Food and Nutrition Program
Dietetics

The mission of the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is to prepare students for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and as future dietetic leaders to apply their food and nutrition knowledge and skills wisely in both their personal and professional lives.

• provides quality, innovative and relevant education and service learning opportunities for a diverse group of students to assure that they are able to maximize their personal potential and meet the needs of the changing Dietetics field, and prepares them to enter supervised practice,
• promotes a collaborative research environment
• promotes community support through service, continuing education, and consultation activities
• supports the professional career aspirations of students, faculty, and alumni; and
• exhibits a caring and collegial spirit.

Program Goals:

• Prepare competent graduates for supervised practice and success on the registration exam, entry-level employment and advanced education, who will utilize their knowledge and skills in dietetics, food and nutrition.
• Recruit and retain a highly motivated and diverse population of program graduates who will serve as leaders in the food and nutrition field.
• Prepare DPD graduates capable of doing and who will perform collaborative research related to Dietetics.
• Prepare graduates who will engage in community service learning and exhibit professional leadership.

Program Objectives

To become a R.D./R.D.N. the student must complete a minimum of a graduate degree by a USDE recognized accrediting agency. Completion of an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited Didactic program in Dietetics (DPD) or Coordinated Program (CP), completion of an ACEND accredited supervised practice program/Dietetic Internship (DI), and pass a national registration exam. Registration exam requirements are set by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

At the completion of the accredited baccalaureate specialty in dietetics at USI, the student will be eligible to apply for graduate programs and ACEND accredited supervised practice program/Dietetic Internship within the United States. The practice program can be typically completed within 6-12 months. After completion of the graduate degree and supervised practice program, the student is eligible to take the national registration exam to become a R.D./R.D.N.

The baccalaureate degree starts with a strong foundation in the biological sciences. All food and nutrition majors are exposed to a strong grounding in both food and nutrition courses. Students who specialize in dietetics will focus on:

• Nutrition and Health Assessment
• Health Education Methods
• Human Metabolism
• Nutritional Counseling
• Research
• Medical Nutrition Therapy

Dietetics Coursework

Dietetics Program Application

Dietetics Student Handbook

All applicants must first seek admission to the University by completing an application, having all official transcripts from high school and/or previous universities/colleges attended sent to USI, and complete all other University requirements. Applicants with a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average may complete an information packet throughout the year to the Bachelor of Science or Art in Food and Nutrition program and be designated as a Pre-Dietetics student (A GPA of 2.5 is encouraged).

Pre-Dietetic students who are seeking formal admission to the Dietetics program will need to meet the following criteria:  

• Complete the following course work (or equivalent) with a minimum 2.9 overall grade point average in the following courses:  *BIOL 121, PSY 201, ENG 101, CMST 101 or 107, MATH 111, *CHEM 261, *NUTR 203 and *NUTR 376

  Courses with an “*” require a “C” or better.

• Complete online Dietetic Program admission application.

Course credit for prior learning for work experience is not given in the program.

For students wishing to transfer into the program, after submitting the University application and all transcripts, a review is completed first by the Registrar’s Office. Any courses to be considered for direct transfer as NUTR courses are evaluated by the Program Director.  Additional materials for the review may be requested to be obtained by the applicant including, but not limited to, syllabi and textbooks.

Dietetics Program Application

After application is made to the program, the application will be reviewed and the student will be notified of a decision.  Upon acceptance to the dietetics program, students are provided with a faculty advisor and will be instructed on registration procedures for dietetics courses.

A candidate for the Bachelor of Science or Art in Food and Nutrition degree must meet the general requirements for graduation as outlined in the University bulletin and successfully complete the food and nutrition courses required for the major area of study.

Dietetics Handbook

Academic Calendar

This program follows the University's calendar.

University Calendar

Estimated additional costs for the Food and Nutrition program include uniforms, equipment, lab fees, exam fees, physical examination, and immunizations and total approximately $350 for the duration of the program.

