Didactic Program in Dietetics

Dietetics & the Registered Dietitian

Registered Dietitians/Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RD/RDN) are food and nutrition experts. Registered dietitians are trained in the sciences and can translate scientific findings and help people live healthy lives. DPD students receive a broad education in the physical, biological, and social sciences, medical nutrition therapy, food service management and community nutrition. This education prepares students for applying to a dietetic internship and master’s degree program(s). More information about career opportunities may be found on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. Registered dietitians may also be licensed or certified depending on the state. Forty-eight states currently have statutory provisions regarding professional regulation of dietitians and/or nutritionists. This regulation protects the RD credential and informs the public who is qualified to provide nutrition care services.

Process for Becoming a Registered Dietitian

The DPD requires you to complete our four-year plan of study. The curriculum is planned to provide learning activities to attain all the foundation knowledge and learning outcomes defined by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). It prepares you for entering a Dietetic Internship (DI) and Master’s Degree Program(s) to be eligible to take the RD examination. After the required course work is completed you will be issued a verification statement (within one month of graduation), which verifies you completed our didactic program. In your last year (usually fall or spring of your senior year) you will apply for supervised practice, that is a DI. A student must successfully complete both an accredited didactic program, such as the one in Nutritional Sciences, a DI, and a graduate degree before he/she is able to sit for the national registration examination. Our department offers a 4+1 program which provides both a BS and MS in nutritional sciences. Some internships are combined with a graduate degree or offer credit towards a graduate degree. To earn a verification statement, students must have attained a bachelor’s degree, completed all didactic course work, obtain food safety certification, and attended a nutrition conference. Verification statements will be emailed to students, who then have the responsibility of providing a copy to their internship director and/or employer. DIs, which are located throughout the United States, must include at least 1000 hours of supervised experience, and be accredited by ACEND. Internship applications are done through an online process called DICAS. Internships are competitive. Internship placement requires a strong science and overall GPA, leadership experience, work and volunteer activities. It is strongly recommended that students obtain nutrition related experience through extra-curricular activities and work and volunteer experiences. For the University of Connecticut didactic program, the internship placement rate has been 100% for the past seven years (see placement graph below). The Department of Allied Health Sciences at UConn offers a 4 + 1 coordinated masters dietetic internship program.

Dietetic Majors at UConn

The University of Connecticut has two dietetic programs. One is housed in Allied Health Sciences (the Coordinated Program) and the other in Nutritional Sciences (the Didactic Program). Both programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995, (800) 877-1600, and provide different routes to becoming a registered dietitian. Information about both programs including differences can be found here. A diagram depicting both routes is shown below. The Didactic Program in Nutritional Sciences provides the academic coursework necessary to apply for a dietetic internship following college graduation. Contact Dr. Rhonda Brownbill (rhonda.brownbill@uconn.edu) for information about the didactic program. The Coordinated Program in Dietetics combines the undergraduate and graduate coursework as well as the supervised practice hours necessary to sit for the RD exam. Contact Ellen Shanley (ellen.shanley@uconn.edu) from the Allied Health Sciences Department for information about the coordinated program. Students interested in these programs should attend either the fall or spring open house to obtain more information.

Mission for the Didactic Program in Nutritional Sciences

The Didactic Program in Dietetics provides students with the background knowledge, intellectual skills and practical experiences to be excellent candidates for dietetic internships and/or graduate programs and effective professionals in the field of dietetics. Building on the strengths of a comprehensive and research extensive university, it supplies a rich, deep, and diverse education that prepares its graduates for the ever-changing complexities of the 21st century.

Goals and Objectives for the Didactic Program in Nutritional Sciences

Goal 1: To prepare graduates for successful entry into and completion of a dietetic internship.

  1. 60% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
  2. 90% of program graduates who are assessed one year and three years after completing the program, will rate on average our program at least satisfactory at adequately preparing them for an internship, graduate school, or their current position.
  3. Supervised Practice Program Director Satisfaction will rate 100% of graduates of their internship program at least satisfactory prepared through UConn DPD coursework for their internship based on the following scale: 1= needs improvement, 2= satisfactory, 3= above average, and 4= excellent.
  4. 80% of program graduates will complete the Didactic Plan of Study within 3 years of declaring the didactic concentration.
  5. 65% of program graduates are admitted to a supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation.
  6. 90% of program graduates beginning a supervised practice program will complete the program.

Goal 2: To prepare graduates for graduate education or employment in the dietetics field.

  1. The program’s 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 90%.
  2. 70% of DPD graduates will remain employed in a field related to nutrition and dietetics when assessed 5 years after completion of the program.
  3. At least 60% of DPD graduates who earn a verification statement, but do not apply or are not placed in a supervised practice program will either take the DTR exam, re-take courses, attend a post-baccalaureate education program or gain employment in the dietetics field within two years of completion of the didactic program in dietetics.
  4. 60% of DPD graduates will either complete at least one independent study, field experiences and/or be involved in research with faculty members.

Transfer Students

From other colleges/universities

Students from other schools can apply to UConn as an undergraduate student and declare Nutritional Sciences as their major. In order to become a matriculated student, you need to apply through the Transfer Admissions Office. You can find information on the application process here. This website has information on cost, financial aid and transfer course equivalencies. If some of your courses are not listed on the course equivalency list, the DPD director and undergraduate program coordinator can evaluate them for UConn equivalency, provided you have a syllabus. If you already have a four-year degree, you do not need to complete another degree to earn a verification statement. You can enroll as a non-degree student and just complete the remaining courses required. However, you will not be a matriculated student which, can affect eligibility for financial aid amongst other things. If you completed your previous degree at UConn, you will be applying for readmission through the Department of Student Services and Advocacy.

