Mission of the University of Georgia
The University of Georgia, a land-grant and sea-grant university with statewide commitments and responsibilities, is the state’s oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education. Its motto, “to teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things,” reflects the University’s integral and unique role in the conservation and enhancement of the state’s and nation’s intellectual, cultural, and environmental heritage. With its statewide mission and core characteristics, the University of Georgia endeavors to prepare the University community and the state for full participation in the global society of the twenty-first century. Through its programs and practices, it seeks to foster the understanding of and respect for cultural differences necessary for an enlightened and educated citizenry. It further provides for cultural, ethnic, gender, and racial diversity in the faculty, staff, and student body.
Read the full Mission of the University of Georgia
Mission of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Our mission is to advance the well-being of diverse individuals and families over their life span and strengthen communities through the generation and dissemination of knowledge, development of professionals, and provision of research-based programs.
Mission of the Department of Nutritional Sciences
The mission of the Department of Nutritional Sciences is to prepare students to function as professionals, to meet changing needs of society and industry in the areas of foods and nutrition, to generate scholarly work in our discipline, and to educate the public about special issues in nutrition and foods.
Mission of the Didactic Program in Dietetics
The mission of the didactic program in dietetics (DPD) is to prepare graduates for successful careers in nutrition and dietetics and encourage graduates to assume leadership roles in their profession and in society via completion of a baccalaureate degree. Graduates will have the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in a supervised practice program leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become an entry-level registered dietitian nutritionist. Graduates will use research to guide them in decisions, be able to communicate effectively, use resources wisely, and understand that they must engage in lifelong learning to be successful in the nutrition and dietetics profession.
Program Goal 1
Program graduates will succeed in supervised practice programs and as professionals in fields related to dietetics.
Program Objectives for Goal 1
a) At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 3 years (150% of the program length).
b) At least 60 percent of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
c) Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 70 percent are admitted within 12 months of graduation.
e) The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
f) At least 80% of graduates will indicate that they felt well prepared for their first job and will rate their education at the University of Georgia as excellent or good.
g) At least 90% of supervised practice program directors will rate University of Georgia graduates as generally comparable to other graduates, as above average, or as exceptional in selected knowledge and skills areas.
Program Goal 2
Program graduates will provide leadership to their communities through service activities related to foods, nutrition, and health.
Program Objective for Goal 2
a) At least 50% of the graduates of the DPD will be involved in volunteer or leadership activities in their local and professional communities, as evidenced by their responses on the alumni survey sent within 2 years following graduation.
Note: Program outcomes data are available upon request. Contact Dr. Emma Laing.
Educational Philosophy of the Didactic Program in Dietetics
The educational philosophy of the didactic program in dietetics echoes the university, college, and departmental mission statements' common themes: quality educational experiences, evidence-based education, moving society forward, leadership, and development of competent professionals. By providing a high quality learner-centered educational experience, it is our philosophy that the best learning occurs when students are challenged to apply content and concepts to the real world. Both students and instructors should focus on active learning and holistic understanding of nutrition/dietetics concepts. Instructors should foster this sense by placing an emphasis on improvement and active participation rather than rigid repetition of facts and theories. Overall, instructors should support students inside and outside the classroom, encouraging them to achieve their professional and personal goals.
Featured Alumni
Lori Maggioni
CPT Maggioni, an RDN in the US Army, received a dual Nutrition Science and Dietetics degree. She gained experience in data collection, analysis, and scientific writing while pursuing her degree.