Published on August 29, 2018 by Sarah Waller  
Nutrition

Samford University’s School of Public Health has received full accreditation for its Dietetic Internship program and continued accreditation for its undergraduate didactic program in dietetics from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Samford’s Dietetic Internship program, housed within the school’s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, is a post-baccalaureate program that fulfils the requirements needed to become eligible to take the national Registration Examination for Dietitians. The program accepts 20 interns each year, and it is currently in its fourth year.

This internship program is unique because of its emphasis on public health nutrition and its strong focus on leadership and advocacy. 

Along with earning first-time accreditation for its Dietetic Internship, the School of Public Health also earned continued accreditation for its didactic program in dietetics.

The department's Bachelor of Science in nutrition and dietetics first earned approval in 1981 and later on received accreditation as a didactic Program in dietetics in 2008. With this latest news, it will maintain its accreditation until 2025.

Collectively, graduates from both the didactic program in dietetics and the Dietetic Internship boast a 100 percent first-time pass-rate average on the RD exam.

“The role of nutritionists and dietetics has evolved over time, and we are proud to be preparing graduates who address the profound challenges related to the health and nutrition of individuals and communities,” said Suresh Mathews, chair of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics.

“The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics is the cornerstone for the School of Public Health, extending our history more than 100 years at Samford,” said Keith Elder, dean of Samford’s School of Public Health. “We are proud of the recognition from our accrediting body as we continue to promote excellence in nutrition and dietetics education at Samford.”

This news comes as the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics celebrates the 100th anniversary of nutrition education at Samford University. The first nutrition course was offered at Samford in 1918 in response to the public’s health needs during World War I.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.