Dietetics, B.S.
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. In addition, some field experience sites for senior-level courses may require a current test for tuberculosis to be on file. 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.
- 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.
Course Requirements
The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Core 1: Critical Thinking | ||
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| PSY 201 | Introductory Psychology (CT) | 3 |
| SOC 200 | Introductory Sociology (CT) ((W)) | 3 |
| Core 2 | ||
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| MTH 130 | College Algebra | 3-5 |
| or MTH 127 | College Algebra-Expanded | |
| BSC 228 & BSC 228L | Human Physiology and Human Physiology Lab | 5 |
| Core II Humanities (WI) | 3 | |
| PSY 201 | Introductory Psychology (CT) | 3 |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Additional University Requirements | ||
| Writing Intensive (Core II Humanities) | 3 | |
| SOC 200 | Introductory Sociology (CT) (Writing Intensive Section) | 3 |
| SOC 200 | Introductory Sociology (CT) (Multicultural/International) | 3 |
| DTS 476 | Senior Seminar in DTS (Capstone) | 3 |
| Major-Specific | ||
| ACC 215 | Intro Financial Accounting(CT) | 3 |
| BSC 227 & BSC 227L | Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Lab | 5 |
| BSC 250 | Microbiol & Human Disease | 4 |
| CHM 211 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 217 | Principles of Chem Lab I | 2 |
| CHM 212 | Principles Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 218 | Principles of Chem Lab II | 2 |
| CHM 327 | Intro Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CLS 105 | Medical-Lab Terminology (CT) | 3 |
| CLS 200 | Clinical Biochemistry | 4 |
| DTS 210 | Nutrition | 3 |
| DTS 202 | Introductory Foods | 4 |
| DTS 215 | Assess and Ed Strat in DTS | 3 |
| DTS 301 | FS Safety & Systems Mgt I | 4 |
| DTS 302 | FS Safety & Sys Mgt II | 4 |
| DTS 310 | Life Span Nutrition | 3 |
| DTS 320 | Intermediate Nutrition | 3 |
| DTS 403 | Advanced Nutrition | 3 |
| DTS 409 | Nutrition in Community | 3 |
| DTS 410 | Cross Cultural Foods | 3 |
| DTS 460 | Research in Dietetics | 3 |
| DTS 468 | Chemistry of Food | 3 |
| DTS 469 | Medical Nutr Therapy I | 3 |
| DTS 470 | Medical Nutrition Therapy | 3 |
| DTS 476 | Senior Seminar in DTS (Capstone) | 3 |
| ESS 345 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| STA 225 | Introductory Statistics (CT) | 3 |
Major Information
- Students are required to know and track their degree requirements for graduation or for entrance to a dietetic internship.
- Course offerings and course attributes are subject to change each semester. Please consult each semester’s schedule of courses for availability and attributes.
- Students may need to take extra courses to satisfy prerequisites.
- Some DTS courses are only offered on an every-other-year basis. Please meet with your advisor every semester to ensure proper course enrollment.
- Students will not be permitted to enroll in 400-level DTS courses if their GPA is below 2.5.
- All 400-level DTS courses must be completed at Marshall University.
Semester Plan
The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) leads to a Bachelor of Science degree and prepares students for work in clinical nutrition, community health, and food-service management positions. The DPD is currently granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). 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, requires students to complete both the undergraduate DPD as well as a post-baccalaureate supervised practice experience in a DI.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| UNI 100 | Freshman First Class | 1 |
| CHM 211 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 217 | Principles of Chem Lab I | 2 |
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| MTH 130 | College Algebra or College Algebra-Expanded | 3-5 |
| Credit Hours | 15-17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BSC 227 | Human Anatomy | 4 |
| BSC 227L | Human Anatomy Lab | 1 |
| CHM 212 | Principles Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 218 | Principles of Chem Lab II | 2 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| SOC 200 | Introductory Sociology (CT) (MC, WI) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| BSC 250 | Microbiol & Human Disease | 4 |
| CLS 105 | Medical-Lab Terminology (CT) | 3 |
| DTS 210 | Nutrition | 3 |
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| PSY 201 | Introductory Psychology (CT) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BSC 228 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| BSC 228L | Human Physiology Lab | 1 |
| CLS 200 | Clinical Biochemistry | 4 |
| DTS 202 | Introductory Foods | 4 |
| DTS 215 | Assess and Ed Strat in DTS | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CHM 327 | Intro Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| DTS 301 | FS Safety & Systems Mgt I | 4 |
| DTS 320 | Intermediate Nutrition | 3 |
| STA 225 | Introductory Statistics (CT) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| DTS 302 | FS Safety & Sys Mgt II | 4 |
| DTS 310 | Life Span Nutrition | 3 |
| DTS 410 | Cross Cultural Foods | 3 |
| DTS 403 | Advanced Nutrition | 3 |
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| DTS 409 | Nutrition in Community | 3 |
| DTS 468 | Chemistry of Food | 3 |
| DTS 469 | Medical Nutr Therapy I | 3 |
| DTS 476 | Senior Seminar in DTS (Capstone) | 3 |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| DTS 460 | Research in Dietetics | 3 |
| DTS 470 | Medical Nutrition Therapy | 3 |
| ESS 345 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| ACC 215 | Intro Financial Accounting(CT) | 3 |
| Core II Humanities | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 122-124 | |