Dietetics is a profession which focuses on the food and nutrition intake of individuals and its relationship to health. Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) are trained in the sciences and can translate scientific findings and help people live healthy lives. Dietetic students receive a broad education in nutrition, food, management, physical, biological, and social sciences. Dietitians work in a variety of settings including hospitals, extended care facilities, community agencies, food industry, corporate agencies, schools, and private practice.
Mission for the Didactic Program in Nutritional Sciences
The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) provides graduates with a broad general education framework as well as specialized course work in the field of dietetics. The student will graduate with a science background giving them the tools to logically think through situations using the principles upon which the scientific method is based. Students following the didactic plan of study will be prepared to apply for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN. This scientific preparation will enable students to succeed in a variety of professional situations.
NUSC majors enrolled in the DPD follow a curriculum that meets the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) academic requirements. After graduation, the student must complete an independent dietetic internship, also called supervised practice, and complete a graduate degree to fulfill the requirements to sit for the National Registration Exam. The DPD at the University of Connecticut currently is granted accreditation by ACEND. Please visit their website for the contact information of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and career opportunities.
Goal 1: To prepare graduates for successful entry into and completion of a dietetic internship
We strive for:
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- 60% of program graduates to apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation
- 90% of program graduates (assessed one year and three years after program completion) to rate, on average, our program at least “satisfactory” at adequately preparing them for an internship, graduate school, or their current position
- the Supervised Practice Program Director Satisfaction to rate 100% of graduates of 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.
- 80% of program graduates to complete the Didactic Plan of Study within 3 years of declaring the didactic concentration
- 65% of program graduates to be admitted to a supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation
- 90% of program graduates who began a supervised practice program to complete the program
Goal 2: To prepare graduates for graduate education or employment in the dietetics field.
We strive for:
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- 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%
- 70% of DPD graduates to remain employed in a field related to nutrition and dietetics, when assessed 5 years after program completion
- at least 60% of DPD graduates who earn a verification statement but do not apply or are not placed in a supervised practice program to 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
- 60% of DPD graduates to either complete at least one independent study, field experience, and/or be involved in research with faculty members
Declaration of the Didactic Program in Dietetics within the NUSC Major
Nutritional Science majors in the DPD track should declare the DPD concentration and follow a curriculum that meets the academic requirements set by ACEND. Declaration of the DPD concentration within the Nutritional Sciences major requires:
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- A minimum of 45 earned credits
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Completion of the following courses with a C or higher:
- CHEM 1124Q or CHEM 1127Q
- CHEM 2241 or CHEM 2443 and 2444
- Completion of the following courses with a B or higher:
- NUSC 1165
- NUSC 2200
Earning a Verification Statement for an Internship Application
Students intending to earn a verification statement for an internship application must have earned a 3.0 GPA in the DPD coursework, with no DPD course grade below a C. Note that Dietetic Internships are very competitive, and our Didactic Program does not guarantee admission to an internship. That being said, our placement rate has been 100% over the past seven years.
To increase the chance of obtaining a dietetic internship, our faculty recommend that students prepare by starting early in their college career and acquiring work and volunteering experiences in the dietetics field. Our department offers independent studies and practicums to help students gain these necessary experience. We also encourage students to gain leadership experience through extracurricular activities.
Didactic Program in Dietetics vs. Coordinated Dietetics Program
The University of Connecticut offers two dietetics programs in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources: the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and the Coordinated Dietetics Program (CP) in the department of Allied Health Sciences.
The DPD features course work required for earning the verification statement needed to start a supervised practice program (dietetic internship) subsequent to graduation. The CP combines the course work with the supervised practice in one program. For more information about the CP, visit the dietetics webpage on Allied Health Sciences’ website. For a comparison of programs, visit the Dietetics webpage on the College’s website.
