Nutrition and Dietetics - Mission

Immaculata has a long tradition of preparing professional leaders in the field of nutrition and health promotion. The Nutrition and Dietetics Department continues to meet this challenge by providing programs that offer practice-based professional education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Undergraduate Dietetics program consists of an ADA-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) leading to eligibility to apply to a dietetics internship and ultimately qualify for the Registered Dietitian credential. The Food Service Management major will provide students with knowledge and skills related to managing a food service. Students will learn about operating institutional and commercial food and beverage services in the classroom setting. A field experience is required to give students hands-on training. Students can apply for a minor in Business in conjunction with this program.

The Graduate Nutrition Education program offers a diverse blend of coursework to meet the unique needs of every graduate student. Different options are available for obtaining a master’s degree in Nutrition Education depending upon the individual’s background and career goals. The Dietetics option in the program combines the M.A. degree in Nutrition Education with an ADA dietetic internship. The Advanced Dietetics Practice option, reflecting the department’s commitment to graduate education for the registered dietitian (R.D.), provides a program for the R.D. that can be tailored to meet professional needs and area(s) of interest. The Nutrition and Wellness Promotion option provides a foundation in nutrition science and education combined with a range of elective course choices, for students from a variety of health-related or education disciplines

These programs will enable the student to:

Undergraduate:

Meet the requirements of the American Dietetic Association for application to a dietetic internship program
Obtain basic knowledge of nutrient metabolism, medical nutrition therapy, changing nutrition needs throughout the life cycle, food service operations, food science, nutrition counseling, and other course content needed as a foundation for dietetics practice
Utilize nutrition literature and resources and integrate nutrition knowledge from a variety of sources
Gain real-world experience in the practice of clinical and community nutrition and of food service through supervised field placements and classroom instruction
Prepare for entry-level positions in nutrition and food service settings

Graduate:

Obtain in-depth knowledge of nutrient metabolism, medical nutrition therapy, changing nutrition needs throughout the life cycle, and specialized topics in applied nutrition
Communicate nutrition information to a variety of audiences, utilizing knowledge of interpersonal communication, program development and implementation, and counseling skills
Develop, implement, evaluate and present original research
Utilize nutrition literature and resources, integrate nutrition knowledge from a variety of sources, and apply this knowledge to complex, real-world human situations
Develop enhanced knowledge and skills that prepare the student to obtain an entry-level position in the field of Dietetics (internship option), or advance to higher-level career positions and leadership opportunities in the field of Nutrition (Advanced Dietetics Practice) or other chosen field (Wellness/Health Promotion option)

For more information, contact:

Susan Johnston, M.S., R.D., L.D.N.
Director of Didactic Program and Dietetics
(610) 647-4400 ext. 3163
Email: sjohnston@immaculata.edu

Patricia Thibault, M.S., R.D.
(610) 647-4400 ext. 3762
Email: pthibault@immaculata.edu