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Human Nutrition Undergraduate Programs

Human Nutrition Major, Dietetics Option

Anne Smith

Anne Smith
Director of Didactic Program in Dietetics

Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of The American Dietetic Association.

Students in the Human Nutrition Major, Dietetics Option will complete a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) which has been accredited by The American Dietetic Association (ADA). This program is for students who aspire to become a registered dietitian (RD). There are three steps required by the American Dietetic Association to become an RD:

Upon completion of the DPD, students are eligible to apply for a Dietetic Internship. The DPD is a science-based curriculum. A strong academic performance along with relevant work or volunteer experience is important for being competitive for a Dietetic Internship. RDs choose from a wide variety of work settings including hospitals, clinics, wellness centers, nutrition counseling and education, and food service management.

Dietetics Program Sheet

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Dietetics Admission Requirements

If you are not currently a Human Nutrition or Nutrition major or pre-major and are interested in the Dietetics Option, please sign up to attend an information session.

Admission to the Dietetic program is competitive and limited to a specified number of students per year. View a more detailed description of the application process (pdf).

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Dietetics Four-Year Plan

In order to complete course work in a timely manner:

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Dietetics Philosophy and Goals

The philosophy of the Didactic Program in Dietetics at The Ohio State University is that the successful dietitian is best prepared through a learning environment which provides comprehensive and intensive preparation of the student to respond to the diverse roles of the practitioner. Broadly educated individuals with strong theoretical training in natural sciences and quantitative skills will be optimally prepared to adapt to the demands of the dietetic profession.

Specifically, the mission of the program is to provide students with a broad, general education and depth in advanced nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition, foodservice systems and management. The program provides accessible, high-quality education for qualified students who are able to benefit from the scholarly environment within the Department of Human Nutrition in which research inspires and informs teaching. Program faculty shares a strong commitment to excellence in teaching, research and outreach.

The program provides students with the knowledge required as a foundation for supervised practice for entry-level dietitians and to promote life-long professional development through self-directed learning and innovative thinking skills. We celebrate and learn from our diversity, and we value individual differences. The program is guided by the wealth of resources available within The Ohio State University, Columbus, and the Central Ohio area. Columbus, the State capitol, is a diverse vibrant urban community with a population approaching 1.5 million. Central Ohio has a diversified industrial base, including many potential employers of graduates of the program. The program is guided by continuous input from future employers within government and public agencies, as well as from the healthcare, food, nutrition and pharmaceutical industries.

Specific goals for the Didactic Program in Dietetics reflect the philosophy of the program.

  1. Prepare individuals to become registered dietitians through a sound and comprehensive educational program that will be followed by successful completion of a supervised practice experience and the registration examination.
  2. Create opportunities to achieve a balanced and integrated program through a cooperative effort and mentoring among university faculty, health care professionals, nutrition researchers, community educators, leaders in foodservice systems, and other dietetic professionals.
  3. Actively recruit a diverse student population of males and females representing a variety of ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, and will maintain diversity within our program, while producing successful graduates.
  4. Encourage an understanding and involvement in cutting edge research and scholarship.

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Preparing for a Dietetic Internship

Graduates of the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) meet the Knowledge Requirements of The American Dietetic Association, and are eligible to apply for a supervised practice experience: an accredited Dietetic Internship (DI), or an Approved Pre-professional Practice Program (AP4). Admission to supervised practice programs is competitive. Each program strives to select candidates who have the potential to be successful in the supervised practice experience, on the Registration Examination and as a dietetic professional.

Application to supervised practice programs is submitted in February or September with appointments made via computer matching in November and April. The department maintains a file of application materials from many of the current programs. During autumn quarter, the Program Director offers a course (HUMN NTR 596, Advanced Professional Development) for seniors who wish to apply to practice programs.

The selection process varies among supervised practice programs, but in general, criteria for selection include the following:

It is important to recognize that not all students are accepted into a supervised practice experience. Initial acceptance into a practice program occurs almost exclusively for students with a GPA of 2.7 or higher. Some graduates with lower GPAs have been accepted after 2 or more years of work experience in the dietetics area.

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Student Grievances

Resolution of grievances about academic problems or complaints about faculty, such as violations of university requirements, incompetence and misconduct, begin first with speaking with the faculty member or instructor. If the difficulty is not resolved, the student may make an appointment with the Department Chair. If satisfactory resolution does not occur after this meeting, the student may take the grievance to the Dean of the College of Education and Human Ecology, and if necessary, the Executive Vice President and Provost. Grievances against graduate, research, and teaching assistants should be submitted first to the supervising instructor, then to the chairperson of the assistant's department. Specific procedures are outlined in Faculty Rule 3335-8-23, which is available at http://senate.osu.edu/rulesbook.pdf.

Notice of Opportunity to File Complaints with the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education

Any individual, for example, student, faculty, dietetics practitioner and/or member of the public may submit a complaint against any accredited program to the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND, formerly the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education). However, the ACEND does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for individuals in matters of admissions, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty or students. It acts only upon a signed allegation that the program may not be in compliance with the accreditation standards or policies. The complaint must be signed by the complainant. Anonymous complaints are not considered. Where a complainant has threatened or filed legal action against the institution involved, ACEND will hold complaints in abeyance pending resolution of the legal issues and the complainant is so advised.

A copy of the accreditation/approval standards and/or CADE's policy and procedure for submission of complaints about programs is available at http://www.eatright.org/ACEND/ and may be obtained by contacting the Education and Accreditation Team at The Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics at 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995 or by calling 1-800-877-1600 ext. 5400.

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