The Process of Becoming a Registered Dietitian
To become a Registered Dietitian (RD), a student must earn a four-year degree and complete a didactic program in dietetics that is accredited by the ACEND. Upon completion, graduates will be issued a verification statement confirming that you completed all didactic program requirements. Graduates are then eligible to apply to a, ACEND-accredited supervised practice program, also called a dietetic internship. This internship typically lasts 10–12 months and consists of no fewer than 1200 supervised practice hours in the field.
Upon completion of an internship and graduate degree (requirement as of 1/1/2024), the student may sit for the national registration examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the examination, refer to CDR’s website. To maintain the credential, RDs must complete continuing professional educational requirements. Registration is currently maintained by earning 75 credits every five years.
Effective January 1, 2024, the CDR will require at least 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 ACEND. In Connecticut, graduates also must obtain state certification to practice in a clinical setting. Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics at the University of Connecticut are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program. For more information about educational pathways to become an RDN please visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website.
What is the difference between a nutritionist, a registered dietitian, a certified nutritionist and a dietetic technician registered?
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- A nutritionist refers to someone who has earned at least a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and may work, for example, as a nutrition educator, in food management, in research, for WIC, or the department of education.
- A registered dietitian holds the RD/RDN credential, which is earned by completing didactic course work, 1200 supervised practice hours, a graduate degree and passing the RD exam. To maintain the RD credential you must complete 75 continuing education credits every 5 years.
- The State of CT offers the option of becoming a certified nutritionist, which can be accomplished in two ways: (1) If you are certified as a registered dietitian by the CDR, or (2) you passed a written examination prescribed by the commissioner of public health for the State of CT and received a master’s degree or doctoral degree with a major in nutrition or dietetics. The cost of certification through the State of CT is $190.00.
- A Dietetic Technician Registered (DTR), often works in partnership with registered dietitians in hospitals, food service, community settings, etc. DTRs have met one of the following criteria to earn the credential:
- Completion of a two-year Associate degree granted by a U.S. regionally accredited college/university, completion of a dietetic technician program requirements in an ACEND-accredited program, passing of a national written examination administered by the CDR, and completion of continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.
- Completion of a Baccalaureate degree granted by a U.S. regionally accredited college/university, or foreign equivalent, completion of an ACEND-accredited DPD program, completion of an ACEND-accredited dietetic technician supervised practice, passing of a national written examination administered by CDR and completion of continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.
- Completion of a Baccalaureate degree granted by a U.S. regionally accredited college/university, or foreign equivalent, completion of an ACEND-accredited DPD or CP program, passing of a national written examination administered by CDR and completion of continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.
Students not placed in an internship may choose the third option and register to take the DTR exam. Information about the exam can be found at Commission on Dietetic Registration website. Please email the DPD director, Dr. Rhonda Puglisi, if you are interested in taking the DTR exam.
Please refer to our Program Handbook and FAQs (below) for complete information about our program.
DPD Recommended Course Sequence
Watch the video “Students in Nutritional Sciences course cook up delicious meals.”
Program Information
Complete information about our program may be found in our Program Handbook and FAQs (below).
Please find the DPD Recommended Course Sequence on the College’s website.
Watch the video “Students in Nutritional Sciences course cook up delicious meals.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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- Complete a bachelor’s degree and DPD course work to earn a verification statement (DPD completion statement)
- Complete a supervised practice program (internship) and a graduate degree (2024 requirement)
- Pass the RD exam
- If applicable, obtain state licensure or certification (Connecticut requires certification to practice in a clinical setting)
The didactic program in dietetics includes all the necessary course work to earn a verification statement, which is required for starting a supervised practice program also called a dietetic internship. The coordinated dietetics program in the department of Allied Health Sciences includes all the necessary course work as well as the supervised practice hours and results in a degree in dietetics. The DPD has the advantage of being more flexible with course work and you can choose where you complete your internship, the CP has the advantage of 4 vs. 5 years to become eligible to sit for the registration exam and you do not have to apply for a separate competitive internship.
