Didactic Program in Dietetics

Didactic Program in Dietetics

The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) prepares students for careers in nutrition and dietetics through a science-based curriculum focused on food, nutrition, and health. Students develop expertise in nutrition, food science, management, and the biological and social sciences while building the academic foundation required to pursue supervised practice and become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). 

The DPD track follows a curriculum that meets the academic requirements established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates are prepared to apply to ACEND-accredited supervised practice programs and continue their preparation for credentialing as an RDN. 

Mission for the Didactic Program in Dietetics

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.

  • At least 60% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation. 
  • At least 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.
  • Supervised Practice Program Director satisfaction will rate 100% of UConn DPD students who graduate from their internship program at least satisfactorily prepared through UConn DPD coursework for their internship, based on the following scale: 1 = needs improvement, 2 = satisfactory, 3 = above average, and 4 = excellent. 
  • At least 80% of program students will complete program/degree requirements within 3 years of declaring the didactic concentration. 
  • Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 65% are admitted within 12 months of graduation. 

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

  • 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 80%. 
  • 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. 

*all program outcomes data can be provided upon request

Areas of Study

Students in the DPD track explore topics such as: 

  • Human nutrition 
  • Medical nutrition therapy 
  • Food science 
  • Community nutrition 
  • Foodservice management 
  • Biochemistry 
  • Physiology 
  • Nutrition education 

Skills You’ll Develop

Students gain knowledge and skills that support success in dietetics and related health professions, including: 

  • Nutrition assessment and evaluation 
  • Evidence-based decision making 
  • Scientific reasoning 
  • Communication and nutrition education 
  • Food and nutrition management 
  • Application of nutrition science to health and wellness 
  • Professional and ethical practice 

Sample Course Sequence 

Program Handbook

Career Pathways 

UConn’s Didactic Program in Dietetics prepares graduates for fulfilling careers, while also supporting them towards graduate study and registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) credentials. 

  • Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (clinics, hospitals, pediatrics, athletics, schools) 
  • Community and public health nutritionist 
  • Food service and systems manager 
  • Wellness consultant or private practice (group or individually) 
  • Researcher or academic professional 
  • Communications 
  • Food companies 
  • Launchpad for advanced healthcare fields like Physical Therapy, Athletic Trainer, Physician Assistant, medical or dental school, public health 

Becoming a Registered Dietitian

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requires at least a graduate degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). CDR also requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by ACEND.  

Graduates of UConn’s ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics will earn a Verification Statement and are eligible to apply to ACEND-accredited supervised practice programs. For more information about educational pathways to become an RDN, please visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. 

Licensure 

Some states require additional licensure. Information about the RDN credential and licensure/certification of registered dietitians can be found on the commission on dietetics registration (CDR) website. 

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 2190, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995, (800) 877-1600, https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend

Information about the RDN credential and licensure/certification of registered dietitians can be found on the commission on dietetics registration (CDR) website: https://www.cdrnet.org/licensure

Please refer to the DPD handbook (link)  for information on the process for becoming a registered dietitian, DPD program requirements, costs, financial aid, university academic calendar and all program policies.

The DPD curriculum can be found in the handbook and at this link [lorem].  Our curriculum may include online learning for some of the courses.  The majority of required courses are in person. Due to extenuating circumstances, course lectures occasionally may need to be online.

Resources

Questions?

For more information about this track, contact Rhonda Puglisi.