The Didactic Program in Dietetics at JSU is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education and Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) through June 20, 2024. ACEND can be contacted by email (ACEND@eatright.org), phone (1-800-877-1600 x5400), or mail (120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995). For additional information visit the ACEND website: https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend.
Following graduation, each student must complete a supervised practice program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to qualify for the national examination to become a registered dietitian.
Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Program Admission:
Students will be assessed into the DPD the last semester of the sophomore year. Students must meet the following requirements to gain admission to JSU’s DPD program:
- Completed at least 60 hours of college credit at the time of admission to the DPD program.
- Completed/passed with a B or above the following pre-professional courses or their equivalent:
- An overall GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Pre-professional GPA of at least 3.0.
- Earned at least a B (B or B+) in all science-based courses.
- Earned at least a B (B or B+) in all other pre-professional/pre-requisite courses or their equivalents.
DPD Program Completion Requirements:
- Attendance of all classes, seminars, and supervised practice as required for the didactic program in dietetics unless altered as per policy by the program director.
- Meet university degree requirements.
- Minimum of a C letter grades is required in all departmental classes. Please remember that a minimum of B letter grades is optimum for dietetic internship placement.
- Minimum of a B letter grade is required for all science-based courses.
- Minimum of a B letter grade is required for FCS 429 Advanced Nutritional Metabolism (3).
- Minimum of a B on all assignments used for assessment of KRDNs.
- Must have at least a 3.0 GPA.
Graduates who successfully complete the Didactic Program in Dietetics are qualified to apply for a post-baccalaureate supervised-practice program, which is a requirement for eligibility to take the National Registration Examination for Dietitians and earn the RD/RDN credential. Graduates of the DPD, upon receiving the Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition/Dietetics are issued a Verification Statement and are eligible to apply for a post-baccalaureate supervised practice program (e.g., a dietetic internship) after completing a master’s degree after January 1, 2024*. Successful completion of the JSU DPD and attainment of the Verification Statement does not guarantee admission into a supervised practice program.
More information including the Dietetics Student Handbook and assessment process for the Didactic Program in Dietetics is available on the FCS website.
* | 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 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). In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited didactic program at Jacksonville State University are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program. |
In addition to courses noted below, candidates for graduation must successfully complete all JSU Academic Regulations. More information about general education requirements can be found in the Summary of Degrees/Requirements section of the catalog.
Freshman | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
EH Composition sequence | 3 | |
BY 101 & BY 103 | Introductory Biology I and Introductory Biology Lab I | 4 |
CY 115 | Concepts of General Chemistry I | 4 |
MS 112 | Precalculus Algebra | 3 |
FCS 122 | Fundamentals of Food Preparation and Meal Management | 3 |
SSC 101 | First Year Experience | 0 |
Hours | 17 | |
Spring | ||
EH Composition sequence | 3 | |
EH 141 | Speech | 3 |
BY 263 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
CY 116 | Concepts of General Chemistry II | 4 |
PSY 201 or SY 221 | Principles of Psychology or Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
Hours | 17 | |
Sophomore | ||
Fall | ||
Fine Arts | 3 | |
Literature | 3 | |
History | 3 | |
BY 264 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
FCS 200 | 2 | |
FCS 215 or FCS 322 | Introductory Nutrition or Normal Nutrition | 3 |
Hours | 18 | |
Spring | ||
Literature | 3 | |
History | 3 | |
MS 204 | Basic Statistics | 3 |
EC 222 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
FCS 328 | Career Paths in Nutrition and Dietetics | 1 |
CS 201 | Introduction to Information Technology | 3 |
Hours | 16 | |
Junior | ||
Fall | ||
FCS 323 | Experimental Foods | 3 |
FCS 326 | Food Safety and Sanitation | 3 |
FCS 332 | Social Cultural Aspects of Apparel | 3 |
Select from the following: 1 | 3 | |
Lifespan Human Development (WI) | ||
The Developing Child | ||
Child Growth and Development (WI) and Child Growth and Development Laboratory (WI) | ||
Contemporary Issues in Human Development | ||
Hours | 12 | |
Spring | ||
FCS 327 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle | 3 |
FCS 337 | Methods of Nutritional Assessment | 3 |
FCS 338 | Community Nutrition | 3 |
FCS 355 | Family Life Education (WI) | 3 |
Hours | 12 | |
Senior | ||
Fall | ||
FCS 325 | Quantity Food Production | 3 |
FCS 371 | Management of Family Resources | 3 |
FCS 420 | Medical Nutrition Therapy I | 3 |
FCS 429 | Advanced Nutritional Metabolism | 3 |
General Elective | 1 | |
Hours | 13 | |
Spring | ||
FCS 421 | Medical Nutrition Therapy II | 3 |
FCS 422 | Foodservice Management | 3 |
FCS 448 | Alternative Medicine and Dietary Supplements | 3 |
FCS 458 | Research and Statistical Methods in FCS | 3 |
FCS 471 | Family Housing and Interiors | 3 |
Hours | 15 | |
Total Hours | 120 |
1 | By advisement only. |