Mission Statement of the Didactic Program in Dietetics

The mission of the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics at Life University is to provide diverse didactic courses in biological, nutrition and dietetics science, as well as to facilitate practical experience for students so that the program graduates attain required knowledge and competencies for a variety of careers within the field of nutrition and dietetics.

Program Philosophy/Description

The Dietetic Program (DPD) is designed to share knowledge and provide sound training to dietetics professionals in order to meet the increasing demand for nutrition experts.  Students of the Dietetic Program will receive a variety of experiences in food service, food science, and community nutrition.  The DPD program consists of 180 credit hours which includes the core curriculum (60 hours), foundation to the major (30 hours), major courses (60 hours), and required electives (30 hours).  The program is four years of in duration and will include instructional and laboratory-type experiences.  Upon completion of the program, the student will have been exposed to the entire score of practice in dietetics and will have a working knowledge of clinical, community, food service, and administrative dietetics.

Accreditation Status

The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND): www.eatrightpro.org/acend

Program Goals

Goal #1

To prepare graduates of the DPD with a broad educational knowledge and skills for successful entry and completion of the supervised dietetic internship program. 

Objectives for Goal 1:

• Objective 1: At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 6 years (150% of planned program length).
• Objective 2: At least 80 percent of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
• Objective 3: Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 60 percent are admitted within 12 months of graduation.
• Objective 4: 80% of those graduates who are not accepted or not applied to a dietetic internship within the academic year they complete the DPD will seek further training or obtain employment.
• Objective 5: 80% of the IP directors will feel the graduates of the Life University DP are prepared for the IP.

Goal #2

To prepare graduates of the DPD to effectively perform job responsibilities of any entry level position in the field of nutrition and dietetics and or pursuing an advanced degree.

Objectives for Goal 2:

• Objective 1: The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
• Objective 2: 80% of the DPD graduates who desire employment will obtain a position in their field of study within 12 months of graduation.
• Objective 3: 90% of the employers of the DPD graduates who take a position in the field of nutrition and dietetics feel Life University graduates are well prepared for their position.
• Objective 4: Over a seven-year period, 10% of the DP graduates will apply to an advanced degree program within 3 years of graduation. 

Program outcomes data are available on request.  Please send a written request to Nutrition Department, College of Graduate & Undergraduate Studies, 1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta, GA  30060

Career Opportunities

Job opportunities for graduates with Registered Dietitian credential are endless and include settings such as hospitals, public health nutrition programs and long-term care facilities. Dietitians also work in child nutrition and school lunch programs, community wellness centers, health clubs, nutrition programs for the elderly, food companies and in food service management settings. Their responsibilities are as varied as the settings in which they work. Dietitians also work with physicians providing individual and group therapy. Another possibility for Dietitians is to work for pharmaceutical companies with lines of Nutritional Products.

Credentialing Process for Dietetics Practitioners:

To become a registered dietician (RD) or registered dietician nutritionist (RDN), students must complete the following:

• Complete a minimum of a bachelor’s* degree as a U.S. regionally accredited university or college and coursework accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and complete the requirements for a Verification Statement.
• Complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program, which includes experience in clinical nutrition, food service management, and community nutrition.
• Complete a graduate degree, effective as of January 1, 2024.
• Successfully passed the Registration Examination for Dietitians administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).  For more information regarding the Registration Examination for Dietitians, refer to www.cdrnet.org
• Follow the state laws that regulate the practice of dietetics.  For example, RDNs must then obtain a valid license issued by the Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians in order to practice dietetics in Georgia (https://sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-licensed-dietitian).

*Beginning in 2024, a minimum of a master’s degree will be an eligibility requirement in order to take the CDR dietetic credentialing exam.  The graduate degree may be a master’s degree or doctorate in any discipline.  Students who take the RD exam before 2024 will not have to meet the graduate degree requirement.

As mentioned above, the requirements will change effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR’s Registration Eligibility

Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR’s website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Dietetic Program in Dietetics (DPD) program at Life University are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements click here.

For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN, click here.

Completing the B.S. in Dietetics does not guarantee admission into a dietetic internship supervised practice program.  The most common supervised practice program is a dietetic internship program that LU does offer.  Some supervised practice programs are combined with graduate and undergraduate studies.  These programs vary in cost, length, and specialty.  Supervised practice internship programs vary in length, ranging from six to 12 months.  Admission to supervised practice programs is highly competitive, and the acceptance process is through a match process which occurs twice a year (spring and fall).

Bachelor of Science in Dietetics Completion Requirements:

1. Satisfactory completion of all required courses as outlined in the degree plan (180 credit hours nutrition and non-nutrition), with a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above is required for a B.S. in Dietetics.

2. All science courses must have a minimum course grade of C or better (BIO 111 , BIO 201 , BIO 203 , BIO 431 , CHM 111 , CHM 112 , CHM 211 , CHM 212 , CHM 315 , and CHM 316 ) 

3. Completion of Service-Learning Projects (SLP) requirements (10 hours) and documentation on co-curricular transcript.

4. To receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from Life University, a student must earn at least 25% of coursework at Life University.

5. The maximum time to complete the degree requirements is 150% of planned program (within six years of the start of enrollment).

6. Students must provide the Director of Didactic Program in Dietetics with their university issued student ID and permanent address during their last quarter at Life University so that a Verification Statement can be mailed upon degree completion.

7. The student must file a petition to graduate.

8. The student must complete the following reviews:

• Registrar Office – complete a formal academic records review.
• Complete Exit Counseling, if applicable, online at www.studentaid.gov
• Student Accounting – rectify any account balance

Please note:  If upon completion of the program, the overall GPA falls below a 3.0, the student becomes ineligible to graduate with a B.S. in Dietetics from the DPD program and ineligible to receive a Verification Statement.  The student will be awarded a B.S. in Nutrition.

Degree Requirements

Students receiving a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics degree must complete a minimum total of 180 Quarter Credit hours of instruction.

Bachelor of Science Offerings

Bachelor of Science in Dietetics Curriculum

Note:

Requirements for a Verification Statement are different than requirements for earning the DPD degree at LU.