Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)

Dietetics Concentration

(48 credits + 16 credits in supporting courses)  

Dietetics is a profession that focuses on helping others to make informed choices about food, as well as the relationship between food and health.  A Registered Dietitian (RD) is an expert in food and nutrition.  RDs work in a variety of settings that may include: health care facilities, community and public health agencies, corporate health and wellness programs and facilities, food industry, and research. 

To earn the RD credential, the following educational and professional criteria must be met:

1.  A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, and completion of a program of course work that has been approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). 

2.  Completion of a CADE accredited supervised practice program (Dietetic Internship).  Candidates are eligible for a Dietetic Internship after completion of the educational requirements above.  Graduates seeking an accredited supervised practice experience must follow a standardized, national, placement procedure.  Supervised practice programs are generally 9-12 months in length and most have a tuition attached.  The DI must be successfully completed to be eligible to take the registration examination. For further information about CADE accredited supervised practice programs, go to http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/career_2191_ENU_
HTML.htm

3.  Pass a national registration examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)

The Didactic Program in Dietetics offered by the Nutrition Department at CSB/SJU provides the academic preparation required for seeking the credential of Registered Dietitian (step 1, above).  The program director and faculty advisors in the nutrition department will assist students in selecting the internship that matches their interests and abilities, however, the dietetics program at CSB/SJU cannot guarantee that all program graduates who seek placement in a DI will be placed. 

For further information about the DPD or seeking the RD credential, please contact the Program Director: Linda Shepherd, MPH, RD (lshepherd@csbsju.edu).

If you have an earned bachelor’s degree and are interested in completing the program of accredited course work toward earning the credential of RD, please see the important information under the link: Transfer and Continuing Education Students.

The dietetics program has been granted initial accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995, 312/899-5400.  The next self-study and site visit for continued accreditation will be in 2016.

DPD Mission:
The mission of the Didactic Program in Dietetics of the College of St. Benedict|Saint John's University, is to prepare students to successfully enter dietetic internships, graduate school programs, or food and nutrition careers through the integration of nutriton and dietetics studies within a broad liberal arts base.

DPD Goals:

• The Didactic Program in Dietetics will prepare graduates to be successful in dietetic internships, graduate schools or entry-level employment in food and nutrition careers.
• The Didactic Program in Dietetics will produce liberally educated graduates who are prepared for the future.

Required Courses for the Didactic Program:

Prerequisites:     

• CHEM 105 Chemistry & Disease
• BIOL 121 Intro to Cel/Molecular Biology
• BIOL 214 Human Anatomy and Physiology         
• MATH 124 Probability and Statistical Inferences         

Nutrition Courses:

• NUTR 125 Concepts of Nutrition Science
• NUTR 220 Exploring Weight Issues: Obesity and Eating Disorders
• NUTR 225 Experimental Food Science
• NUTR 230 Cultural Foods
• NUTR 305 Leadership in Dietetics
• NUTR 323 Public Health Nutrition:  Infancy through Aging
• NUTR 330 Nutritional Biochemistry and Assessment
• NUTR 331 Exercise Nutrition and Supplements
• NUTR 333 Medical Nutrition Therapy: Chronic Disease
• NUTR 337 Medical Nutrition Therapy: Critical Care
• NUTR 341 Nutrition Education
• NUTR 342 Interviewing and Counseling
• NUTR 343 Food Production and Procurement
• NUTR 345 Entrepreneurship and Management Systems in Food Industry

Sample 4 Year Plan for DPD major

Download--> 4 year plan in pdf

DPD 4 Year Plan updated May, 2007

For more information on CSB|SJU Dietetics Programs, contact:
              Linda Shepherd, Program Director
              (320) 363-5034
             lshepherd@csbsju.edu