Didactic Program in Dietetics

About the Program

The BSAS-Didactic Program in Dietetics at YSU, currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) through 2028, prepares students for careers in the dietetics field. Graduates of the program are eligible for the Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered credential with no further educational requirements. Those wishing to become Registered Dietitians will need to complete a Masters Degree and Supervised Practice in Dietetics through an accredited internship. Ohio, and many other US states, require licensure or certification for practice as a Registered Dietitian.

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Upon satisfactory completion of the DPD, students are issued a DPD verification statement confirming eligibility to apply for an ACEND accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) or other pre-professional practice program such as an Individualized Supervised Practice Program (ISPP) or a Graduate-Dietetics Future Education program.

Completion of Supervised Pre-professional Practice and a graduate degree (master’s level or above) establish eligibility for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing examination for dietitians. Candidates who pass the exam, earn the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential, which makes one eligible for State Licensure to practice as a Licensed, Registered Dietitian in the State of Ohio. Licensure and Certification requirements differ from State to State.

Didactic program in dietetics (DPD) graduates may also take the registration examination for dietetic technicians and become Nutrition and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (NDTR).
Both credentials (RDN and NDTR) require completion of continuing education and maintenance of an electronic Portfolio covering 5 year periods, to document CEUs, on the Commission on Dietetic Registration credential management portal.

For more information, contact Dr. Zara Rowlands at zcshah@ysu.edu or call (330) 941-2021

Year 1
FALL		S.H
YSU 1500 or HONR 1500 or SS 1500	Success Seminar or Intro to Honors or Strong Start Success Seminar	1-2
ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549	Writing 1 (F,S,X) or Writing 1 with Support	3-4
FNUT 1551	Normal Nutrition (F,S,X)	3
BIOL 1545 & 1545L	Allied Health Anatomy and Physiology and Allied Health Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory	5
CHEM 1510	Chemistry for the Allied Health Sciences	4
CHEM 1510L	Chemistry for the Allied Health Sciences Laboratory	1
	Semester Hours	16-18
Spring
ENGL 1551	Writing 2 (F,S,X)	3
PSYC 1560	General Psychology (F,S,X)	3
FNUT	Orientation to Dietetics Major	1
MATC 1501	Medical Terminology	3
A & H course		3
	Semester Hours	13
Year 2
FALL
ACCT 1503 or HMGT 2603	Elementary Accounting (F) or Hospitality Managerial Accounting 1	3
CMST 1545	Communication Foundations	3
FNUT 1512	Food Safety and Sanitation	2
FNUT 1553	Food Science and Management Principles (F,S)	3
FNUT 1553L	Food Science and Management Principles Laboratory	1
STAT 2625	Statistical Literacy and Critical Reasoning	4
	Semester Hours	16
SPRING
MATC 2605	Introduction to Pharmacology	3
FNUT 2612	Food Systems: Operation, Production, and Service (F,S)	3
FNUT 2612L	Food Systems: Operations, Production, and Service Laboratory (F,S)	2
FNUT 2640	Nutrition Counseling and Education Skills Development for Dietetics	3
FNUT 2641	Diet Prescriptions and Intervention Planning	2
FNUT 2652L	Nutrition Assessment Laboratory	1
FNUT 3735	Nutritional Biochemistry (S)	2
	Semester Hours	16
Year 3
FALL
FNUT 3759	Advanced Nutrition (F)	3
FNUT 3760	Medical Nutrition Therapy 2 (F)	3
FNUT 3761	Science of Nutrition in Exercise	3
FNUT 4802	Research Methods in Dietetics (F)	2
SOC 1500	Introduction to Sociology	3
A & H Elective		3
	Semester Hours	17
SPRING
AHLT 4810	Management Skills for Health Professionals	3
FNUT 4860	Medical Nutrition Therapy 3 (S)	3
FNUT 4802L or FNUT 4890	Research Methods in Dietetics Laboratory or Directed Individual Study in Dietetics	1
FNUT 4810	Experimental Foods	2
FNUT 4810L	Experimental Foods Laboratory	1
SOC 3703	Aging and Society	2
BIOL 1560L	Microbiology Laboratory for Health Professions	1
	Semester Hours	16
Year 4
FALL
FNUT 4858	Food Service Systems Management (F)	4
FNUT 4895	DPD Capstone	3
HAHS 5875	Interprofessional Education for Health Professions	3
Elective		3
	Semester Hours	13
SPRING
FNUT 4872	Maternal and Child Nutrition (S)	2
FNUT 4873	Nutrition and Aging	2
FNUT 4874	Community Nutrition and Wellness (F)	3
FNUT 5862	Food and Culture	2
FNUT 5862L	Food and Cultures Laboratory	1
SOC 3745	Sociology of Health, Illness, and Healthcare	3
	Semester Hours	13
	Total Semester Hours	120-122

