School of Human Ecology
Nutrition and Dietetics
TN Tech's Nutrition and Dietetics concentration, within the Human Ecology Bachelor of Science degree (also known as the DPD Program or Didactic Program in Dietetics), prepares students to be eligible to enter a dietetics supervised practice program, following graduation from TN Tech. This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
- Accreditation Status
Tennessee Tech's DPD program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/about-acend/acend-mission-and-vision); 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 800-877-1600, ext 5400.
- Mission, Programs Goals, and Objectives
Mission
The Nutrition and Dietetics Didactic Program (DPD) at Tennessee Tech University seeks to provide a high quality curriculum that prepares students for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
Program Goal 1
Graduates will be qualified and competent to successfully enter supervised practice programs and/or graduate school.
Program Goal 1 Objectives:
- Program Completion: At least 80% of program students complete program/degree requirements within 3 years (150% of planned program length).
- Graduate Application and Acceptance into Supervised Practice: At least 60 percent of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
- Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 50 percent are admitted within 12 months of graduation.
- Graduate Performance on Registration Exam: 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%.
- TN Tech DPD graduates will be scored as above average or higher (80%) in preparation for supervised practice by program directors.
Program Goal 2
Graduates will be prepared to pursue careers in food, nutrition and dietetics that will improve quality of life for individuals, families, and communities.
Program Goal 2 Objective:
- 75% of TN Tech DPD graduates responding to an alumni survey will indicate they are engaged in activities/careers that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and communities.
NOTE: Program Outcomes data are available by request. Please send an email message to the program director, Dr Melinda Anderson, at manderson@tntech.edu.
Becoming a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN)
Students who wish to become a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN) must complete these requirements:
1. Complete a Bachelor's Degree
Complete a minimum of a Bachelor's degree at a U.S. regionally accredited university
or college or foreign equivalent, and coursework through an Accreditation Council
for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited Didactic (DPD), Coordinated
(CP), Future Graduate (FG) or Foreign (FDE) or International Dietitian Education (IDE)
program. For a list of accredited programs, see www.eatrightpro.org/acend. Effective 1/1/2024, a master's degree will be required to take the Commission on
Dietetic Registration RDN credentialing exam.
2. Complete a Supervised Practice/Experience
Complete a required supervised practice/experience through an ACEND accredited Dietetic
Internship (DI), Coordinated (CP), Future Graduate (FG) or International Dietitian
Education (IDE) Program or an Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP) offered
through an ACEND- accredited program. Information on ACEND-accredited programs at www.eatrightpro.org/acend.
3. Pass the CDR Examination
Pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration
(CDR). For more information regarding the examination, refer to CDR's Website at www.cdrnet.org. In order to maintain the credential, an RDN must complete continuing professional
educational.
Program Costs and Expenses
Current university tuition costs and expenses can be found on the Bursar's Office website.
Students enrolled in upper division DPD courses are expected to be Student Members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics ($58.00 annually).
Transportation costs (mileage) may be incurred when visiting off campus facilities while enrolled in HEC 3201, HEC 3270, HEC 4271, HEC 4272, and HEC 4262.
A lab coat is required in all food preparation courses; and a lab coat is required in certain off campus learning activities (approx. $50.00).
Application and Admission Requirements
Students interested in pursuing the Nutrition and Dietetics Concentration (DPD Program) must apply to continue into Upper Division. Students must have completed ALL of the following requirements in order to be eligible to submit an admission application.
- Must have completed at least 11 hours in HEC including: HEC 1005 (Intro to the Profession), HEC 1010 (Life Span Development), HEC 2020 (Nutrition for Health Sciences), and HEC 2240 (Food Preparation & Management). A grade of “B” or higher is required in HEC 2020 and HEC 2240.
- Must have completed and received a grade of “C” or higher in: CHEM 1010, 1020 (General Chemistry I & II); and BIOL 2350 (Intro Anatomy & Physiology).
- Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the time of admission to the DPD program.
- Students who wish to transfer to the DPD program in the School of Human Ecology at Tennessee Tech University must have their transcripts evaluated by the DPD Director (at least two weeks prior to application deadlines) in order to determine DPD course equivalency. Other university courses will be evaluated for equivalency by the Tennessee Tech University Transcript Analyst.
- The policies and procedures used to evaluate and award credit for prior learning experiences are located in the DPD Handbook.
Complete Application and Admission Requirements are found in the DPD Handbook.
The Nutrition and Dietetics concentration follows the Tennessee Tech Academic Calendar:
- Master's Degree Requirement and Licensure Requirement
Effective January 1, 2024, the minimum degree requirement to be approved for eligibility for the registration examination for dietitians will change from a bachelor's degree to a graduate degree. This decision was made by the Commission on Dietetic Registration based on the recommendations of the Council on Future Practice Visioning Report (2012).
Elevating entry-level RD requirements to the graduate degree is consistent with the level of education required to gain the knowledge, skills, and research base required in the field of nutrition and dietetics for entry-level practice and is necessary to protect the public. ACEND® accredited program directors may already be receiving inquiries from students and prospective students regarding this change.
Please refer to CDR's list of frequently asked questions, policy rationale, student scenarios and important deadlines.
In most states, graduates must also obtain licensure or certification to practice as a Registered Dietitian. The State of Tennessee has a licensure law for Registered Dietitians.
For more information about educational pathways to become a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist click here or download a PDF of routes to meeting exam eligibility requirements.
- Dietetic Internship Computer Matching Information
Most supervised practice programs utilize the online centralized application portal called DICAS (https://portal.dicas.org/). The online application to must be completed by the stated deadline for both fall and spring application periods. Applications are typically due in February for the April match, and in September for the November match. Currently, the fee to use DICAS is $50.00 for the first application submitted and $25.00 for each additional application. Note: most internship programs also have separate application fees.
Students applying to a supervised practice program must be aware of the computer matching requirements during the application process. All supervised practice programs participate in computer matching except those granted an exemption from ACEND. D&D Digital is the company which maintains the computer matching portal. Students must register with D&D Digital (https://www.dnddigital.com/), which has a $55.00 fee. Priority rankings for internship choices are entered as part of the application process.
- Future Education Model Graduate Program
Students who wish to become registered dietitian/nutritionists can apply to the School of Human Ecology’s Community Health and Nutrition FEM graduate program. Completion of this program allows students to earn a Master’s degree in Community Health and Nutrition and the verification statement necessary to sit for the registration exam for dietitians.
The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) released the Future Education Model Accreditation Standards for programs in nutrition and dietetics (see www.eatrightpro.org/FutureModel). These accreditation standards integrate didactic coursework with supervised experiential learning in a competency-based curriculum designed to prepare nutrition and dietetics practitioners for future practice.
For more information, see the Community Health and Nutrition program page.
Contact Dr. Samantha Hutson (shutson@tntech.edu) for more information.