For specific information regarding university costs and available aid, click the buttons below:

For program-specific scholarship information, visit
https://www.usi.edu/health/food-and-nutrition/scholarships-and-aid/ .

Requirements for progression in the Dietetics program have been approved by the University Curriculum Committee and Faculty Senate and are as follows: the student must:

1. Complete the University Core 39 requirements as outlined in the Schedule of Classes; a minimum of 39 hours.
2. Complete required nutrition core courses: 26 credit hours
3. Complete 38 hours of Dietetics option courses
4. Complete a minimum of 120 credit hours
5. Complete a minimum of 30 hours taken from the University of Southern Indiana
6. Obtain an average of  2.0 grade point average or better on all work taken at the University of Southern Indiana*; and
7. Achieve a grade of C or better in all core nutrition and dietetic courses, Biology 121, Biology 122, Chemistry 261, and Chemistry 262**.

*Cumulative grade point averages are evaluated by the Office of the Registrar at the end of fall, spring and summer terms.  Students who do not meet the standards will be placed on probation.  Failure to meet the cumulative GPA standards by the end of the probationary term will result in academic dismissal from the University.

**Students must retake the course/s until a grade of C or better is obtained.

Obtaining a 3.0 or higher grade point average at degree completion is encouraged for application to supervised practice programs.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), employment of dietitians and nutritionists is expected to grow because of the emphasis on disease prevention, a growing and aging population, and public interest in nutrition.

Registered dietitians work in a variety of settings including health care, business and industry, public health, education, research and private practice. Many work environments, particularly those in medical and health care settings, require that an individual be credentialed as an R.D./R.D.N. In addition to R.D./R.D.N. credentialing, many states have regulatory laws for dietitians and nutrition practitioners. Frequently these state requirements are met through the same education and training required to become an RD. Work settings may include:

• Hospitals, HMOs, and other Health Care Facilities
• Food and Pharmaceuticals Companies
• Community and Public Health Settings/Schools
• Sports Nutrition and Corporate Wellness
• Food and Nutrition-related Businesses and Industries
• Universities and Medical Centers 

Verification of dietetics program completion is a method to ensure academic requirements have been met. An appropriately completed Verification Statement allows the student to be eligible to participate in an ACEND accredited Supervised Practice Program, specifically a Dietetic Internship, after graduation from the University. A determination of the coursework the student must complete to fulfill dietetic program curriculum requirements is made by the Program Director. To receive a Verification Form, USI students must have earned academic credit for coursework indicated in the DPD Coursework List.

DPD Coursework List

Students in the ACEND accredited dietetics program at USI will be able to participate in the application process for Dietetic Internships and graduate degree offered throughout the United States. For more information about the application process, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Additional information can also be found under Student Resources. Upon successful completion of an ACEND accredited internship and graduate degree, students are eligible to take the registration exam for dietitians.  Registration exam requirements are set by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). If planning to practice in Indiana, they then can apply for licensure.

Graduate Registration Exam pass rate information can be found at on our Student and Program Outcomes Page.

 Student and Program Outcomes

If using a personal computer, it is recommended that the computer have Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8, or Mac OS X 10.6 or newer. For compatibility, you will want to have access to Microsoft Office 2013, Office 2010, or Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac. In some cases, Office 365 may be sufficient. For some course content, you will also need Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash Player and/or Windows Media Player (Macs should use Flip4Mac WMV Components for QuickTime). Additionally, a broadband Internet connection would be very beneficial; AOL is not recommended. Lastly, if your course uses the Blackboard e-Learning platform, you may wish to verify that you have a compatible web browser.

If your computer is more than 6 years old or does not meet the requirements for running one the above versions of Microsoft Office (Windows system requirements / Mac system requirements), you may want to consider purchasing a new computer.

System requirements for online courses can be found here:

https://www.usi.edu/online-learning/student-services