University of Balamand | Nutritional Sciences

NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES AT UOB

The Department of Nutritional Sciences offers a BS degree in Nutritional Sciences and a Diploma in Clinical and Dietetics Internship. Graduates are equipped with evidence-based knowledge and skills in assessment, counseling, and nutrition education, which facilitate their integration into the professional field. It is committed to high standards in teaching excellence, which is reflected by a 100% success rate on the National Colloquium Exam.

The Department strives to nurture strategic partnerships with medical centers across Lebanon and has active collaborations with community centers, industrial partners, and governmental organizations. The Department prioritizes research and has a multidisciplinary active research agenda in Nutrition and food science. Furthermore, the Nutritional Sciences team was able to secure funds and to be engaged in a wide range of collaborative research projects with Faculty members and researchers in various UOB departments and with other educational institutions in Lebanon and in Europe.

Nutritional Sciences program Mission
The mission of the Nutritional Sciences department is to generate leaders in the fields of Nutrition and Food Sciences in Lebanon and the region. It is committed to produce competent healthcare practitioners who are engaged in the improvement of human health and wellbeing. The Nutritional Sciences Department is committed to enable graduates to translate theoretical knowledge gained into practical learning experiences and to master skills and competencies required for conducting medical nutrition therapy and food service management as well as community nutrition.

VISION
Our vision is to train well-developed professionals that will make significant contributions to the field of nutritional sciences in Lebanon and the region. In addition, it is our vision also to carry out high impact research and produce publications that will contribute to a safer and healthier future.

VALUES
Academic integrity and excellence, ethical decision-making, confidentiality, service to the community, teamwork, cross-cultural understanding and sensitivity, critical thinking and effective communication.

Goal 1: Prioritize actions to increase student enrollment and retention

Goal 2: Seek a high standard in teaching excellence and enrich/diversify students’ experience in order to meet with the new trends and development in the fields of nutrition and food science.

Goal 3: Create a suitable research environment

Goal 4: Contribute to the improvement of the community health and wellbeing.

WHY STUDY
Nutritional Sciences?

Nutrition plays a key role in most of the chronic conditions for which people seek medical help for. According to the World Health Organization, the obesity epidemic worldwide has tripled since 1975, and therefore there is an urgent need to treat health problems at the individual level and work to solve health problems at the public health level. This is where a Nutritionist can make a positive impact on individual lives all the way up to public health policy, especially that the field suffers from inadequate nutrition policies. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, our current food systems do not provide the healthy diets needed for optimal health and wellbeing, and therefore there should be more science integrated into nutrition.

Based on the above, studying Nutritional Sciences at the University of Balamand is unique since the program of study is multidisciplinary. It can offer many diverse career opportunities.

WHAT WILL YOU STUDY?

The undergraduate curriculum is divided into basic and major courses required for graduation. The basic courses include: biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, epidemiology and biostatistics, research, languages, cultural studies courses, etc. The major courses help in having an in-depth knowledge in various areas within nutrition: Basic nutrition, therapeutic nutrition, food science, community nutrition, and lifecycle nutrition.

CAREER PROSPECTS

The undergraduate dietetic curriculum at the University of Balamand prepares students for a variety of career opportunities. Potential employers include community health centers, hospitals, nursing homes, governmental Ministries, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), food service or food processing industries, teaching institutions, and research laboratories.

The Department of Nutritional Sciences equips students with skills and competencies that are needed for careers in Nutrition, and prepares graduates for occupations as researchers, fitness coaches, health educators, public policy and program managers, food catering services managers, officers in pharmaceutical manufacturing, food safety auditors, nutrition writers, community educator officers, media and communication officers, among others. To add, this sector gives the opportunity to set up a private clinic, by owning a small to moderate business that can be rewarding at all levels. This is for licensed dietitians who may be considering the private practice route.

Graduates can also pursue higher education degrees (MS or PhD) programs in the areas of nutrition, health and food sciences, public health, and hospital administration, to name just a few.

Are there opportunities in Lebanon?
Many opportunities are available in Lebanon, especially that the field is constantly evolving to keep up with the progress of technology and the demanding job market with reference to food and health.

These opportunities are mainly available in Hospital Dietary Services (HCA); Private clinics; Leading Catering and Foodservice Companies; Marketing and Sales Companies, Sports Clubs, International Associations and NGOs.

It is important to lobby with decision makers and legal authorities in Lebanon in order to issue the law of the foundation of the Order of Dietitians of Lebanon, which is of utmost importance. Nutrition is a major offered in many Universities across Lebanon. The number of working dietitians is significantly increasing, and therefore there is an urgent need to standardize and promote the development of the profession.

