Mar 28, 2024  
2021-22 NSU Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-22 NSU Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Nutritional Sciences B.S. *


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OSRHE Program Code: 153
CIP Code: 513101

Major Code: 8420

Option Codes:

  • 8421 - Dietetics
  • 8422 - Allied Health

 

Purpose

Dietetics is the high-tech science of applying food and nutrition principles to personal and community health.The field of dietetics has something to offer all health care consumers. The Registered Dietitian is the only nationally recognized credential in foods, nutrition, and dietetics, and is recognized as the nutrition expert in health care, nutritional counseling, food production, sales, and the media. Most employment in the health care industry requires the R.D. credential. Jobs with the most potential for advancement are closed to nutritionists, who are not registered dietitians.

Allied Health option students complete prerequisites courses needed to apply to a wide variety of healthcare professional programs or graduate school.  Students receiving a degree in Nutritional Sciences - Allied Health option will be competitive because their educational experience brings a special dimension to their overall knowledge of the relationship of nutrition to health. The Allied Health option within the Nutritional Sciences program will allow students to utilize this bachelor degree to meet prerequisites for a variety of health professional programs, such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, radiologic technology, dental hygiene, and physician assistant.

Specialty Accreditation

The Northeastern State University Didactic Program in Dietetics (Nutritional Science: Dietetics, B.S.) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the American Dietetic Association (120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 800-877-1600 ext. 5400);  www.eatright.org/acend.

Credential Requirements

Students in the Nutritional Sciences - Dietetics option complete the requirements to apply to ACEND-accredited supervised practice programs and take the Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN) exam. The NSU Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is the first in the three-step process of becoming an RDN. The second step is the successful completion of an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program. The third step is passing a national registration exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Some states require a state licensure to practice within the state. Oklahoma does require application for licensure through the Oklahoma Medical Board. Additional fees apply for both testing and licensure. Students are encouraged to talk with their faculty mentor about the steps to become a registered dietitian.

Students in the Nutritional Sciences - Allied Health option are encouraged to talk with NSU’s pre-health advisor about graduate school applications and the steps to reach their professional goals.

Admission & Retention


Allied Health Option - Admission & Retention

There are no specific admission requirements for the Allied Health Option.

Retention requirements for Nutritional Sciences - Allied Health Option are as follows:

  1. Pass all science courses with a grade of C or better.
  2. Pass all Nutritional Sciences courses with a grade of C or better.

Dietetics Option - Admission Requirements

Student may declare this option after the following admission requirements are met:

  1. Be in good standing with the college or university last or currently attending;
  2. Have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale of all college work attempted;
  3. Passed science courses with a grade of C or better;
  4. Successfully completed all program prerequisites with grades of C or better prior to beginning the program;
  • BIOL 1013 Introductory Biology I
  • BIOL 1011 Introductory Biology I Laboratory
  • CHEM 1123 General Chemistry I (Lecture)
  • CHEM 1131 General Chemistry I (Laboratory)
  • NUTR 1653 Basic Nutrition
  • NUTR 3653 Food and Culture

Students who fail to earn a ”C” or better in these courses will be denied admission into the DPD program.

Dietetics Option - Retention Requirements

  1. Pass all Nutritional Sciences courses with a grade of C or better.
  2. Pass all science courses with a grade of C or better.

Students must meet all of the academic, retention, and graduation requirements of NSU to obtain a letter of verification for the Director of the DPD, which will allow for entry to a supervised practice program. Note: a minimum GPA of 3.0 is highly encouraged for entry into many supervised practice programs.

General Education Requirements


A minimum of 46 hours of academic work in general education is required during the freshman and sophomore years.  For students transferring with the Associate of Arts degree or Associate of Science degree from a public institution in Oklahoma, all general education requirements will be satisfied with respect to degree requirements.  However, some majors may require other specific general education courses as program prerequisites or program requirements.  Students should consult advisors and the program’s plan of study for further information.  Students are required to complete general education requirements by the time they have completed 90 semester hours of college work.  See General Education Requirements  for more information.

