Dietetics

What is the Dietetics (DPD) Option at OSU?

The DPD option is for students interested in practicing as Registered Dietitians (RD).

The DPD option is for those that want to work with many different kinds of people who need food and nutrition care and advice.

The DPD is a rigorous program option with an emphasis on science.  There are three full years with a science course each term.

Upon graduation, the DPD is followed by a fifth year when students compete for entrace into complete an accredited dietetics internship (not available at OSU), following their senior year.

Students who like nutrition but do not want to compete to become RD's may want to choose Fitness and Nutrition as an option.  If interesed in allied health professions (med school, nursing, physician's assistants, etc) or in doing nutrition research should consider choosing Nutrition Sciencce as an option.

Talk to an advisor or DPD faculty to determine if the Dietetics option is best for you.  We want students to make the best choice for their future; choosing the options that best matches their interest and academic strengths.

What is a Registered Dietitian (RD)?

An RD is the recognized credential for professionals working in food and nutrition and the public. You may have heard the term, nutritionist. A nutritionist is not a defined credential and those professionals will have varying backgrounds, skills and expertise. Registered Dietitians are usually licensed, and have met specific educational qualifications, passed the National Examination for Registered Dietitians and must meet continuing education requirements to maintain their license and the RD credential.

What is a Dietetics Internship?

There are approximately 225 internships offered in the United States and Puerto Rico.  An internship is the next step in becoming an RD after earning your degree.  It is a 1200 hour (minimum) program and usually takes a full academic year with tuition.  Following the internship, one can take the RD Exam.  Internships are increasingly competitive and most successful students will have the following:

*3.5 overall GPA

*Evidence of leadership and professionalism

*Evidence of community service and involvement in student groups 

*Work experience

*Strong letters of support from faculty

What are the trends in Dietetics practice?

Dietitians are often found in health care facilities, but that is rapidly changing. While many RDs begin working in hospitals, nursing homes or public health, more than half of all dietitians work in positions outside of healthcare. They may own their own business, or work for pharmaceutical, computer or software development firms. Others hold positions as food industry representatives, as writers or media broadcasters, or in developing educational or other media. Some might also work sales, marketing and communications, or as researchers. Dietitians are also increasingly working for grocery stores and supermarkets, with chefs and in restaurants and in fitness clubs

Accreditation of the OSU Dietetics Program

The dietetics option at Oregon State University is an accredited didactic program offering the coursework necessary for becoming a Registered Dietitian (RD). If you are an undergraduate, graduate, or post-bac student you can fulfill the academic coursework to become a Registered Dietitian.

After completing the OSU coursework, becoming a RD requires an accredited dietetic internship to which graduates are eligible to apply. Once completed you are elibile for the National RD exam. The Dietetics Program at Oregon State University is accredited through the Commission for Accreditation of Dietetics Education (CADE) of The American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312-899-0040 x5400

Enrolling in the OSU Dietetics Program

There are slightly different procedures for gaining admission to OSU Dietetics program depending upon the student status. We accept students as undergraduates, post baccalaureates (those with previous degrees) and for graduate admission.

Undergraduate Enrollment  in Dietetics

Dietetics is a Bachelors of Science degree option at Oregon State University within the Nutrition and Exercise Sciences Department and is a CADE accredited American Dietetic Association didactic program.  It offers the coursework necessary to be eligible for a dietetics internship, take the national exam for Registered Dietitians (RD) and earn the RD credential. The 180 quarter hour Bachelors degree includes coursework in chemistry, physiology, business, communications, psychology, food and nutrition courses, and others. OSU's  Dietetics program provides a focus in promoting healthy lifestyles and prevention of obesity and chronic disease.  Additional courses can be taken to meet a Community Nutrition or Exercise Science focus as part of the degree. 

To apply, students must declare the Pre-Dietetics option when they apply to OSU. Advising provided through the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) will direct completion of their pre-requisite courses. After completing the prerequisite coursework with a grade of C- or better (and B or better NUTR courses) and with a minimum cumulative and pre-requisite grade point average of 3.0 (for 2010 applicants), undergraduates apply to change from the Pre-Dietetics to the Dietetics option by completing the form (Dietetics Application (academic year) (see link below), attaching a resume and transcript and obtaining an HHS Advisor signature indicating approval to apply.  Applications will be reviewed, which my include a faculty interview.  After considering applications and final acceptance into the Dietetics option, students are assigned a cohort year with a specific coursework sequence (see cohort sequence links below) to follow; program completion takes approximately 2 years in the Dietetics option. At the completion of the didactic program and the Bachelors degree for undergraduates, you will be given a Verification Statement indicating eligibility to apply for a dietetic internship.

Transfer Students

Transfer students will need careful advising and advance planning to ensure that they transfer to OSU at the appropriate time and can complete the Dietetics (DPD) program in a timely manner.  Completion of the Dietetics program application for acceptance is made after completing at least 15 credit hours at OSU and all prerequisite coursework.  Therefore, students starting at a community college might want to consider transferring to OSU in their sophomore year to be able to complete the program in a total of four years of study.  Transfer students should apply to the Pre-Dietetics option of the Nutrition major at OSU.  To the extent possible, transfer students should have completed the prerequisite coursework as transferable credits before coming to OSU. 

