasis. It combines three years of didactic education and a minimum of 1386 hours of supervised practice in the field of dietetics. Upon successful completion of the CP requirements, students are awarded a BS in CP. They will also be able to sit for the dietetic colloquium exam at the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) and become licensed dietitians (LDs) in Lebanon.
The proposed educational framework has a planned curriculum that supports the learning activities to attain all the foundation knowledge and competencies set by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
The CP consists of a total of 123 credits, where the fourth year consists of 27 credits including 24 credits of dietetic practicum and 3 credits of didactic courses. The dietetic practicum component is comprised of three rotations: Medical Nutrition Therapy (22 weeks), Foodservice Management (8 weeks), and Community Nutrition (8 weeks). The dietetic supervised practice experience typically begins in the last week of August and ends at the beginning of June; thus, ensuring a minimum of 1386 hours to be fulfilled.
Note: Should the program receive candidacy or accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®), program graduates will not be eligible to sit for the US registration exam to practice in the United States unless graduates meet the additional requirements for all US competencies. If they wish to become credentialed in the US, program graduates will be eligible to enter the computer matching for US-based ACEND®-accredited dietetic internships.
Mission
The mission of the Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Program (CP) is to prepare qualified entry-level licensed dietitians by providing them with the ability to integrate didactic, practical, and interprofessional education in order to improve the health and well-being of individuals and groups while upholding the tradition of the liberal arts education.
Program Objectives
The B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Program seeks to:
- prepare qualified graduates for entry-level dietetic careers.
- Objective 1a: At least 80% of program students complete program/degree requirements within six years (150% of the program length)
- Objective 1b: At least 80% of program graduates take the country’s dietitian credentialing exam within 12 months of program completion
- Objective 1c: The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of the first attempt) on the country’s dietitian credentialing exam is at least 80%
- Objective 1d: At least 80% of employers indicate that they are satisfied* with the performance and competencies of the program graduates
- produce competent graduates with interprofessional competencies engaged in the health profession and the improvement of human well-being.
- Objective 2a: Of graduates who seek employment, 75% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation
- Objective 2b: At least 80% of employers indicate that program graduates demonstrate adequate* interprofessional skills
- produce life-long learner graduates who are able to incorporate new evidence-based technology and knowledge into practice.
- Domain 1: At least 80% of the program graduates applying to graduate studies are accepted to at least one.
*By selecting agree/strongly agree on the pertinent questions of the employer’s survey.
Note: Lebanon’s dietitian credentialing exam is the colloquium exam offered by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE).
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Program, graduates will demonstrate knowledge and competencies in the following domains:
- Domain 1.Scientific and Evidence Base of Practice: Integration of scientific information and translation of research into practice.
- Domain 2.Professional Practice Expectations: Beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors for the professional dietitian nutritionist level of practice.
- Domain 3.Clinical and Customer Services: Development and delivery of information, products and services to individuals, groups, and populations.
- Domain 4.Practice Management and Use of Resources: Strategic application of principles of management and systems in the provision of services to individuals and organizations.
Admission & Progression Requirements
- Candidates for admission may apply to any of the two campuses (Beirut or Byblos) by sending an application to the campus they choose to join.
- An SAT score of 1050 is required for newly admitted students. Subsequently, students need to maintain a cumulative GPA (CGPA) & major GPA (MGPA) of 3.0 as a progression criterion. Prior to starting the supervised practice, if the CGPA or MGPA falls below 3.0 for two consecutive semesters, the student should change his/her major.
- Every semester, CP students should meet with the program coordinator, Dr. Maya Bassil, for advising.
- Applicants may apply as regular (sophomore), or transfer for the fall semester, spring semester, or summer term. For more information, please contact the Admissions Office.
- Current LAU students in their junior or senior year with a CGPA & MGPA of 3.0 wishing to join the CP program are requested to submit a Change of Major petition to the Registrar’s Office.
- The maximum enrollment for the program is 15 students per academic year.
Curriculum
Students must complete a total number of 123 credits, distributed as follows:
- Major Courses (71 cr.)
- Other Major Requirements (24 cr., including 19 credits that are also counted as electives in the Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) Curriculum A – Natural Sciences and Mathematics)
- LAS Core Courses (6 cr.)
- LAS Electives (21 cr.) (Arts and Humanities: 12 credits; Social Sciences: 6 credits, including PSY201 OR PSY202; Free LAS: 3 credits)
- Computer Skills (1 cr.)
Note that the requirements of the first three years are the same as those of the BS in Nutrition.
Year Four (27 credits)
Fall (13 credits)
- NUT580 Dietetic Practice Seminar I (1 cr.)
- NUT597 Dietetic Practicum I (12 cr.)
Spring (14 credits)
- NUT570 Ethics for Dietetic Practice (1 cr.)
- NUT585 Dietetic Practice Seminar II (1 cr.)
- NUT598 Dietetic Practicum II (12 cr.)
