Bachelor of Science in Nutrition (Dietetics)
Website: https://twu.edu/nutrition-food-sciences/undergraduate-programs/bs-in-nutrition-dietetics/
DPD Program Director: Angela Griffin, MS, RDN, LD
Phone: 940-898-2657
E-Mail: agriffin3@twu.edu
The Bachelor of Science in Nutrition (Dietetics) is a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), an accredited program for students who are preparing to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) is a food and nutrition expert who has met the minimum academic and professional requirements to qualify for the credential "RDN." The majority of RDNs work as clinical dietitians in the treatment and prevention of diseases using medical nutrition therapy. Clinical dietitians work in hospitals, HMOs, private practice, outpatient clinics, or other healthcare facilities. In addition, a large number of RDNs work in the community and public health settings, schools, food service administration positions, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and academia and research. A growing number of RDNs work in the food and nutrition industry, in business, journalism, sports nutrition, and corporate wellness programs. The B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD program requires submission of an application.
The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at Texas Woman's University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312-899-0400 extension 5400.
Some RDNs hold additional certifications in specialized areas of practice. These are awarded through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and/or other medical and nutrition organizations, and are recognized within the profession, but are not required. Some of the certifications include pediatric or renal nutrition, sports dietetics, nutrition support, and diabetes education.
In addition to RDN credentialing, many states have regulatory laws for licensing dietitians and nutrition practitioners. Frequently, these state requirements are met through the same education and training required to become an RDN.
Requirements to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
- Complete a bachelor's degree at a US regionally accredited university or college and coursework accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and complete the requirements for a Verification Statement.
- Complete a master's degree (may be combined with supervised practice).
- Complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program at a healthcare facility, community agency, or a foodservice corporation, or combined with undergraduate or graduate studies. Typically, a supervised practice program will run six to 12 months in length. The most common supervised practice program is a dietetic internship. Acceptance into a supervised practice program is a competitive process.
- Pass a national board examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the examination, refer to www.cdrnet.org.
Completion of the B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD does not guarantee admission into a dietetic supervised practice (internship) program. Admission to supervised practice programs is very competitive; therefore, students are encouraged to apply to a variety of programs to increase their chances of being accepted. Supervised practice programs vary by cost, length, location, specialty, and required application fee.
Verification Statement
Requirements to receive a Verification Statement from the TWU B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD in order to be eligible for entry into an ACEND-accredited supervised practice (internship) program are:
- Earn a grade of “B” or higher in: NFS 1301, NFS 1302, NFS 2323, NFS 3033, NFS 3043, NFS 3083, NFS 3713, NFS 2011, and NFS 3722.
- Required “C” or higher in all other DPD-required courses.
- Achieve an overall GPA of 3.25.
- B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD students may repeat a DPD-required course only one time.
- Complete a minimum of 24 hours of advanced undergraduate nutrition, food science, and food service management courses at TWU.
- Demonstrate competence in all the DPD Knowledge Registered Dietitian Nutrition (KRDN).
Note: Requirements for a Verification Statement are different than the requirements for earning a degree at TWU.
Marketable Skills
Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."
- Effectively use evidence-based analysis to develop individual medical nutrition therapy plans for clients using the nutrition care process by making decisions, identifying nutrition-related problems, and determining and evaluating nutrition interventions.
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Successfully apply management theories and business principles to deliver programs and services.
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Effectively apply quality management of food and nutrition services.
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Consistently apply fundamentals of public policy, including the legislative and regulatory basis of nutrition and dietetics practice.
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Effectively demonstrate cultural competence when interacting with clients, colleagues, and staff.
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Properly facilitate behavior change and enhance wellness for diverse individuals and groups using counseling and education methods.
Admissions
All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.
Application to the B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD
Admission to Texas Woman’s University does not guarantee acceptance into the B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) or the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). The B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD at TWU requires the submission of an application. All students who wish to be considered for admission to the B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) should declare their major as B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics). Students will take coursework as outlined on the B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) Program of Study. Students will be eligible to apply to the B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD only after completing the required list of courses (1000 and 2000 level degree courses), and meeting the grade requirements.