 Undergraduate and transfer student FAQs:

  • How do I apply to the Dietetics program?  Read the information about requirements and the application process, see the Dietetics Admission Requirements (academic year) linked below.
  • How do I get advising? Upon acceptance to OSU, you will receive notice of an orientation program. At orientation, you will meet with an academic advisor. It is your responsibility to set up appointments and maintain contact with your advisor. The academic advising office is located at Milam 116 and can be reached at 541-737-8900.
  • Does OSU have courses in the summer? The dietetics required courses offered through the Nutrition major are rarely offered in the summer. The University does offer some baccalaureate core and required science courses. See Schedule of Classes for current Summer offering.

Post Baccalaureate Enrollment in Dietetics

A number of the college graduates choose to make a career change to dietetics after graduation. The post-bacc avenue becomes a viable choice. Students who enroll as post-bac students come to fulfill the requirements specified by Commission for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association. Completion of the program will result in a second BS degree, making them eligible to apply for a dietetics internship and become an RD.

Enrolling as a post-bac is just as easy as undergraduate enrollment and can be done online (see link below). The OSU Admissions application should be for degree seeking Nutrition: Pre-Dietetics option. The Nutrition and Exercise Sciences Department reviews applications for post-bac admission, and to be accepted as a post-bac in the Pre-Dietetics option, a grade point average of 3.0 from your first degree is required. Upon acceptance, post-bac students must meet all prerequisite course and grade requirements for acceptance into the Dietetics option (Dietetics Admission Requirement). Students may choose to take Pre-Dietetics prerequisite courses at OSU or at community colleges or other universities and then transfer them into OSU for admission. Post baccalaureates that transfer in coursework follow the same procedures and requirements as undergraduates or transfer students.

Post Baccalaureate student FAQs:

  • How do I apply if I am currently enrolled at OSU as a non-degree seeking student? Contact the Registrar's office to complete a change in degree status. You must meet declare Pre-Dietetics option and to declare the Dietetics option, you must meet the grade and pre-requisite coursework and requirements (see Dietetic Admission Requirements) and deadlines that apply to your status.
  • Do I have to be accepted into the dietetics program? Yes, acceptance into the program requires an application and completion of prerequisite courses with no grade lower than C-  (or B- for NUTR) and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (2010 applicants).
  • Do my previous college courses count? Courses that are seven or more years old will not articulate, depending upon what you have been doing since your first degree. If you want more information before submitting your application, contact Mary Cluskey.
  • How long will it take to complete the dietetics requirements as a post bac? Post baccalaureates and graduate students will take two or more years to complete dietetics requirements depending upon the undergraduate coursework and science coursework background.
  • Can I do this as a MS Graduate instead of Post-Bac? Yes. Very limited space is available for students wanting to complete Dietetics as part of a MS degree. Students will have a first year of undergrad nutrition courses before they can take upper level and graduate courses. The Applied Nutrition and Dietetics degree requires a thesis. Completion of both Dietetics requirements and a Masters Degree takes three years or more, while the post-bac option typically takes two years. The application deadline for graduate school is January 15. Refer to Nutrition Graduate Program for more information.
  • Do I need to take all of my coursework at OSU? Most of the upper level Nutrition  (300-400) classes need to be taken at OSU, but one full term at OSU is required to apply to change from Pre-Dietetics to the Dietetics option. All other courses are prerequisites to entering the program and can be taken through any equivalent school. Visit the Articulation Tables to determine transfer credit.
  • Can I earn a Verification Statement by submitting my previous degree(s) in Nutrition to OSU? No, a Verification Statement is only issued to students that are either OSU graduates or complete a minimum of 21 hours of food and nutrition coursework at OSU. Even if you have courses or work experience in the field, we will require coursework at Oregon State.  If you are a health professional with nutrition background, a transcript evaluation is conducted as part of your application for post bac or graduate admission.
  • How can I apply to become a dietitian with an international transcript? International students should refer to Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) (www.cdrnet.org) for information about eligibility to become a Registered Dietitian. An international transcript evaluation is needed for OSU Dietetics admission and the links to those organizations that do that can be found on the CDR website.

Links and Other Resources 

 

Contact:

Dr. Mary Cluskey, RD, Didactic Program Director

Nutrition and Exercise Sciences

200 Milam Hall

Corvallis, OR  97331

 

HHS Academic Advising:

Cary Hilbert, Advisor

College of Health and Human Sciences

116 Milam Hall

Corvallis, OR  97331

541 737-8900

carey.hilbert@oregonstate.edu

OSU's Dietetics Program Evidence of Graduate Performance and Success

OSU has been educating Registered Dietitians and Food and Nutrition professionals since 1938 or more. We are proud of a long history or preparing successful practitioners. We are also proud of having previous and current established faculty and researchers at OSU. The following information is based on our annual evaluation of our students and graduates and from the previous five year alumni survey of 2003 .

Maintaining Registration as a Dietitian

  • Take registration exam upon completion of supervised practice, leading to RD credential (www.cdrnet.org)
  • Maintain registration with development of a continuing education plan and on-going educational activities
  • Some states offer licensing for dietitians consult the state licensing board. Oregon currently has
    voluntary licensure for Registered Dietitians.

*The Dietetics Program at Oregon State University is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of The American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 6060-6995, 312-899-4876.

College of Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University
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