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Nursing and Health Sciences

Dietetics Program

Mission

The Ashland University didactic program in Nutrition and Dietetics (AU DPD) mission is to provide the foundational knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to encourage the development of ethical behavior, intellectual growth, critical thought, communication, and problem solving skills, in preparation for entry into post-baccalaureate supervised practice leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist,  professional employment, and/or graduate school, as well as developing students to become contributing members of the scientific/professional community.

Accreditation

The AU DPD is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040, extension 5400, http://www.eatrightpro.org/ACEND

Program Description

The didactic program in Dietetics (DP) is designed for students who wish to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) and practitioners in clinical, community, food industry, and foodservice areas of nutrition. Registered dietitians are employed by hospitals, community agencies, and various government or private organizations. Completion of degree requirements will result in the student being awarded a Verification Statement of completion of the AU didactic program in Dietetics. Following completion of the program, the completion of an accredited supervised practice program and graduate degree is required before students are eligible to take the registration examination and obtain the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential.

Goals and Outcomes

To assess and guide the AU DP, several goals and outcomes have been developed. These include the following three program goals and outcomes:

Program Goal 1:

The AU DPD will prepare, assist, and encourage program graduates to seek admittance into an ACEND accredited supervised practice program, professional employment, or graduate school.

  • 1.1 Sixty percent (60%) of program graduates will apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.

  • 1.2 Fifty percent (50%) of program graduates will be admitted to a supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation.

  • 1.3 Fifty percent (50%) or more of AU DPD graduates, not going into a supervised practice program, employed or seeking employment, will report pursuing an advanced degree.

Program Goal 2:

The AU DPD will prepare graduates to become competent entry-level dietitians through completion of the dietetics program which further leads to completion of a supervised practice program, passing the RDN exam, and employment in the field of nutrition and dietetics.

  • 2.1 The AU DPD one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.

  • 2.2 At least 80% of AU DPD graduates will receive satisfactory or higher ratings regarding preparation for supervised practice on the supervised practice program director's satisfaction survey.

  • 2.3 Seventy-five percent (75%) or more of AU DPD graduates who complete a supervised practice program will be employed in dietetics within 12 months.

  • 2.4 At least 80% of AU DPD students complete program/degree requirements within 3 years (150% of the program length).

Post-Graduation: Admission to a Supervised Practice Program

Acceptance into an accredited supervised practice program is extremely competitive. Acceptance into a supervised practice program cannot be guaranteed. Because acceptance is very competitive, it is vitally important to excel academically and gain work-related experiences to improve your chances of being accepted.