Students who have completed the B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD requirements, meet the requirements for a Verification Statement, and have been accepted to graduate school are eligible to apply to a supervised practice (internship) program.
Admissions Process to the B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD
Applications for admission to the B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD will be made after the successful completion of the required list of courses (1000 and 2000 level degree courses). All application materials are submitted to the TWU DPD Program Director.
Students must meet the following criteria to qualify to apply to the B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD:
- Admission to Texas Woman’s University.
- Submission of TWU B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD Application Form.
- Completion of prerequisites for B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD courses. Required courses may not be repeated more than one time.
- Meet the B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD grade requirements.
- Overall GPA of 3.25 (last 60 hours for Post-Baccalaureate students).
Refer to the NFS website for the DPD Handbook and Application Form.
Prerequisites for B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD Admission
The required grade point average for application to the B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD is 3.25 (GPA for Post-Baccalaureate students will be calculated using all the DPD-required courses and the previous undergraduate courses in reverse chronological order to total 60 semester credit hours). The courses listed below must be completed prior to progressing to Junior level courses (3000-level courses). Students who do not meet these requirements must meet with their academic advisor to determine an appropriate degree major.
- Required “C” or higher in the following courses: BIOL 1111, BIOL 1113, CHEM 1011, CHEM 1013, CHEM 1021, CHEM 1023, ZOOL 2013, ZOOL 2011, ZOOL 2023, ZOOL 2021, NFS 2031 or BACT 1001, NFS 2033 or BACT 1003, MATH 1703, SPCH 1013, and PSY 1013.
- Required “B” or higher in the following courses: NFS 1301, NFS 1302, NFS 2011*, and NFS 2323.
After the above-required list of courses is completed, students will be permitted to apply to the BS in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD program. If accepted, students are permitted to continue in the program. Students must maintain a 3.25 GPA and the course grade requirements identified in the verification statement requirements. Students who do not meet these requirements must meet with their academic advisor to determine an appropriate degree major.
* NFS 2011 may be taken as a sophomore or, if a transfer student, the first semester enrolled at TWU.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 121
Major: 53 SCH
Program Code: NUTRITION.BS.DIET CIP Code: 30.1901.00
Texas Core Curriculum
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | 3 |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Life & Physical Sciences | 6 | |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture | 3 | |
| Creative Arts | 3 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| CAO: Women's Studies | 3 | |
| CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics | 3 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Courses Required for Major
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| NFS 1302 & NFS 1301 | Food Preparation Principles and Food Preparation Principles Laboratory | 3 |
| NFS 2011 | Introduction to Dietetics | 1 |
| NFS 2033 & NFS 2031 | Food Microbiology and Food Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| or BACT 1003 & BACT 1001 | Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | |
| NFS 2323 | Introduction to Nutrition | 3 |
| NFS 3033 | Nutrition throughout the Life Cycle | 3 |
| NFS 3043 | Community Nutrition | 3 |
| NFS 3083 | Nutritional Biochemistry | 3 |
| NFS 3101 | Advanced Nutrition Laboratory | 1 |
| NFS 3202 | Nutrition Care Process | 2 |
| NFS 3713 & NFS 3722 | Quantity Food Production and Service and Quantity Food Production and Service Laboratory | 5 |
| NFS 4103 | Medical Nutrition Therapy I | 3 |
| NFS 4113 | Medical Nutrition Therapy II | 3 |
| NFS 4303 | Advanced Nutrition: Macronutrients | 3 |
| NFS 4313 | Advanced Nutrition: Micronutrients | 3 |
