Our curriculum for the Nutritional Sciences – Dietetics Option integrates the foundational knowledge for the RDN that meets ACEND Standards. The foundational knowledge and support knowledge are the performance levels expected for Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) students upon completion of an accredited program.
The Dietetics option can be declared once a student has completed and achieved a minimum GPA in these courses of 2.5 (C+ or above):
- 01:119:103 Principles of Biology (formerly General Biology I and II with Lab)
- 01:119:127, 128 Anatomy & Physiology I and II
- 01:160:161, 162, 171 General Chemistry I and II with Lab
- 11:709:255 Nutrition & Health
For most students, declaration of the Dietetics option will occur after completing four semesters of coursework. Before declaring the Dietetics option on MyMajor.sebs.rutgers.edu, students may declare Pre-Dietetics as their major, but will not be considered Dietetics majors until successfully completing the courses above and applying for the option. This applies to transfer students as well, the courses listed above must have been completed before declaring the Dietetics option.
As Dietetics option students, advanced courses focus on human nutrition and its application to diet and health. Students will have to take organic chemistry, biochemistry, medical nutrition therapy related courses, economics, and statistics. Please visit the Course List for Dietetics Option (200k PDF) to see all of the relevant courses that need to be completed in order to receive a DPD Verification Statement.
Assessment of prior learning and credit toward meeting program requirements
Transfer courses: Students may transfer credit for DPD courses from other institutions. Assessing transfer credit begins in the university Registrar’s office which will decide whether a course is transferred as equivalent to a Rutgers University course or not. The Registrar will typically ask the Rutgers instructor to determine equivalency of a DPD course from another institution. To do so, the Rutgers instructor will review the syllabus of the transfer course for equivalent KRDNs to determine whether the transfer course will fulfill the Rutgers DPD requirements.
Work or Teaching experience: If a DPD student has previous relevant work or teaching experience, certain DPD course requirements may be waived after careful review of appropriate documentation by the DPD Director. Documentation to review may include certificates, position descriptions, projects, reports, written rationale, professional resumes, and/or letters of recommendation or explanation from designated person(s). In some cases, a comprehensive exam/project may be taken for certain DPD course credit in addition to appropriate documentation to ensure all KRDN’s are covered. The DPD Director will make all final decisions. Copies of documentation will be retained for DPD Verification Statement eligibility and record keeping upon program completion.
*Note: Waiving specific course requirements does not override credit hours needed for Rutgers graduation requirements. To fulfill remaining credit hours required, students will work with the DPD Director to determine requirements or recommendations.
Application to RDN Programs
All students who plan to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists must complete an ACEND accredited RDN program (SPE, CP or nutrition-related graduate program). A requirement to enter most of these programs is possession of a DPD Verification Statement.
The DPD Director provides information and guidance for students applying to ACEND accredited RDN programs. Students are encouraged to research these programs early in their academic careers, exploring their locations, admissions criteria, and professional experiences.
Dietetic students must take 11:709:410, Dietetics Professional Practice, in the spring semester of their junior year, a year before students plan to graduate. This course advises students about the details of the application process to RDN programs including guidance on crafting application documents such as the personal statement. There are established traffic rules for all applicants that must be followed when applying to RDN programs as well as for programs in their admissions of applicants as outlined by ACEND in the Dietetics Applicant and program Traffic Rules handout. Students applying to RDN programs are bound to legal and ethical standards of behavior during the admission process in abiding by these traffic rules.
There are two components to the application process to RDN programs. First, students must complete the online RDN program application (dietetic inclusive computerized application system, DICAS). All RDN programs use this online application system, except for some programs.
The second component is the appointment process. The application deadlines on DICAS for fall and spring cycle will vary by RDN program. However, for the fall cycle all applicants are notified by November 1st if accepted and have until November 10th to decide, while in the spring cycle applicants are notified by March 1st if accepted and have until March 10th to decide on the program they will accept. After the application deadlines, RDN program admissions committees review the application materials provided to them on DICAS and may decide to interview potential dietetic interns.
Schedule
Dietetics option (DPD) students observe the Rutgers academic calendar for term start/end dates and holidays. The academic calendar is updated yearly and is available at the Rutgers Academic Calendar. The DPD Director reserve the right to alter the calendar in response to unforeseen circumstances, including weather emergencies and unique learning experiences (e.g., events or speakers pertinent to the DPD).
Liability Insurance
All students are covered by general liability while they are off campus for all academic reasons by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. The coverage includes field trips, off-campus observations, and SPIN.