Both programs are accredited by ACEND and result in the same outcome, passing the RD exam. Both programs have high pass rates and job placement. Students that choose the DPD prefer to not take 2 science courses in the same semester early in their undergraduate career, and want the flexibility of completing a minor, second major, second degree, study abroad or course work in other areas or prefer to do an internship outside the University, possibly in another state. Students who choose the CP prefer the accelerated nature of the program (completion in 4 years) and like not having to worry about the internship application process. The CP does require you to formally apply (Feb 1st deadline prior to the junior year) and has required prerequisite courses. The DPD does not have formal application into the program, however there is an optional DPD concentration you may declare. The concentration is not required to earn a verification statement. It allows you to see program requirements in Peoplesoft.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What are the steps to become an RD/RDN?
- Complete a bachelor’s degree and DPD course work to earn a verification statement (DPD completion statement)
- Complete a supervised practice program (internship) and a graduate degree (2024 requirement)
- Pass the RD exam
- If applicable, obtain state licensure or certification (Connecticut requires certification to practice in a clinical setting)
- What is the difference between the DPD and CP dietetic programs at the University of Connecticut?
- The didactic program in dietetics includes all the necessary course work to earn a verification statement, which is required for starting a supervised practice program also called a dietetic internship. The coordinated dietetics program in the department of Allied Health Sciences includes all the necessary course work as well as the supervised practice hours and results in a degree in dietetics. The DPD has the advantage of being more flexible with course work and you can choose where you complete your internship, the CP has the advantage of 4 vs. 5 years to become eligible to sit for the registration exam and you do not have to apply for a separate competitive internship.
- Is one program better than the other? How do I choose between CP and DPD?
- Both programs are accredited by ACEND and result in the same outcome, passing the RD exam. Both programs have high pass rates and job placement. Students that choose the DPD prefer to not take 2 science courses in the same semester early in their undergraduate career, and want the flexibility of completing a minor, second major, second degree, study abroad or course work in other areas or prefer to do an internship outside the University, possibly in another state. Students who choose the CP prefer the accelerated nature of the program (completion in 4 years) and like not having to worry about the internship application process. The CP does require you to formally apply (Feb 1st deadline prior to the junior year) and has required prerequisite courses. The DPD does not have formal application into the program, however there is an optional DPD concentration you may declare. The concentration is not required to earn a verification statement. It allows you to see program requirements in Peoplesoft.
- Can I complete the DPD course work in the graduate NUSC program?
- The DPD is an undergraduate program, which is separate from the graduate program requirements. Students who only need a few DPD courses are usually able to complete these courses alongside their graduate requirements. Some of the graduate courses/requirements may be used to fulfill DPD requirements (courses must be approved by the DPD director). Your graduate advisor would have to approve completing undergraduate courses simultaneously with all other graduate degree requirements including graduate assistant responsibilities
- I already have a bachelor’s degree. Do I have to earn a second degree to earn my verification statement?
- Only one degree in any subject is technically required to earn a verification statement. The DPD course work can be completed non-degree, however, most students choose to pursue a second bachelor’s degree because there are usually no additional required credits, you have an earlier course pick time, and are eligible for financial aid and scholarships.
- I have a nutrition degree from another country. How do I become an RD in the US?
- The first step is to pay to have your degree assessed for US equivalency. If you completed nutrition/dietetic courses, the DPD director will need copies of all nutrition/dietetic syllabi. The DPD director will assess your course work to determine which courses you still need to complete to earn a verification statement. At least 20 credits must be completed through the University of Connecticut to earn a verification statement. Once you earn a verification statement, you can apply for a dietetic internship/graduate program and then sit for the registration exam.
- How do I make myself competitive for a dietetic internship?
- Internships will rank students based on cumulative GPA, science GPA, DPD GPA, working and volunteer experiences and leadership. It is recommended to have at least 1 year of dietary aide or similar work experience before applying, as well as 20-30 hours of volunteer experiences. Most internships require at least a 3.0 cumulative and DPD GPA, and many also require a 3.0 science GPA. Please refer to each dietetic internship website for program application requirements.
