Certificate in Dietetics
About the Program
The Certificate of Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD Certificate) in the Department of Nutritional Sciences is designed for individuals who are interested in completing the academic requirements set forth by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association for eligibility to participate in a post-baccalaureate dietetic internship, and ultimately become a registered dietitian.
The program is designed to prepare students with a comprehensive academic foundation of knowledge and skills that will enable them to enter into an accredited dietetic internship program and a variety of employment opportunities related to dietetics, food, and nutrition.
Upon completion of the DPD Certificate and an accredited dietetic internship, the student is required to pass the national registration exam to become a registered dietitian.
The United States Department of Labor Standard Occupational Code for Dietitian is 29-1031.00. An occupational profile for a Dietitian can be found at the Department of Labor’s O*NET website at www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29--1031.00SOC.
Program Length
The DPD Certificate currently requires completion of 128 quarter credit hours and can be done either full or part time. Applicable courses from previous degrees can be transferred into the program to reduce the number of credits required. If students receive transfer credit for the majority of the science and general education requirements from previous degrees, they can complete the program in approximately two years going full time.
Students who enter the program with minimal transfer credit for the science and general education requirements generally need three years to complete the program.
Placement Rate in Dietetic Internships
The average national placement rate for students applying to dietetic internships in the last five years was approximately fifty-three percent. The placement rate for DPD Certificate program students who applied for dietetic internships in the last five years was eighty-six percent.