Nutrition and Dietetics

Nutrition and Dietetics is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in nutrition and food-related positions in healthcare facilities, community agencies, cooperative extension, food service operations, culinary or nutrition education, and/or the food industry. Students are also prepared for post-graduate education in nutrition and food-related fields.

GPA Requirements
A minimum GPA of 3.3 is required for admission into Nutrition and Dietetics major. GPA must be maintained. If they are not maintained, students will be placed on academic probation for one semester after which time, if the GPA requirement is not met, students dropped from the Nutrition and Dietetics program.

Admission Information
All students interested in Nutrition and Dietetics major will first be enrolled in the Culinary and Community Nutrition major. Students interested in the Nutrition and Dietetics major are required to earn a B- or higher grade in DFN 215, DFN 321, and DFN 341 courses with an overall minimum GPA of 3.3 before taking a pre-entry examination to assess aptitude for the Nutrition and Dietetics Major. Upon successful completion of the pre-entry examination (earning a minimum score of 80%), students may apply for the Nutrition and Dietetics major.

Nutrition and Dietetics major
The Nutrition and Dietetics major complies with the requirements for a DPD and is accredited by Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND): 

120 South Riverside Plaza
Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
(800) 877-1600, ext. 5400
ACEND@eatright.org

DPD Verification
Students fulfilling all requirements for successful completion of the ACEND-accredited DPD are eligible for a Verification Statement and can apply for supervised practice in an ACEND-accredited dietetic internship (DI), which enables the student to take the CDR examination to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). The DPD Verification Statement also provides the opportunity to take the examination to become a Nutrition and Dietetic Technician, Registered (NDTR). To obtain a Verification Statement, students must successfully complete the following:

1. All required DPD courses with a minimum GPA of 3.3
2. PSY 166, which satisfies a General Education Requirement
3. ServSafe Food Handler Certification
4. The University of Indiana Plagiarism tutorial (available here)
5. Earn a score of 75% or better on the DPD Verification examination