Do you want to become a Registered Dietitian?
Our concentration in Dietetics and Nutrition Management is a nationally accredited program that will help you meet the requirements to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). A RDN is the highest credential in the US for individuals who want to help individuals lead healthier lives by providing nutrition education. Our hands on learning opportunities and practicums expose you to the various jobs in the dietetics field.
The Dietetics and Nutrition Management Concentration will provide you with the following:
- Competencies, knowledge, and skills required to work in the dietetics profession
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills in clinical and community nutrition and food service management
The Accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) provides you with the necessary skills to become a practicing nutritionist and starts you on the path to becoming a registered dietitian.
Frequently Asked Questions about becoming a RDN
What is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)?
RDNs (or RDs for short) are credentialed food and nutrition experts who apply the latest research about nutrition to contribute to the health and well-being of individuals and communities. The RDN credential is the most recognized and qualified credential for trained nutrition experts.
Below is more information for prospective students.
- Tuition and Fees – Costs of the program are consistent with University tuition and fees.
- Application and Admission Requirements – The program’s application and admission requirements begin at the University level.
- Academic Calendar – The program’s academic calendar follows the University calendar, including vacations and holidays.
- Financial Aid – Financial aid is available. The University financial aid office has developed an online/downloadable guide with step-by-step instructions for the financial aid application.
What are the different areas of dietetics I can work in as an RDN?
RDNs work in a wide variety of employment settings, including health care, business and industry, community/public health, education, research, government agencies and private practice. They also work in specialty areas such as sports nutrition, diabetes education, eating disorder counseling, agriculture and the list goes on.
What is the difference between an RDN and a Nutritionist?
All RDNs are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are RDNs. RDNs are credentialed food and nutrition experts who have met education and professional requirements. There is no official definition or education requirements for a nutritionist. This means that anyone can call themselves a nutritionist without any expertise or formal training. Most job opportunities in nutrition require the RDN credential.
How do I become an RDN?
To become an RDN you must meet the requirements set in place by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) which are:
- Earn a degree from an accredited dietetics program
- Complete a master’s degree
- Complete 1000 hours of supervised practice (aka a dietetic internship)
- Pass the national credentialing exam
What is an accredited program in dietetics? And does CSU have one?
An accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) refers to an academic program designed to meet the knowledge requirements for dietetics practice set in place by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), which makes sure that programs adequately prepare students for careers as RDNs. You can complete an undergraduate or graduate accredited program.
Our program is accredited by ACEND. Graduates of our accredited program are issued a DPD Verification Statement which is needed for dietetic internships and some master’s programs.
What are the requirements to obtain a verification statement from the CSU DPD program?
Students must complete a BS degree from the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition in the Dietetics and Nutrition Management Concentration. In addition, to receive the DPD verification students must complete the concentration with a GPA of 3.1 or higher and no grade lower than a C- (including transfer credits). Students must retake any course in which they received lower than a C-.
Do you have to complete a master’s degree in nutrition or dietetics to be a RDN?
You do have to complete a master’s degree to become an RDN. But that degree does not have to be a master’s degree in dietetics or nutrition if you have already completed a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from an accredited program.
Does CSU offer any graduate programs in nutrition to help me meet the master’s degree requirement to become an RDN?
Yes, the department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at CSU offers a few master’s degree program options:
–Master of Science in Food Science and Nutrition
This is an in-person 2-year program. Students have the option to join a course-directed track during which they focus primarily on coursework or an advisor-directed track, in which they can gain experience in a research laboratory while completing their coursework
–Master of Advanced Practice in Dietetics
This is an entirely online program that students can complete in 1 year. To enter the program, students must have completed an undergraduate degree in dietetics and have received their DPD verification.
Does CSU offer any dietetic internship programs?
Students in our 2-year in-person Master of Science program have the opportunity to apply for our Coordinated Master’s Program in Dietetics, which combines the master’s degree with a dietetic internship.