Department of Family & Consumer Sciences

Mission

To prepare Christian professionals to assume leadership roles that support optimal quality of life for individuals, families and communities.

Vision

Christian professionals dedicated to empowering individuals, families and communities in making informed decisions about their well-being, relationships and resources to achieve optimal quality of life.

Goals

1. Prepare new professionals for careers in diverse practice settings in family and consumer sciences.
2. Provide a solid foundation for graduates who pursue advanced study.
3. Prepare graduates who have a lifelong commitment to learning and professional development.
4. Prepare graduates who exemplify integrity and ethical behavior.
5. Provide opportunities for students to develop their God-given talents for service to individuals, families, communities and the church.
6. Enhance students’ growth in the fruit of the Spirit through daily interaction and classroom strategies.
7. Contribute to the preparation of professionals in other disciplines.

Honor Society

The Nu Delta Chapter of Kappa Omicron Nu is a national honor society dedicated to recognizing and encouraging excellence in scholarship, research, and leadership in family and consumer sciences. The chapter was chartered at Harding University on October 27, 1995. Membership is by invitation based on the completion of 45 semester hours in family and consumer sciences with a minimum GPA in the top 25 percent of the class in the unit.

Program Information

The department offers the Bachelor of Science degree with majors in child development, child life, community engagement, event management, family and consumer sciences (licensure), general family and consumer sciences, family life education, and food and nutrition. The department also offers a Master of Science degree in Applied Dietetics Practice. Additionally, the department offers a five-year accelerated option using the B.S. in food and nutrition major as a track into obtaining both the B.S and M.S. in Applied Dietetics Practice. Minors in child development, family and consumer sciences, family studies, and food and nutrition are also offered.

The family life education major is an approved program by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). The child life major is endorsed by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).

All departmental majors take the FCS Program Core of 7 hours:

Didactic Program in Dietetics Transitional Plans

Effective Fall 2021, the Harding University Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)) will no longer be available to new students. Current DPD students have the option to complete all DPD curriculum requirements by the end of spring 2024. The DPD program will be fully closed at the end of the fall 2024 semester.

In light of the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s (CDR) graduate degree requirement, the Master of Science in Applied Dietetics Practice program is replacing the undergraduate DPD. The Master of Science in Applied Dietetics Practice program is a demonstration program that uses the Future Education Model Accreditation Standards for Graduate Degree Programs in Nutrition and Dietetics developed by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

In addition to the Future Education Model Graduate Program, the Department offers a Bachelor of Science in food and nutrition for students who would like to pursue other food and nutrition focused careers. This degree is not an accredited program and therefore, does not result in a Verification Statement upon completion of the degree, which is required for ACEND-accredited supervised practice programs (i.e., dietetic internships).

For more information, contact Elizabeth Hall, Ph.D., RDN, LDN (ehall4@harding.edu).

Mission of the Didactic Program in Dietetics

The mission of the Didactic Program in Dietetics at Harding University is to provide an academically challenging program, consistent with Christian ideals, to prepare students for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN). The program prepares graduates for success in supervised practice, advanced study, and careers in nutrition and dietetics.

Goals of the Didactic Program in Dietetics

Goal #1: Graduates of the Didactic Program in Dietetics will have the knowledge for entry into ACEND (Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics) accredited post-baccalaureate supervised practice programs leading to eligibility for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)’s credentialing exam for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.

Goal #2: Graduates of the Didactic Program in Dietetics will have a solid foundation for advanced studies to empower them to be successful in their profession.

Goal #3: Graduates of the Didactic Program in Dietetics will find employment in a profession that will promote a better quality of life for themselves and their community.

Accreditation for the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics

The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at Harding University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Address: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, Phone: 800/877-1600, ext. 5400, E-mail: ACEND@eatright.org.)

Mission of the Master of Science in Applied Dietetics Practice Program

The mission of the Master of Science in Applied Dietetics Practice program at Harding University is to provide a challenging educational experience consistent with Christian ideals that will prepare competent, entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists for evidence-based practice in all communities.

Goals for the Master of Science in Applied Dietetics Practice Program

Goal #1: Graduates will be prepared for evidence-based practice as competent, entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists.

Goal #2: Graduates will find employment that will promote health and wellness in their community.

Accreditation for the Master of Science in Applied Dietetics Practice Program

The Master of Science in Applied Dietetics Practice program at Harding University is a candidacy program seeking accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Address: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, Phone: 800/877-1600, ext. 5400, E-mail: ACEND@eatright.org, Website: https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend).

Faculty

Chair: Brittany Cumbie, M.S., CCLS

Professors:

Lisa Ritchie, Ed.D., RDN, LD

Assistant Professors:

Brittany Cumbie, M.S., CCLS
Elizabeth Hall, Ph.D., RDN, LDN
     Director of Didactic Program in Dietetics
Megan Jones, M.S.

Instructors:

Beverly Froud, M.S.
Shanna Jones, M.Ed.

Programs

• Child Development Major (CDV), BS
• Child Life Major (CHL), BS
• Community Engagement Major (CEG), BS
• Event Management Major (EM), BS
• Family and Consumer Sciences Education Major (FCED), BS
• Family and Consumer Sciences Major (FC), BS
• Family Life Education Major (FL), BS
• Food and Nutrition Major (FN), BS

• Applied Dietetics Practice (AD), BS/MS

• Applied Dietetics Practice (ADMS), MS

• Child Development Minor
• Family and Consumer Sciences Minor
• Family Studies Minor
• Food and Nutrition Minor