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:

• Clinical Nutrition including medical centers and medical clinics
• Healthcare facilities
• Beauty and Sports centers
• Nongovernmental organization (NGOs)
• Ministries of Health, Education, Economy, or Agriculture
• International organizations (FAO, WHO, etc.)
• Food industries
• Catering companies
• Graduate studies (Clinical nutrition, food technology, public health, etc)

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements are:

• 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.
• A SAT score of 1050 is required for newly admitted students. Subsequently, you 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, you should change your major.
• Every semester, CP students should meet with the program director 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.

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:

• Housing (if needed): Housing during the long-term care rotation is provided to students on site without additional cost.
• Course Textbooks: Textbooks are detailed in the syllabus of each didactic course; their purchase may be optional or mandatory depending the instructor’s guidance. On average textbook cost varies between 100USD-150USD per course. 
• Other Books: Most books are available at LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital Dietary Department and/or LAU libraries, however additional optional materials (such as meal planning tools, pocket guides or other resources deemed useful) are estimated at a maximum of 100USD  
• Parking: During the didactic years you may opt to park at LAU campus or surrounding private parking lot. During the practicum year a cost of 33USD/month is estimated for parking.
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Student Membership: 58USD
• Transportation: There is a shuttle available between Byblos campus and Beirut campus on a daily basis; transportation for Nutrition Focused Physical Exam (NFPE) and IPE modules is provided through LAU shuttles for free. Additional transportation is estimated at an average of 5USD per working day (transportation cost may vary depending on the students’ residency)

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
• Other major requirements: 24 credits (including 19 credits that are also counted as electives in the Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) Curriculum Z – Natural Sciences and Mathematics)
• LAS Core: 6 credits
• LAS Curriculum Z electives: 21 credits (Digital Cultures:3 credits; Change Makers: 6 credits; Social Sciences: 3 credits, including PSY 201 OR PSY 202; Any LAS course with a minimum of 3 credits in Arts and Humanities: 9 credits)
• Computer Skills: 1 credit

Major courses (71 credits)

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

Other major requirements (5/24 credits)

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

Computer Skills (1 credit)