Information for Students Who Wish to Transfer into the

Messiah College Nutrition and Dietetics Major

We welcome students who wish to complete their undergraduate nutrition and dietetics studies at Messiah College.  However, it is important to recognize that the Messiah College Nutrition and Dietetics major requires careful course planning.  Suggested major courses for the first two years of college are listed below.   Transfer students who have not completed these courses will probably need to take summer courses and/or spend a fifth year in college to complete the major coursework.   

In addition, please be aware that academic rigor and work expectations vary considerably from one college to another.  Students at Messiah College are expected to spend approximately 3 hours per week for each course credit they are taking – i.e. 36 hours per week for a 12 credit course load.  Due to the academic workload, most Messiah students find it difficult to work more than 10 – 12 hours per week while they are taking classes.   If you need to work much more than this, you should consider being a part-time student. 

If you are interested in transferring into the Messiah College Nutrition and Dietetics major, please contact the http://www.messiah.edu/admissions/contact/counselor/boone.html.  If you want to know how a particular course you have taken will transfer, check the database of transfer course equivalencies at (http://www.messiah.edu/offices/registrar/transfer_equivalencies.html). 

This database contains courses which have already been approved as the equivalent of specific Messiah courses.  You can also obtain an unofficial transcript evaluation from Bryanna Boone, the transfer student coordinator (BBoone@messiah.edu), when you come for a campus visit.   After you have applied and been accepted to Messiah College, an official transcript evaluation will be done by the registrar’s office.  Once you have received this transcript evaluation, contact Kay Witt, Department Chair (KWitt@messiah.edu) for advice about planning your course schedule.  To ensure a smooth transition, you should apply to Messiah College at least 5 – 6 months before you plan to enroll in classes. 

Recommended major courses for the first year of college:

• IDFY 101:  First Year Seminar ( First year college writing course)
• COMM 104 or 106:  Oral Communications (A public speaking course)
• CHEM 105 and 106: General Chemistry I and II (both lab courses)
• PSYC 111:  Introduction to Psychology (may be taken second year)
• NUTR 121: Food and Food Science (a basic foods course with a lab – may also be taken in the second year )
• NUTR 099:  Opportunities in Nutrition and Dietetics (May be taken the first year enrolled at Messiah if necessary as not all schools offer this)

Recommended courses for the second year of college:

• BIOL 185 and 186:  Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II (both lab courses)
• CHEM 204:  Introduction to Organic Chemistry (with lab) or CHEM 309 and CHEM 310 (Organic Chemistry I and II with labs)
• NUTR 222:  Nutrition Theory  (a basic nutrition course designed for health science majors – usually has a chemistry prerequisite)
• STAT 269:  Introductory Statistics
• HRM 120:  Principles of Management (a basic management course)

Please note:  These guidelines reflect only those courses that are required to complete the nutrition and dietetics major.  As you select additional courses, consider how they will transfer into the Messiah College general education curriculum – which also needs to be completed to graduate from Messiah College.