Coordinated Program in Dietetics at The University of Mississippi

What is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist?

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts who have met the following criteria to earn the RDN credential: •

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Completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree (although in 2024 a master’s will be required) at a U.S. regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Completed an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program at a health-care facility, community agency, or a foodservice corporation or combined with undergraduate or graduate studies.

Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

Career Opportunities

About UM The University of Mississippi aspires to be a preeminent public international research university and a leading force for innovation and opportunity in Mississippi, the United States, and the world. Ranked #73 in the Top Public National Universities by U.S. News and World Report, UM maintains Carnegie R1 Highest Research Activity classification— placing it in the top 2.5 percent of colleges and universitites nationwide.

Our Mission

The Job outlook is projected to grow 14% from 2016-2026, which is faster than average. Clinicians serve adults and children in varying capacities across a wide array of industry settings: Hospitals Clinics or health-care facilities Sports nutrition Corporate wellness programs Private practice Community/public health Universities and medical centers

COORDINATED PROGRAM IN DIETETICS

Research areas (food and pharmaceutical companies, universities and hospitals) Retail/Grocery Marketing Long-term care

The mission of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics is to prepare competitive nutrition professionals by combining graduate courses with supervised practice experiences to offer the student diverse exposures in education, research, and practice.

Program Overview The Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP) is housed within the Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management and the School of Applied Sciences. It is a graduate level practicum program, incorporating supervised practice with graduate coursework. Completion of the program requires requires 30 hours of graduate credit and 1200 hours of supervised practice. Program graduates are awarded the Master of Science in Food and Nutrition Services and receive a verification statement signifying they are eligible to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians. The program accepts up to 10 students per class.

Eight students are enrolled in the supervised practice component from May through May.

Coordinated Program in Dietetics Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management The University of Mississippi 108 Lenoir Hall P.O. Box 1848 University, MS 38677-1848 Phone: (662) 915-8662 E-mail: janierd@olemiss.edu nhm.olemiss.edu

Dietetics at Ole Miss

@UMNHM

The Department of Nutrition and Hospiltality at the University of Mississippidoes not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, nation or ethnic origin, disability,age, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran. The University of Mississippi provides equal opportunity in any employment practice, education program, or education activity to all qualified persons. The University complies with all applicable laws regarding equal opportunity and affirmative action and does not unlawfully discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based upon race, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information.

Child & Adolescent Nutrition • Food Service Administration Sport Nutrition

Eligibility Students must be admitted to the Master of Science in Food and Nutrition Services graduate program at the University of Mississippi to be considered as a candidate for the Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP). Students must first apply to the Graduate School by October 15 or January 15.

Please note that because we are a coordinated program, we do not use DICAS. You must apply directly to our program. Once your application to the Graduate School (http://gradschool.olemiss.edu) has been approved, your CP application will be reviewed.

Application Requirements Option 1: Students with a verification statement from a Didactic Program in Dietetics who are fully accepted into the M.S. in Food and Nutrition Services may apply.

Option 2: Students who have been fully accepted into the M.S. in Food and Nutrition Services without a verification statement will be required to complete the following prerequisites or equivalent courses prior to applying to the Coordinated Program in Dietetics: NHM 111 SERVSAFE or show current SERVSAFE certification NHM 211/213 Principles of Food Preparation/ Food Preparation Laboratory NHM 311 Nutrition NHM 410 Medical Nutrition Therapy I NHM 461 Foodservice Systems Management BISC 206 Anatomy and Physiology I (lecture and laboratory) BICS 207 Anatomy and Physiology II (lecture and laboratory) CHEM 105/115 General Chemistry I (lecture and laboratory) CHEM 106/116 General Chemistry II (lecture and laboratory) CHEM 221/225 Organic Chemistry CHEM 271 Biochemistry NHM 411 Medical Nutrition Therapy II NHM 412 Medical Nutrition Therapy III

All applicants must submit by January 15: • Completed CP application (http://nhm.olemiss.edu/graduateprogram/coordinated_program/) • Personal letter of application, maximum 2 pages, typed, 12 font, single spaced. Include how your academic and personal background influenced your decision to become a Registered Dietitian.

• Resume • Verification Statement or letter of intent

Concentration Areas

Coursework

The CP offers three concentration areas. Each will enable graduates to demonstrate advanced understanding and obtain advanced practice in a concentration area of choice:

Child & Adolescent Nutrition Objectives: Obtain advanced practice in pediatric nutrition and management of child nutrition program and services.

Supervised Practice Experience: Conduct nutrition assessment and management pediatric and children patients. Conduct in depth exploration of child nutrition programming including legal aspects and funding.

Food Service Administration Objectives: Obtain advanced practice in Food Service administration.

Supervised Practice Experience: Advanced involvement in management of food service operations.

Sport Nutrition Objectives: Obtain advanced practice in Sport Nutrition.

Supervised Practice Experience: Advanced involvement in assessment and nutrition education of athletes.

Accreditation The Coordinated Program in Dietetics at the University of Mississippi is accredited by The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040 ext 5400.

Choosing a Concentration Area Students must prioritize the three areas of concentration on the application when applying to the CP. During the first year of the program at the CP orientation, students will be informed of their concentration area with their first choice given priority. However, the number of students permitted into each concentration will be determined on the availability of rotation sites. Students are permitted to change concentrations if time and rotation availability permits. The goal is for at least one student to be placed into each concentration area annually.

Supervised Practice Facilities Based upon concentration, students fulfill their supervised practice requirements with a variety of organizations. Recent supervised practice facilities include: Baptist Memorial Hospital (Oxford, New Albany, Southaven) Batson Children’s Hospital (UMMC) Fresenius Medical Care North America (Tupelo) Growing Healthy Waves in the Tupelo Public School District (Tupelo) Institute of Child Nutrition (UM) Lafayette School District (Oxford) Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital (Memphis) Lenoir Dining (UM) Methodist Healthcare (Memphis, Germantown, Olive Branch) Methodist Senior Service/ Traceway Retirement Community (Tupelo) Mississippi State Department of Health-District 1 (Surrounding Areas) North Mississippi Regional Center (Oxford) Ole Miss Dining Services (UM) Oxford School District (Oxford) The Center for Health and Sport Performance (UM) The UM Athletics Department (UM) UM Nutrition Clinic (UM)

UM Office of Sustainability (UM)

Since CP students must be admitted to graduate school as part of the admission process, they must follow the university’s academic calendar. As part of the CP, these students will be enrolled in two semesters of course work prior to starting supervised practice. Total required hours for completion of the CP are 30 with up to 9 of these being supervised practice. A thesis is optional and may increase the student’s time to complete the CP from the planned 2 years. Students need an additional 3-hour elective with advisor’s approval during the first year.* A typical schedule for a CP student is as follows: Fall, Year 1* NHM 611 (3) Advanced Nutrition NHM 613 (3) Theoretical Application for Nutrition Education NHM 625 (3) Research I Spring, Year 1 NHM 612 Nutrition & Exercise in Health & Disease Management (3) NHM 617 Advanced Food Service Management (3) NHM 626 (3) Statistics I Full Summer, Year 1 NHM 699 (3) Supervised Practice Fall, Year 2 NHM 699 (3) Supervised Practice Spring, Year 2 NHM 699 (3) Supervised Practice

Program Director, Janie Cole (left) was named Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2020 Outstanding Dietetics Educator and her student, Natalie Williams was named 2020 Outstanding Dietetics Student.