COURSE	TITLE	S.H
FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS
YSU 1500 or HONR 1500 or SS 1500	Success Seminar or Intro to Honors or Strong Start Success Seminar	1-2
General Education Requirements
ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549	Writing 1 Writing 1 with Support	3-4
ENGL 1551	Writing 2	3
CMST 1545	Communication Foundations	3
STAT 2625	Statistical Literacy and Critical Reasoning	4
Natural Science
BIOL 1545	Allied Health Anatomy and Physiology	5
BIOL 1545L	Allied Health Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory	0
CHEM 1510	Chemistry for the Allied Health Sciences	4
CHEM 1510L	Chemistry for the Allied Health Sciences Laboratory	0
Social Science (6 s.h.)
PSYC 1560	General Psychology	3
SOC 1500	Introduction to Sociology	3
Arts and Humanities (6 s.h. Select 2 courses)		6
Social and Personal Awareness (6 s.h.)
FNUT 1551	Normal Nutrition	3
SOC 3703	Aging and Society	3
Major Requirements
FNUT 1512	Food Safety and Sanitation	2
FNUT 1553	Food Science and Management Principles	3
FNUT 1553L	Food Science and Management Principles Laboratory	1
FNUT 2600	Orientation to Dietetics Major	1
FNUT 2612	Food Systems: Operation, Production, and Service	3
FNUT 2640	Nutrition Counseling and Education Skills Development for Dietetics	3
FNUT 2641	Diet Prescriptions and Intervention Planning	2
FNUT 2652L	Nutrition Assessment Laboratory	1
FNUT 3735	Nutritional Biochemistry	2
FNUT 3759	Advanced Nutrition	3
FNUT 3760	Medical Nutrition Therapy 2	3
FNUT 3761	Science of Nutrition in Exercise	3
FNUT 4802	Research Methods in Dietetics	2
FNUT 4802L	Research Methods in Dietetics Laboratory	1
FNUT 4810	Experimental Foods	2
FNUT 4810L	Experimental Foods Laboratory	1
FNUT 4860	Medical Nutrition Therapy 3	3
FNUT 4872	Maternal and Child Nutrition	2
FNUT 4873	Nutrition and Aging	2
FNUT 4895	DPD Capstone	3
FNUT 4858	Food Service Systems Management	4
FNUT 4874	Community Nutrition and Wellness	3
FNUT 5862	Food and Culture	2
FNUT 5862L	Food and Cultures Laboratory	1
HAHS 5875	Interprofessional Education for Health Professions	3
Additional Accreditation Required Courses
ACCT 1503 or HMGT 2603	Elementary Accounting Hospitality Managerial Accounting 1	3
AHLT 4810 or MGT 3725	Management Skills for Health Professionals Fundamentals of Management	3
BIOL 1560	Microbiology for the Health Professions	2
BIOL 1560L	Microbiology Laboratory for Health Professions	1
MATC 1501	Medical Terminology	3
MATC 2605	Introduction to Pharmacology	3
SOC 3745	Sociology of Health, Illness, and Healthcare	3
Electives to meet 120 hours		3
Total Semester Hours		120-122

YOU WILL BE PREPARED TO

Become a Nutrition/Dietetic Technician, Registered Credential (Commission in Dietetic Registration)
Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential after completion of a graduate degree and supervised practice
Pursue careers in:
- Medical Nutrition Therapy
- Food Service Management
- Nutrition Education
- Research
- Sustainability
- Community Nutrition Programming

YSU-DPD Program Goals & Objectives 2022-2024

Goal 1. The program will prepare graduates for supervised practice programs, advanced degrees or employment.

O1: At least 80% of program students complete program/degree requirements within 3 years (150% of the program length).
O2: At least 35 percent of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation
O3: Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 50 percent are admitted within 12 months of graduation
O4: The program’s 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%.
O5: At least 70% of program graduates who do not complete supervised practice programs will report employment in a nutrition-related field. (Program Specific Goal)

Goal 2. The program will prepare graduates perform adequately in a supervised practice program.

O1: At least 80% of graduates admitted to supervised practice will rate their preparation by the program to be satisfactory or better.
O2: At least 80% of graduates will receive “satisfactory” ratings or better on their preparation and performance from their supervised practice program (DI) director and/or preceptors.
O3: At least 80% of program graduates will rate program quality as satisfactory or better in preparing them for advanced studies or employment. (Program Specific Goal)

DPD Educational Philosophy

The YSU-Didactic Program in Dietetics is purposed with providing a strong educational foundation in foodservice, medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition and research to prepare future dietetics practitioners, producing graduates who engage in lifelong learning, professionalism, and competence in serving diverse populations in dietetics practice settings.

The YSU-DPD Student Handbook

The YSU-Didactic Program in Dietetics Student Handbook provides detailed information about the program including the curriculum, dietetics faculty and the courses they teach, program policies and other useful information on resources available to promote academic success.

YSU-DPD Student Handbook*

Degree Type

Bachelors of Science in Applied Sciences

Accreditation

This baccalaureate program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). The Didactic Program in Dietetics at YSU is currently accredited, 01/2020 - 01/2028.

