Missions, Goals & Outcomes

The graduate nutrition programs at Boston University Sargent College are built upon a solid foundation of leadership and innovation in graduate education. Our programs are designed to prepare our students for leadership roles in the field and to promote excellence, growth, innovation, and creativity in all areas of dietetics and nutrition practice. The Didactic Program in Dietetics/Master of Science + Dietetic Internship and the Master of Science + Dietetic Internship programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL, 60606-6995, 312-899-0400 (https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend) and guided by the Mission Statement, Goals, and Measurable Objectives stated below.

Mission for the DPD/MS

The mission of the Boston University Programs in Nutrition (which includes the Boston University Didactic Program in Dietetics/Master of Science (DPD/MS) degree program) is to establish an inclusive environment that promotes the acquisition of knowledge, critical thinking, and effective communication to prepare diverse students for success in supervised practice leading to eligibility to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an entry-level registered dietitian nutritionist, or enter into a graduate degree program, or a job in a health-related field.

Goals and Measurable Objectives

Program Goal 1: The Boston University (BU) DPD/MS program will provide graduates with the knowledge and skills required to enter supervised practice, a graduate program or a job in a health-related field.

Program Objectives for Goal 1

  1. At least 80 percent of program students (full-time) complete program/degree requirements within 2.25 years (150 percent of the full-time program length). At least 80 percent of program students (part-time) complete program/degree requirements within 4.5 years (150 percent of the part-time program length).
  2. At least 90 percent of program graduates are admitted to the supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation.
  3. At least 90 percent of program graduates will successfully complete the MS degree coursework and continue on to supervised practice.
  4. At least 80 percent of program graduates will begin a job in a health-related field within 12 months of graduation

Program Goal 2: The Boston University (BU) DPD/MS program will prepare graduates to function as competent Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) or other healthcare providers.

Program Objectives for Goal 2

  1. At least 80 percent of graduates responding to a one year post-graduation survey regarding adequacy of academic preparation for supervised practice, a graduate program or a job in a health-related field will report “average” or above preparation (out of the total number of surveys received).
  2. At least 80 percent of graduates placed into supervised practice programs will receive a score of “average” or above on a survey of supervised practice program directors sent one year after graduation (out of the total number of surveys received).
  3. At least 80 percent of program graduates will pass the CDR registration exam for dietitian nutritionists within one year following the first attempt.

The DPD Program’s outcome data are available upon request.

Mission for the MS/DI

The BU MS/DI mission is to establish an environment that promotes the acquisition of knowledge, critical thinking, and effective communication to prepare students to become entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists.

Goals and Measurable Objectives

The curriculum is guided by two goals and eight measurable objectives.

Goal #1: To prepare graduates to be competent entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists

Measurable Objectives for Goal #1

  • At least 80 percent of the interns of the DPD/MS+DI program will take the CDR Credentialing exam for RDNs within 12 months of program completion.
  • At least 80 percent of the graduates of the DPD/MS+DI program will pass the CDR credentialing exam for registered dietitian nutritionists within one year following first attempt of completing the program.
  • At least 80 percent of the interns in the program will achieve a satisfactory (at least an average rating of 2.5) rating from preceptors for all rotations in their internship.
  • The DPD/MS+DI program will maintain an 80 percent or higher completion rate within 150 percent of the program’s length, which is approximately 3.5 years or 42 months.
  • Each year, at least 10 percent of those employers who hire our graduates will be surveyed. Of those surveyed, at least 80 percent of graduates will be found to possess satisfactory entry-level skills.
  • At least 80 percent of the DPD/MS+DI graduates either have secured employment in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of completion of the program.

Goal #2: The program will encourage post-graduate professional development for our students

Measurable Objectives for Goal #2

  • At least 80 percent of the graduates of the DPD/MS + DI program who return surveys will maintain their RDN status five years after graduation.
  • Five years after completion of the program, at least 50 percent of the graduates who returned surveys will demonstrate involvement in professional activities.
  • Graduates of our DPD/MS + DI Program maintain a longstanding 100 percent pass rate on the national RDN exam.

Other program outcome data available on request.