Nutritional Sciences General Education Requirements


The following are course prerequisites that may be completed as part of the General Education requirements.  A minimum grade of C is required for all science courses.

Select one of the following options:


Allied Health - 24 hours (8422)


Guided plan in allied health courses developed with approval from academic advisor or faculty mentor; course selection will depend on student’s health profession interest; at least 5 hours must be  3000/4000 level courses.  Those selecting the Allied Health option must select a minor (18 hours).  Recommended minors include the Prehealth minor and/or other applicable minor to meet career or professional education goals.  Courses for Allied Health must be completed with a minimum grade of C.

Major Total - 60 hours (Allied Health)


Major Total - 69 hours (Dietetics)


Minor - 18 hours (Allied Health Option)


A minor is required for Nutritional Sciences: Allied Health Option.

Accelerated B.S. Nutritional Sciences: Dietetics to M.P.H. Public Health


Note:  Please refer to Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree Program   for complete information concerning the Accelerated Degree Program (ADP).  Refer to the current Graduate Catalog for master’s degree requirements.

IMPORTANT:

Students admitted to the Accelerated B.S. Nutritional Sciences: Dietetics to M.P.H. Public Health degree program will complete up to 15 hours of graduate level credit to apply toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Students may not receive credit toward both the undergraduate and the paired graduate-level course. A student completing an undergraduate course and the paired graduate-level course will only receive credit for one course toward the bachelor’s degree.

A minimum grade of C is required for all 5000 level graduate courses.

Students who do not follow the approved degree plan may become ineligible to continue in the accelerated degree program. 

Prior to completing the undergraduate degree, if the undergraduate GPA, graduate GPA and/or overall GPA fall below a 3.00, the student becomes ineligible to continue in the ADP.

Students may withdraw from an approved accelerated degree pathway.  Graduate credit hours completed prior to the student withdrawing or becoming ineligible to continue in the ADP apply toward the undergraduate degree only. 

ADP Paired Courses (Dietetics Option)

BADM 3933 Bus Stats or MATH 3513 Statistical Methods or 

PSYC 3553 Psychological Stats or SOC 3323 Social Stats

MPH 5153 Biostatistics I
Free electives (3 hours) MPH 5003 Introduction to Public Health
Free electives (3 hours) MPH 5043 Social and Health Behavior Theories
Free electives (3 hours) MPH 5063 Environmental and Occupational Health
Free electives (3 hours) MPH 5113 Epidemiology I

 

ADP Additional Requirements


ADP students will also complete the following courses as free elective credit toward the B.S. degree.

Accelerated Degree Major Total - 69 hours (Dietetics)


Additional Degree Information - Gregg Wadley College of Science and Health Professions


In addition to general education and program requirements stated above, additional hours may be needed to satisfy all minimum degree requirements listed below.

  • English Proficiency: Components I and II of English proficiency should be met with grades of “C” or better prior to the completion of 60 credit hours.
  • ​A minimum of 124 hours is required. PE activity is limited to four hours. Prior learning credit (CLEP, Advanced Standing, Military Credit, etc) is limited to 30 hours.
  • ​A minimum of 30 hours in residence (from NSU) is required for graduation. PE activity is limited to four hours. Hours in residence exclude zero-level courses and prior learning credit such as CLEP, Advanced Placement, Advanced Standing, Military Credit, etc.​
  • A minimum of 40 hours of 3000/4000 level courses is required for graduation.  ​
  • A minimum of 60 hours from a 4-year school is required for graduation excluding zero level and PE activity courses.
  • At least fifty percent of the major requirements must be upper division courses (3000 and 4000 level).
  • At least 18 hours or fifty percent of the major, whichever is greater, must be satisfactorily completed at NSU.
  • The minimum number of credit hours required in the Liberal Arts and Sciences varies based on the type of degree. B.S. and B.S.Ed. degrees require at least 55 hours and B.S.M.L.S. and B.S.N. degrees require at least 40 hours.  Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) courses are identified in catalog course descriptions.

For additional information, see Bachelor’s Degree Requirements .

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