Department of Nutrition and Kinesiology

Mission

We are dedicated to serving our students by integrating Christian faith and practice with academic excellence while preparing you for careers in dietetics, nutrition and wellness, and food systems management. Our students typically enter careers in healthcare, and serve through caring for patients in hospitals, outpatient clinics, public health nutrition, food systems management, private practice nutrition therapy, sports nutrition, nutrition marketing and media, and a host of other career options.

Our program has a placement rate of better than 90 percent into dietetic internship programs, and our graduates have enjoyed 100 percent placement rate into graduate schools or careers of their choice.

Accreditation 

The Lipscomb University Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) currently has accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), a specialized body of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (A.N.D.), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. In order to be credentialed as a registered dietitian, you must complete a postgraduate 1,200-hour internship program accredited by ACEND and sit for a registration examination.

For details about this process, click here. An internship is usually 6-12 months or longer if combined with a graduate program. A list of these programs and their locations are available at the A.N.D. website at www.eatright.org.
 

After successful completion of the postgraduate internship, students must pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. To maintain the Registered Dietitian status, continued professional education is required.

Success Rate

Lipscomb has had a dietetics program since 1979. The current director has been at Lipscomb for 20 years. Our program uses a variety of methods to assess how well we are meeting our program goals. We conduct surveys of seniors, graduates, internship directors, and employers to evaluate the quality of our educational experience.

Our data indicates a 96 percent placement rate of our graduates into internship programs. We have had a 100 percent employment record for graduates seeking jobs in the dietetics field as registered dietitians.

Surveys indicate the majority of our graduates would recommend our program to others. The graduates expressed a high regard for the instructors in the program and the individual attention they received as a student at Lipscomb.

Mission

We are dedicated to serving our students by integrating Christian faith and practice with academic excellence while preparing you for careers in exercise science, health and physical education-teaching, coaching and sport management. Our students typically enter careers in the health and fitness industry, or pursue graduate work in exercise physiology, cardiac rehabilitation or other health science areas such as physical therapy, occupational therapy or therapeutic recreation.

Students interested in the NCATE-approved Health and Physical Education Teaching option will work in conjunction with the Department of Education preparing for a teaching career. If you’re pursuing sport management you will learn the business side of the sport and athletic industry.

We also provide all university students opportunities for developing healthy and active lifestyles through the general activities program. A wide variety of sports, fitness activities and lifetime fitness classes are available for all students through the general education curriculum.

Human Performance Laboratory 

The Human Performance Laboratory is an advanced research facility housed in the Exercise and Nutrition Science graduate program at Lipscomb University. The Human Performance is designed for the assessment of a variety of aspects of human performance and physical fitness including cardiovascular endurance, pulmonary function, muscular strength and power, body composition, flexibility, and blood markers.

Beyond our research goals, the lab provides undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to use some of the most advanced equipment in their field of study, gain experience in conducting scientific research, and develop skills necessary to become exceptional researchers and practitioners.

Electromyography (EMG) System (NORAXON): Allows the non-invasive measurement of the electrical activity of individual muscles or muscle groups.

Metabolic Measurement System (True One 2400, Sandy, Utah): uses indirect calorimetry to allow the assessment of VO2max, when used in conjunction with a motorized treadmill or cycle ergometer.

Monark Ergomedic 828 E Bike (7): Bikes designed for fitness testing and power output.

Lode Excalibur Cycle Ergometer: This electronically braked ergometer is considered by many to be the "gold standard in ergometry” this highly adjustable device can handle high workloads that are characteristic of today’s athletes.

Strength & Power Testing

Rogue S4 Monster Lite Power Rack: 11-gauge steel power rack with custom power platform. This customizable power rack allows for measurement of maximal muscular strength and power.

Dual Force Plates (PASCO®): Used to measure ground reaction forces generated by the body either standing or moving across on them. These dual force plates are designed to quantify vertical jump power, isometric mid-thigh pull power, balance, gait, and other parameters of biomechanics.

Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer (BIODEX): Multi-joint isokinetic machine used to assess neuromuscular control, imbalances, range of motion and strength.

Monark 894 E Anaerobic Peak Bike: Bicycle testing device used for the Wingate 30-second Anaerobic Power test.

Baseline Hydraulic Hand-Grip Dynamometers (2): A device used for accurate measurement of force exerted by hand-grip.

Body Composition Analysis

GE Healthcare Logiq e Portable Ultrasound Instrument: Safe, non-invasive, portable device with the capability to measure and analyze muscle size and architecture.

BOD POD® Plethysmography: Utilizes air displacement technology for precise assessment of total body fat and lean body mass.

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis InBody770 (2): Resistance against an unnoticeable electrical current sent through the body in order to non-invasively determine fat and fat-free mass.

Lange Skin Fold Calipers: Designed for the measurement of skin thickness measurements for estimation of body fat percentage.

Health-o-Meter Professional Scale: Highly accurate, medical-grade weighing scale.

Functional Performance and Wellness

HUMAC Balance System (CSMi): Computerized Balance Measurement and Training System used for assessing balance, stability and center of pressure.

Sit-and-Reach Box: Apparatus that is used for testing range of motion and flexibility

PostureZone Grid:  Posture grid which allows for assessment of postural and balance changes.

Functional Movement Screening (FMS) Measurement System: Assessment tool designed for use in conjunction with FMS screenings providing a simple grading system to assess athlete/patient movement.

Biochemical Analysis

Lactate Pro Scout Analyzer (4): Portable devices with the capability to reliably measure blood lactate

Blood Glucose Analyzer: Quick and reliable means for blood glucose measurement

Ultralow Freezer: Capability to preserve biological samples (Saliva, Blood, tissues) for later analysis in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory

Current Research Projects

Healthy U: Evaluation of a Wellness Mentoring Program at a Private University
Anna Rose Robertson

Acute Hypoxic Exposure Effects on Subsequent Lactate Accumulation and Power Output
Frankie Romero, Kent Johnson

Attitudes towards obesity in Church of Christ leadership
Karen Robichaud, Matthew Ruiz, Jeremy Townsend

Relationship between body mass index and body image in college freshmen
Matthew Ruiz, Karen Robichaud, Jeremy Townsend

Relationship between body image and attitudes towards obesity in college freshmen
Matthew Ruiz, Karen Robichaud, Jeremy Townsend

Analysis of Performance Measures in Division I Athletes
Jeremy Townsend, Kent Johnson

Student Dietetics Association

Our student dietetics association serves to assist members in becoming more professionally active in the field of dietetics, as well as increasing awareness of opportunities and events related to the profession that may be occurring either locally or nationally. The SDA also conducts a number of service projects each year in an effort to make others more aware of issues related to nutrition.