Programs

Combined Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (BS in Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Program (CP) and MS in Nutrition)

The combined program includes lecture-based coursework at the undergraduate and graduate levels and a minimum of 1325 hours of supervised practicum experience. The revised structure would allow undergraduates interested in becoming Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) to pursue both the Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS) degrees in 5 years including Summers. Upon program completion, the graduate earns a BS degree in Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Program (CP) and an MS degree in Nutrition. Afterward, graduates will receive the verification statement which will allow them to become eligible to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam for the RDN certification. Additionally, they will also be able to sit for the country’s dietitian credentialing exam, the dietetic colloquium exam, at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE), and later become licensed dietitians in Lebanon according to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH).

The Coordinated Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL, 60606-6995, (http://www.eatrightpro.org/acend).

Program Structure

The BS in Nutrition and Dietetics CP consists of 27 credit hours (24 credits of practicum and 3 credits of didactic courses) above the 96 credit hours of the BS in Nutrition and Dietetics. The practicum component is comprised of three major rotations: Medical Nutrition Therapy (801 hours), Foodservice Management (268 hours), and Community Nutrition (256 hours) divided across four semesters. The practicum experience consists of 1,325 hours of supervised practice experience. The start date of the dietetic practicum experience is the first day of classes of the Fall semester as per the LAU Academic Calendar and the last day is the end of June of each academic year. Dietetic practicum students must adhere to the LAU Academic Calendar under “holidays; breaks” at https://www.lau.edu.lb/calendar/, except for between semester breaks. During these inter-semester breaks, students are required to complete supervised practice hours. A yearly calendar will be issued for the practicum with regard to the holidays during the inter-semester break. Program graduates are eligible to sit for the US registration exam to practice in the United States unless graduates meet the additional requirements for all US competencies. CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). 

What Will I Learn?

As CP students, you are exposed to an extensive workload as well as a very diverse experience. Accordingly, CP graduates will assume leadership roles in the fields of clinical, foodservice and community nutrition. In addition, when you successfully complete the ACEND-accredited ICP CP program at the Lebanese American University, you will be eligible to sit for the CDR credentialing examination.

Your Career

Graduates of this program can pursue careers/specializations in the following areas:

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements are:

Graduation Requirements

To graduate from the combined program, a student must:

  1. Complete a total of 123 credits for the BS in Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Program (CP) and 30 credits for the MS in Nutrition respectively with GPAs of at least 3.0 on both degrees.
  2. Complete each rotation/project within the allocated time and score a minimum of 3.0 out of 4 or 80% on all assessed CRDNs.
  3. Complete a total of 1325 hours of supervised practice at LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital or at one of the university’s partner hospitals.
  4. Abide by all the Natural Sciences Department Dietetic Practicum Experience policies and procedures.

Additional Costs

Prior to starting your supervised practice, if you are a CP student in your third year, you are required to complete the Enrollment Health form and submit it with your vaccination record to the university Health Services Office. Accordingly, and based on the assessment of the Health Services Office nurse, you will receive a series of additional vaccines, with a maximum estimated extra charges of 270 USD, paid by the student. All forms can be found on the LAU Portal.

Additional costs may not always be required and are estimated as follows:

For further details on costs please refer to this page.

Curriculum

Students must complete a total number of 123 credits, and can be completed in four years by those entering as sophomores.

Major courses (71 credits)

Number Course Cr
NUT201 Fundamentals of Human Nutrition 3
NUT301 Community Nutrition 3
NUT312 Food Chemistry 3
NUT313 Food Analysis Lab 1
NUT335 Foodservice and Safety Management 3
NUT346 Quantity Food Production 2
NUT356 Nutrition Status Assessment 2
NUT357 Meal Planning 1
NUT367 Food Processing 2
NUT368 Food Processing Lab 1
NUT379 Food Microbiology Lab 1
NUT401 Advanced Human Nutrition 3
NUT422 Medical Nutrition Therapy I 3
NUT423 Medical Nutrition Therapy I Lab 1
NUT424 Medical Nutrition Therapy II 3
NUT425 Medical Nutrition Therapy II Lab 2
NUT430* Nutrition in Life Cycle 3
NUT445 Counseling Communication Skills 2
NUT468 Management Systems in Dietetics 2
NUT499 Senior Study in Nutrition 3
NUT570* Ethics for Dietetic Practice 1
NUT580 Dietetic Practice Seminar I 1
NUT585 Dietetic Practice Seminar II 1
NUT597* Dietetic Practicum I 12
NUT598* Dietetic Practicum II 12

*Successful completion of 5 IPE modules incorporated in these courses is a graduation requirement for all CP students.

Other major requirements (5/24 credits)

Number Course Cr
CHM200 Essentials of Chemistry** 3
BIO201 General Biology I** 4
BIO260 Human Anatomy and Physiology** 3
BIO261 Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab 1
CHM310 Basic Organic Chemistry** 3
CHM313 Organic Chemistry Lab I 1
NUT222 Microbiology in Nutrition** 3
BCH300 Essentials of Biochemistry 3
STA205 Biostatistics** 3

** These are also counted as part of the Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) Curriculum A requirements.

Computer Skills (1 credit)

Number Course Cr
CSC201 Computer Applications 1