- When should I apply for a dietetic internship?
- All students in the DPD have the goal of applying for and being accepted into an internship program. Whether you should apply after graduation or 1-2 years later depends on many factors. To make themselves more competitive, students may decide to work as a diet technician or nutritionist before applying. Students also may work to save money for the internship. If the programs they are interested in are very competitive, students may retake courses to improve their GPA, pass the Dietetic Technician Registration Exam, or pursue a graduate degree before applying to an internship. It is not recommended to apply to just see how competitive you are. It is important to discuss with the DPD director when application should occur and how to best prepare for the application process. Generally about 25-50% of student apply in their graduation year, while 50-75% of students wait 1 or more years. If you do take time off before applying, you need to be sure you are working in the field of dietetics, and are continuing with volunteer experiences.
- What should I do in high school to prepare for a career in dietetics?
- Course work for the DPD and CP includes chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology, organic chemistry, microbiology and biochemistry. It is recommended to take honors or AP chemistry and biology in high school and work as a dietary aide or food service worker.
The DPD is an undergraduate program, which is separate from the graduate program requirements. Students who only need a few DPD courses are usually able to complete these courses alongside their graduate requirements. Some of the graduate courses/requirements may be used to fulfill DPD requirements (courses must be approved by the DPD director). Your graduate advisor would have to approve completing undergraduate courses simultaneously with all other graduate degree requirements including graduate assistant responsibilities
Only one degree in any subject is technically required to earn a verification statement. The DPD course work can be completed non-degree, however, most students choose to pursue a second bachelor’s degree because there are usually no additional required credits, you have an earlier course pick time, and are eligible for financial aid and scholarships.
The first step is to pay to have your degree assessed for US equivalency. If you completed nutrition/dietetic courses, the DPD director will need copies of all nutrition/dietetic syllabi. The DPD director will assess your course work to determine which courses you still need to complete to earn a verification statement. At least 20 credits must be completed through the University of Connecticut to earn a verification statement. Once you earn a verification statement, you can apply for a dietetic internship/graduate program and then sit for the registration exam.
Internships will rank students based on cumulative GPA, science GPA, DPD GPA, working and volunteer experiences and leadership. It is recommended to have at least 1 year of dietary aide or similar work experience before applying, as well as 20-30 hours of volunteer experiences. Most internships require at least a 3.0 cumulative and DPD GPA, and many also require a 3.0 science GPA. Please refer to each dietetic internship website for program application requirements.
Internships will rank students based on cumulative GPA, science GPA, DPD GPA, working and volunteer experiences and leadership. It is recommended to have at least 1 year of dietary aide or similar work experience before applying, as well as 20-30 hours of volunteer experiences. Most internships require at least a 3.0 cumulative and DPD GPA, and many also require a 3.0 science GPA. Please refer to each dietetic internship website for program application requirements.
All students in the DPD have the goal of applying for and being accepted into an internship program. Whether you should apply after graduation or 1-2 years later depends on many factors. To make themselves more competitive, students may decide to work as a diet technician or nutritionist before applying. Students also may work to save money for the internship. If the programs they are interested in are very competitive, students may retake courses to improve their GPA, pass the Dietetic Technician Registration Exam, or pursue a graduate degree before applying to an internship. It is not recommended to apply to just see how competitive you are. It is important to discuss with the DPD director when application should occur and how to best prepare for the application process. Generally about 25-50% of student apply in their graduation year, while 50-75% of students wait 1 or more years. If you do take time off before applying, you need to be sure you are working in the field of dietetics, and are continuing with volunteer experiences.
Course work for the DPD and CP includes chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology, organic chemistry, microbiology and biochemistry. It is recommended to take honors or AP chemistry and biology in high school and work as a dietary aide or food service worker.