| NFS 4473 | Nutrition Therapy and Education Methods | 3 |
| NFS 4601 | Literature in Nutrition and Food Science Seminar | 1 |
| NFS 4701 | Dietetics As a Profession | 1 |
| NFS 4744 | Foodservice Systems | 4 |
| Electives | ||
| Choose 10 SCH from NFS 3000-4000 level course | 10 | |
| Total SCHs | 59 | |
Departmental Requirements
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 1113 & BIOL 1111 | Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology I Laboratory (may be applied from core) | 4 |
| CHEM 1013 & CHEM 1011 | Introductory Chemistry and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory (may be applied from core) | 4 |
| CHEM 1023 & CHEM 1021 | Introduction to Organic and Physiological Chemistry and Introduction to Organic and Physiological Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| MATH 1703 | Elementary Statistics I | 3 |
| NFS 3173 | Culture and Food | 3 |
| PSY 1013 | Introduction to General Psychology (may be applied from core) | 3 |
| ZOOL 2013 & ZOOL 2011 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory | 4 |
| ZOOL 2023 & ZOOL 2021 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory | 4 |
| Total SCHs | 29 | |
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | TCCN | SCHs | |
| NFS 1302 & NFS 1301 | Food Preparation Principles and Food Preparation Principles Laboratory | 3 | |
| BIOL 1113 & BIOL 1111 | Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology I Laboratory | BIOL 1406 & BIOL 1106 | 4 |
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| Select 3 SCH from the following | 3 | ||
| Health and Wellbeing: Enhancing Personal Wellness and Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar (required for first year students) | PHED 1338 & EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | ||
| Health and Wellbeing: Enhancing Personal Wellness and Fitness and Health Laboratory | PHED 1338 & PHED 1164 | ||
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| ZOOL 2013 & ZOOL 2011 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory | BIOL 2401 & BIOL 2101 | 4 |
| First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| NFS 2011 | Introduction to Dietetics | 1 | |
| CHEM 1013 & CHEM 1011 | Introductory Chemistry and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory | CHEM 1305 & CHEM 1106 | 4 |
| PSY 1013 | Introduction to General Psychology | PSYC 2301 | 3 |
| Select 4 SCH from the following | 4 | ||
| Food Microbiology and Food Microbiology Laboratory | |||
| Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | BIOL 2420 & BIOL 2120 | ||
| Multicultural Women's Studies | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| NFS 2323 | Introduction to Nutrition | BIOL 1322 | 3 |
| CHEM 1023 & CHEM 1021 | Introduction to Organic and Physiological Chemistry and Introduction to Organic and Physiological Chemistry Laboratory | CHEM 1307 & CHEM 1107 | 4 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| MATH 1703 | Elementary Statistics I | MATH 1342 | 3 |
| ZOOL 2023 & ZOOL 2021 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory | BIOL 2402 & BIOL 2102 | 4 |
| SCHs | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| NFS 3033 | Nutrition throughout the Life Cycle | 3 | |
| NFS 3043 | Community Nutrition | 3 | |
| NFS 3083 | Nutritional Biochemistry | 3 | |
| NFS 4601 | Literature in Nutrition and Food Science Seminar | 1 | |
| Elective: NFS 3000-4000 level | 3 | ||
| Language, Philosophy, Culture | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| NFS 3173 | Culture and Food | 3 | |
| NFS 3202 | Nutrition Care Process | 2 | |
| Elective: NFS 3000-4000 level | 4 | ||
| NFS 3713 & NFS 3722 | Quantity Food Production and Service and Quantity Food Production and Service Laboratory | 5 | |
| SCHs | 14 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| NFS 4103 | Medical Nutrition Therapy I | 3 | |
| NFS 4303 | Advanced Nutrition: Macronutrients | 3 | |
| NFS 3101 | Advanced Nutrition Laboratory | 1 | |
| NFS 4701 | Dietetics As a Profession | 1 | |
| NFS 4744 | Foodservice Systems | 4 | |
| Creative Arts Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| NFS 4113 | Medical Nutrition Therapy II | 3 | |
| NFS 4313 | Advanced Nutrition: Micronutrients | 3 | |
| NFS 4473 | Nutrition Therapy and Education Methods | 3 | |
| Elective: NFS 3000-4000 level | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 12 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 121 | ||