Tina Sassine

Current Senior student
Nutritional Sciences

As a Nutritional Sciences student at UOB, I have greatly been equipped with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities necessary to succeed academically and professionally. The friendly and supportive environment built by the professors, classmates, and staff continuously motivated me throughout my studies. Alongside academics, being part of the NutriClub and engaging in several student activities provided me with an unforgettable experience at UOB.
Marylin Moubaset

Clinical and Dietetics Internship student

Over the past four years I learnt how much nutrition can impact our life and how much nutritionists and dietitians are capable of improving the health of the general population through diet and nutrition education. And I fell in love with it.
I am very thankful and lucky to have had such amazing instructors who always surrounded us with love and respect. We owe what we are today to them. Not only did they give us all the required knowledge, but they also were inspiring role models. Even though we are passing through a very difficult, stressful national and worldwide period, they managed to make the learning experience unforgettable and very pleasant. I am currently a dietetic intern at Saint George Hospital-University Medical Center, and I fall more and more in love with what I do every single day.
Nour Malek

Current Senior student
Nutritional Sciences

With all honesty and from my own experience, I really enjoyed my time at UOB and learned more than I had expected. The Nutritional Sciences Program is very helpful not only on the educational level but also on the personal level. You learn the leadership skills and it adds so much to your personality by setting a healthy lifestyle as one of the priorities in your daily life. Several of the courses were very challenging and forced me to stretch my skills. Doing the last 2 years of my degree online was very challenging but at the same time it helped me to be more organized and responsible. The professors played an important role in this journey. They knew the subjects that they were teaching and delivered the information in the best way possible. The knowledge and skill set that I gained from the University of Balamand are very relevant in today’s health field. The information, subject material, and professors provided a solid base of education and applicability in the workforce. I am beyond grateful for all the knowledge I have gained.

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CHAIRPERSON’S MESSAGE

Mireille Serhan, MSc., PhD
mireille.serhan@balamand.edu.lb

Welcome to the Department of Nutritional Sciences (NUSC)!

Nutrition is an exciting and ever-changing field. There is a place for everyone interested in food, whether in clinical nutrition, food sciences and systems, community work, research, or in entrepreneurial organisations and industries. Since its establishment in 2008, the Department of NUSC at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) has emphasized on the role of nutrition in the health and well-being of people. It has focused on the need for collaboration between all members of the healthcare community. The Department has been engaged in a wide range of collaborations with other academic settings, community centres, industrial partners, and governmental/non-governmental organizations.

The Department prioritizes research. Currently, it hosts a post doc fellow in Food Engineering and agriculture. It also oversees the professional Masters Program in Food Science and Technology offered at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Furthermore, it has established cooperation with international Universities from Spain, where some Ph.D. candidates have conducted their research with faculty members from our Department serving as co-supervisors on their projects. Research work has been presented in several national and international conferences and has led to many published articles in international peer-reviewed journals.

Over the next three years, the Department aims at accrediting its program of study and at offering additional graduate programs through collective efforts from the NUSC team, as well as continuous support of the FHS resources and leadership of the University. Interested students are encouraged to browse the NUSC page on the FHS website for further information. They are welcome to meet with the qualified NUSC team in a supportive and friendly environment, and to pay a visit to our beautiful Campus located in Al Kurah, and also to the other satellite campuses.

Mireille Serhan, Agricultural Engineer, MSc., PhD.
Associate Professor
Chair, Department of Nutritional Sciences
Email: mireille.serhan@balamand.edu.lb
Faculty-Email: fhs@balamand.edu.lb
Tel: + 961 6 931952 ext. 5206

PROGRAMS & TRACK

The Department of Nutritional Sciences at the Faculty of Health Sciences offers a 3-year Undergraduate program that leads to a Bachelor of Science BS in Nutritional Sciences with tracks in “Nutrition and Dietetics”.

Interested students can benefit from the Nutritional Sciences major with a pre-medical track.

The Department of Nutritional Sciences enables its graduates to translate theoretical knowledge gained during their BS years into practical learning experiences. The Clinical and dietetics internship helps them to master skills and competencies required for conducting medical nutrition therapy and food service management. Students can apply for licensure to practice the profession of Dietetics in Lebanon. According to the National Colloquium Committee, students have to complete a 6-9 months supervised training in a clinical setting, in order to be eligible to pass the test and get a license for practice.

THE DEGREES WE OFFER

DEGREE	YEARS	TOTAL CREDITS
BS in Nutritional Sciences	Bacc + 3
Nutrition and Dietetics (B.S. Track)	Bacc + 3	93 Credits
Diploma in Clinical and Dietetics Internship	1 year	36 Credits
Minor in Nutritional Sciences	1 year	18 Credits

FACILITIES

The Faculty of Health Sciences has specialized nutrition laboratories at the Main Campus, Al Kurah, and at satellite campuses, in order to support practical teaching in nutrition, human physiology, and community services. Our laboratories are equipped with educational and research material, and give the students the opportunity to learn and acquire competency-based skills in nutrition assessment, counselling, and nutrition education.

Our Nutrition Laboratory features: Food models used for education in food portion size and control, Fat and muscle models, Body Composition Analyzer, Anthropometric measurements tools including tapes, height and weight scales, skinfold calipers, and a Nutrient analysis computer software.

The laboratories are progressively being equipped with educational and research material that serve as means for students to acquire skills in practical assessment, counseling, and nutrition education; and become involved in research and community projects under the supervision of their skilled faculty members.