107 ACADEMICS The Department of Family & Consumer Sciences created a new graduate program for students to participate in: the applied dietetics practice program. It was the first of its kind in Arkansas. The online program gave students the opportunity to learn wherever they were. There were also corequisite courses that allowed students to go into the field and practice what they were learning while being supervised. Director of the applied dietetics practice program Elizabeth Hall talked about their on-site practices and how they benefited students. “It’s really nice because students can learn, but then they can also make those connections in their communities that hopefully could lead to potential jobs later on,” Hall said. The program had two pathways; the first was a Master of Science degree in applied dietetics practice to be completed in two years, and the second was an accelerated Bachelor of Science/Master of Science to be completed in five years. Both of the options fulfilled the same graduate program curriculum. After a student successfully finished the graduate program, they became qualified to sit for the commission on dietetic registrations credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. Graduate student Rosana Smith was one of the students in the program. “They’ve been super awesome about working with me because when you are setting up your own rotations it’s a little complicated, and it doesn’t always fit perfectly in the school calendar, so they’ve been really great to kind of accommodate whatever you need,” Smith said. While the courses were completely online, there were still two on-campus experiences that were required for the program. Those were an orientation in the fall and an intensive in the spring that took place over weekends. Graduate student Emily Bonham participated in the program, but did not receive her undergraduate degree at Harding University. She recognized the differences about Harding’s program. “I was unsure of what to expect from a private Christian school, especially since the applied dietetics practice program is remote,” Bonham said. “However, after attending orientation in-person and meeting my professors and peers, I can truly say that the ‘Harding spirit’ is still present, even in our online community.” This new program created new possibilities and opportunities for students in more places than just on campus. Written by: Mattie Powers Degrees in Dietetics The Department of Family & Consumer Sciences introduces a new graduate program.
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