Dietetics

Contacts: Dr. Kelli Williams, Chair
Website: http://www.marshall.edu/dietetics

The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) leads to a Bachelor of Science degree and prepares students for work in clinical nutrition, community health, and foodservice management positions. The DPD is currently granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-3922, 312-899-4876). The DPD meets the academic standards to qualify students for a dietetics internship (DI). Eligibility to sit for the registration examination, which is necessary to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), requires students to complete both the undergraduate DPD as well as a post-baccalaureate supervised practice experience in a DI.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. For more information about this requirement, visit CDR’s website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and a supervised practice program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics at Marshall University are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program and apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

The mission of the DPD at Marshall University is to provide the depth and breadth of food and nutrition knowledge and skills that prepare a student to enter a supervised practice program in dietetics. More specifically, its focus is to provide graduates with the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to successfully compete for and complete a DI, as well as pass the registration examination. Each year, coursework builds upon the students’ knowledge base and is often enhanced by hands-on laboratory and field experiences.

Competitive admission to a supervised practice experience/ dietetic internship (DI) requires the following:

A Grade Point Average of 3.0 or above;
Work experience related to the profession of dietetics;
Positive letters of recommendation from faculty and from supervisors of dietetics-related work experience.

Completing the Bachelor of Science with a major in Dietetics and receiving an ACEND “Verification of Completion Statement” does not guarantee entrance to a DI, which is awarded on a competitive basis.

All students are required to purchase a laboratory coat for professional laboratory courses.DPD students are required to pay a Health Professions fee listed under the “Financial Information” section of the catalog.

Academic Policies

All dietetics and required non-dietetics courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher. Students who earn a grade of less than a C in a dietetics or required non-dietetics course must repeat that course.
All students who receive a grade of less than a C in a dietetics or required non-dietetics course may not register for dietetics courses for which that course is a prerequisite.
No required course may be taken on a credit/non-credit basis.
The last 60 hours of required dietetics courses (including all 300- and 400-level DTS courses) and non-dietetics courses must be completed within three years prior to graduation.
All 400-level DTS courses must be completed at Marshall University.
All students in the Dietetics program must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. In the event that a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.0, that student will be placed on academic probation and will be notified in writing of this action. Students have one year to raise their cumulative GPA to 2.0. If the GPA is less than 2.0 at the end of one year of probation, the student will be dismissed from the Dietetics program.
Students will not be permitted to enroll in 400-level DTS courses if their GPA is below 2.5.
Students enrolled in DTS 476 Senior Seminar in DTS are required to take a series of practice tests in order to better prepare for the national registration examination. Students must score a minimum of 80% on the final practice examination in order to complete the course. Those who do not will be given remedial work until an 80% score is achieved.

Programs

Dietetics, B.S.

Courses

Bison image - General Education Course

DTS 202 Introductory Foods4 Credit hours

Provides basic understanding of the science of food and food substances. Instruction on nutrients will be integrated with preparation of foods to form the laboratory experience.

Pre-req: DTS 210 with a minimum grade of C.