Opportunities for Dietetic Experience

Application of classroom knowledge and development of personal skills is highly encouraged in the Department of Nutritional Sciences. The department offers many opportunities for further educational enrichment through independent studies and experience courses in MNT, Food Service Management and Community Nutrition.

UConn Nutrition Club

This student-led organization promotes student participation in nutrition related activities for the purpose of furthering nutrition knowledge, promoting healthful living, and enhancing career development. It is an excellent opportunity to reach out to the campus and community, as well as to develop leadership ability. Activities include a 5K run/walk, dining hall events, activities for National Nutrition Month, and participation in professional meetings. Club dues are $15.00 per year, and membership is open to all UConn students. Please contact the nutrition club at uconnnutritionclub@gmail.com for more information.

Undergraduate Research & Honors Programs

Students may be invited to join the Honors Program at the time of admission to the university or they may apply to join the program prior to the beginning of the junior year. Admission as a junior is by recommendation of the department based on the student’s cumulative GPA (3.4 or above) and academic performance. Participation in the program involves completion of four honors courses including a senior thesis; it allows students to become more closely involved in current departmental research and offers the possibility of initiating their own independent research. Read more information about the Honors Scholars in the Major Program and the University Honors Laureate Program. Non-honors students are also encouraged to talk with their advisor or other faculty about the possibility of participating in current research studies.

Field Experiences

Students who participate in community outreach or find placements in food service or clinical settings may obtain credit for these experiences through designated experiential courses:

  • NUSC 3728: Experience in Food Service System (1-6 credits)
  • NUSC 3180: Experience in Community Nutrition (1-6 credits)
  • NUSC 3823: Experience in Medical Nutrition Therapy (1-6 credits)

Faculty Advisors

Upon entering the program, each student is assigned a faculty member who serves as an academic advisor and a resource for career development. The relationships that students develop with faculty members and other students in the department provide a small college feel while retaining the benefits of a large university. Faculty interests and research are quite diverse including nutritional biochemistry, clinical nutrition, nutrition for exercise and sport, international nutrition, community nutrition, food science, and food service management. Where possible, students are paired with advisors who share similar interests. In addition, students may request a change of advisor at any time by contacting the undergraduate program coordinator.

Students Completing Degrees from International Institutions

All students from overseas colleges entering the Didactic Program in Dietetics apply as either a second degree undergraduate student or a graduate student. By accepting students in this manner, student transcripts are evaluated by the University. An additional evaluation may be needed from World Education Services. It is the policy of the DPD that any student from another institution must complete a minimum of 20 credits at the University of Connecticut in order to receive a verification statement. The DPD Director determines the courses needed after evaluation of the student transcript(s).

Food Safety Certification

To earn a verification statement, students are required to pass a food safety exam. In NUSC 3272, all students are required to take a national food safety exam. There is a fee for taking this exam, which may be issued in paper format or online. The fee is $81.99. If you miss or forget to reschedule your online exam, you will be charged a $25.00 “No Show” Fee. Students who pass this exam will be issued a certificate, which is valid for five years. This requirement will be waived for students who have recently (in the last 3 years) taken another food safety exam such as ServSafe. To receive a waiver, the student must provide documentation of passing a food safety exam.

Professional Meeting Requirement

To earn a verification statement, students are required to attend a professional meeting (either in person or online), or attend at least two nutrition-related webinars. Typically, students attend the Connecticut Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (CAND) meeting in the spring. Membership to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is required to attend at the student rate. Cost for student Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics membership is $58 for one year and provides access to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics journal, evidence analysis library online, and other web links. Other nutrition-related meetings can be used for this requirement, but prior approval from the DPD director is needed. Proof of attendance at a meeting is required. Visit the CAND website.

Didactic Concentration/Verification Statements

The DPD Director reviews transcripts of senior dietetic students in the fall prior to spring course selection. The DPD concentration once declared, lists student requirements in their academic progress report and shows which requirements are compelted. Upon graduation, the DPD Director accesses student transcripts and ensures that all didactic program requirements have been met and that the student has received a Bachelor of Science degree. To declare a concentration in the Didactic Program in Dietetics within the Nutritional Sciences major, students must have a minimum of 60 credits, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and have successfully completed the following courses: NUSC 1165 and NUSC 2200 with a B grade or better; CHEM 1124Q and 1125Q or CHEM 1127Q and 1128Q; and BIOL 1107 with a C grade or better. To earn a verification statement, students must meet the above grade requirements; complete the core requirements for all Nutritional Science majors with no grade less than a C; and earn a Didactic Program in Dietetics GPA of at least a 3.0 by successfully completing the following courses with a C grade or better: NUSC 1167, 3150, 3230, 3233, 3234, 3245, 3250, 3271, 3272, 4100, 4272, 4237W, 4236; MCB 2000 and 2610; PNB 2264 and 2265; AH 4242 or EPSY 3010; AH 4244; STAT 1000Q or 1100Q; SOCI 1001 or PSYC 1100; ENGL 1007, 1010 or 1011 and one additional W course.