Didactic Program in Dietetics

Steps to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

To become a Registered Dietitian (RD), you must 1) complete a minimum of a master’s degree granted by a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency or foreign equivalent, and coursework through an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics accredited Didactic, Coordinated, Graduate or International program, 2) complete required supervised practice/experience through an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship, Coordinated Program, Graduate Program, or an Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway offered through an ACEND-accredited program, 3) pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) and 4) meet requirements to practice in your state. Many states have regulatory laws (i.e. licensure) for food and nutrition practitioners. All states accept the RDN credential for state licensure purposes.

Students successfully completing the DPD at UIW will earn a DPD verification statement, making them eligible to apply to supervised practice programs. ACEND provides information about the application process to supervised practice programs

Accreditation Status

The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at the University of the Incarnate Word is currently granted full accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 800/ 877-1600, ext. 5400, visit the ACEND website.

Program Mission

The Didactic Program in Dietetics prepares graduates for successful entry into supervised practice and graduate programs leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.

Program Goals and Objectives

Goal 1: Program graduates will be well prepared for entry into a supervised practice program.

• At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 3 years (150% of planned program length).
• At least 50% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
• Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 80% are admitted within 12 months of graduation.
• Of program graduates who apply to a graduate program, either alone or combined with supervised practice, at least 80% will be admitted.
• At least 70% of supervised practice program directors will rate program graduates knowledge and skills at the beginning of supervised practice as ‘satisfactory’ or ‘more than satisfactory.’

Goal 2: Program graduates will utilize the knowledge and skills gained in the UIW DPD to succeed in their supervised practice program.

• The programs one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
• At least 80% of program graduates will receive a rating of ‘satisfactory’ or ‘more than satisfactory’ from supervised practice program directors on performance within 12 months of graduation.

Program outcomes data are available upon request from the DPD Director.

Program Costs & Financial Assistance

Cost of the program will vary, and all fees, charges, and costs quoted are subject to change without notice. The cost of attendance at UIW includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, and housing and food for students who choose to live on campus. Transportation costs will vary depending on if the student lives on campus or commutes. Textbook are provided to students through UIW ACCESS. The UIW Access Textbook program is included as part of the University student fee.

The program requires students to be members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics student membership ($58 per year).

To find out about the availability of financial aid and loan deferments (federal or private), scholarships, stipends and other monetary support, if applicable, please visit the Office of Financial Assistance.

Application and Admission Requirements

Students must apply and be accepted into the UIW DPD. Admission to the DPD is in accordance with the University of the Incarnate Word's "Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy" published in the University of the Incarnate Word Student Handbook.

To be eligible for the program, a student must complete the following prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or higher and have a minimum 2.8 GPA in the prerequisite courses:

• ACCT 2301: Accounting for Non-Business Majors
• BIOL 1402: General Biology I and Lab
• BIOL 2321/2121: Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab
• BIOL 2322/2122: Anatomy and Physiology II and Lab
• BIOL 2474: Introduction to Microbiology and Lab
• CHEM 1310: Introductory Chemistry
• CHEM 1320: Biological Chemistry for Health Professions
• ENGL 1312: Composition II
• MATH 1304: College Algebra
• NUTR 2231/2131: Principles of Food Preparation and Lab
• NUTR 2341: Introduction to Nutrition
• PSYC 1301: Introduction to Psychology OR SOCI 1311: Introduction to Sociology
• A medical terminology course.

Students apply to the DPD when they have finished all prerequisite courses. Admittance is done on a rolling basis, meaning there is no set application deadline. The DPD application is available on the Nutrition Program Canvas page or from the DPD Director.

Academic Calendar

The program follows the University’s Academic Calendar.

Program Completion Requirements

To be eligible for a DPD Verification Statement, a student must meet the following requirements:

• must be a current student at UIW the semester of DPD completion
• complete a minimum of 12 credits of DPD coursework at UIW
• minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA in DPD courses
• earn a “C” or higher in each DPD course
• earn a passing score (70% or better) for each KRDN · undergraduate DPD students meet the degree requirements for a baccalaureate degree in Nutrition
• complete DPD exit survey

Distance Education

If you take an online course at UIW, there are required necessities for online learning.

Credit for Prior Learning Experiences

A student may petition to substitute work experience for the following courses: NUTR 2231 Principles of Food Preparation, NUTR 2131 Food Preparation Laboratory, NUTR 3325 Food Systems Management, or NUTR 3134 Food Systems Management Laboratory. To qualify for a waiver:

• The student must have completed a minimum of 6 months of relevant work experience within the last five years.
• The student will provide written documentation electronically to the DPD Director containing detailed description(s) of work experience(s), including location, job responsibilities, and supervisor name and contact information.
• The supervisor must verify that the student worked in the described experiences by signature, letter of affirmation, and/or phone interview with the DPD Director.

If a waiver is granted for any of the listed courses above, the student must still meet the necessary credit hours required for degree completion.