Dietetics Program Details

A Dietetics major prepares students to meet the educational knowledge and skills specified by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) as part of the requirements to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Upon completing the required dietetics coursework, you are awarded a bachelor's degree.

You are then issued a Verification Statement, signifying that all the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) degree requirements have been met and you are eligible to apply for an ACEND accredited dietetics internships (after completing a graduate degree or you are in the final semester) or the Future Education Graduate Program (GP). After completing a graduate degree or GP and the Dietetic internship, you will be eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) registration examination for dieticians to become credentialed as an RDN.

Upon completing all Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) requirements, you will receive a Verification Statement, making you eligible to apply for an ACEND-accredited dietetic internship (DI). To apply for a DI, DPD graduates must either complete a graduate degree or be in their final semester, or they may choose to enroll in a Future Education Graduate Program (GP) or a Coordinated Program (CP). After earning your graduate degree and completing the dietetic internship, GP, or CP, you will be eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam to become a credentialed Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

Mission

To prepare competent graduates in dietetics, through an ACEND accredited didactic program in dietetics, who seek to service the dietary needs of patients, individuals, and the community.

Goals and objectives

Goal 1:  Graduates will be prepared for careers in dietetics and food-related professions and/or advanced studies in health-related disciplines.

• Objective 1 (Program completion):  At least 80% of program students complete program/degree requirements within six years (150% of the program length).
• Objective 2 (Graduate performance on registration exam):  The program's one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.

Goal two:  Graduates will be prepared for acceptance into an accredited dietetic supervised practice program, graduate education, and/or entry-level professional positions requiring foods and/or nutrition expertise.

• Objective 1 (Graduate application and acceptance into supervised practice):  At least 60% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
• Objective 2 (Graduate application and acceptance into supervised practice):  Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 50% are admitted within 12 months of graduation.
• Objective 3 (Satisfaction with graduate performance):  At least 70% of program graduates will be rated as 3 and above on a 1-5 scale pertaining to their graduates' performance for supervised practice, graduate program, or employment in dietetics-related settings, as reported by their supervised practice directors, graduate program directors, or employers.

Educational and professional requirements

Central Michigan University Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) provides a curriculum that is based upon the foundation knowledge requirements and learning outcomes specified by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This program is currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) through June 30, 2030. For additional information, please review the dietetics handbook.

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ACEND website

A Verification Statement (VS) is an official document generated by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, to provide evidence that a DPD student has completed all the DPD requirements (Knowledge for Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (KRDN) for dietetic education within the program. At CMU, a Verification Statement is awarded to a student who has successfully completed all the DPD requirements, has met the criteria of the Professional Phase (adherence to the Academy of Nutrition Dietetics Professional Code of Ethics; maintaining a 3.0 overall GPA and 3.0 overall GPA in the DPD required courses, which include completion of the KRDN requirements listed by ACEND), and has been cleared for graduation by the registrar.

"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 (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor's degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement, visit the CDR website. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited dietetics program at Central Michigan University are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program/apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN." 

Licensure

Several states have laws governing the field of dietetics.  Licensing registered dietitians assures the public that individuals providing nutrition advice have the appropriate education and experience.  A list of states with licensure can be obtained at the CDR website. Michigan is among the states that require licensure for registered dietitians. 

Filing a complaint with ACEND

ACEND® has established a process for reviewing complaints against accredited programs in order to fulfill its public responsibility for assuring the quality and integrity of the educational programs that it accredits. Any individual, for example, student, faculty, dietetics practitioner and/or member of the public may submit a complaint against any accredited program to ACEND®. However, the ACEND® board 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. Visit the ACEND website to file a complaint.