Email: ACEND@eatright.org

Phone: 800/877-1600, ext. 5400

Mail: ACEND, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995

accreditation_dietetics_ysu

Calendar

Next Start and Application Deadlines:

12/1/23
Next Application Deadline

1/5/23
Start Classes

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Estimated Program Cost

In-State Tuition is estimated at ~ $8,600 for 12-18 (full-time) semester hour. Tuition and fees are assessed based on the number of credit hours of enrollment, residency, course and/or program. It is intended by the Board of trustees for Youngstown State University that fees will not be adjusted more often than annually and that fee changes be announced in the spring or early summer, however, reserve the right to change any fee, charge, or fine without notice if conditions warrant.

The YSU Penguin Tuition Promise uses a fee guarantee model that assures a student and his/her family a set of fixed rates for the pursuit of an undergraduate degree at Youngstown State University. Current Full-time Tuition is estimated at $9952. For additional information visit the YSU Penguin Tuition Promise page.

For student who qualify for the Affordable Tuition Advantage (Affordable Tuition Advantage rate is offered to students from the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland counties in Pennsylvania; Chautauqua County in New York; and Brooke, Hancock, Marshall and Ohio counties in West Virginia), tuition is estimated at $9,259, and for Out-of-State students, the annual cost is estimated at $14,899.

JUNIOR YEAR	$$$
Books*	300
AND membership - Annual (June to May) (Optional)	58
Uniform & Shoes - Food Service/Safety apparel for food labs	80
Student in Dietetics Membership (optional)	10
Mahoning Valley Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (optional)	5
SENIOR YEAR
Books*	300
AND membership - Annual (June to May) (Optional)	58
Student in Dietetics Membership (optional)	10
Mahoning Valley Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (optional)	5
POST GRADUATE
Dietetics Internship (DICAS) Application Fees - $50 for the initial program and $25 for each additional program. Some programs have supplemental fees.	50+
Official transcripts – YSU partners with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) for ordering, payment, and processing of official YSU transcripts. Request Transcript Here.	6-35

Financial Aid Availability

Information about Financial Aid and Loans can be found here.

Scholarships are available at the University, College and Departmental levels. Students are eligible for several scholarships at the university level, sponsored by special interest groups such as the YSU Women’s Club, the Faculty Union, etc. The College and Department of Human Ecology scholarships are funded by endowments. Scholarship applications are published annually on the College and Department websites in November and applications are due the following February.

Please reach out to us if you have questions or need more information about our programs.

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Application and Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the YSU Didactic Program in Dietetics are required to earn and maintain a GPA ≥ 2.0, and a grade of “C or better” in FNUT 1551 (Normal Nutrition), and FNUT 2600 (Orientation to Dietetics). A “C or better” grade is required for all Core Courses in the major.

Academic Calendar

Graduation - Program Completion Requirements

Seeing your faculty/program advisor regularly can help keep you on the efficient path to course completion and timely graduation. It can help make sure you complete course pre-requisites as well as General Education coursework given the patterns of course offerings at the university and the student’s ability to enroll in summer semesters.
Students are advised to complete a graduation evaluation up to a year ahead of anticipated graduation semester. This allows you to identify any obstacles in your planned path to graduation and determine ways to remove them. Program changes sometimes occur in response to accreditation, State and/or University educational mandates, and these can affect your degree completion. You may complete your College graduation Evaluation online at the following link: Graduation Evaluation
DPD students are required to complete a DPD Program Exit Interview with the Program Director. More information about this is provided in the DPD Capstone course offered every Fall semester - FNUT 4895
Also provided in the DPD Capstone – FNUT 4895 course is information about “Next Steps”. This includes the process for applying for Supervised Practice, Graduate Program admission, NDTR-Eligibility, and National and State-related Credentialing are discussed and printed instructions provided.

Program Outcome Data

The YSU-DPD program outcomes data are available upon request. Data is collected and analyzed annually to determine achievement of Program goals, and to plan and implement continuous program improvement. Data also includes feedback from program students, faculty and other program stakeholders (employers and supervisors).

RDN Requirement Information

The DPD prepares graduates for entry into a supervised practice experience through a Dietetic Internship or Individualized Supervised Practice Program. Upon completion of the DPD, graduates will receive a DPD Verification Statement which will certify their eligibility for Supervised Practice. Application for “matching” to ACEND accredited Supervised Practice programs is completed via the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS), the online system that warehouses all accredited internships across the country. Completing Supervised Practice leads to eligibility to take the Registered Dietitian Credentialing Exam and earn Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) status.

DPD graduates are eligible to earn the NDTR (Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered) credential. Graduates are verified as eligible by the Program Director in the Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) managed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. The CDR then contacts the student to provide instructions for completing the process.

Graduates may also apply for admission to Graduate School for advanced degrees. Some graduate programs require completion of Graduate Admissions Tests (GRE, GMAT, LSAT or MCAT, etc.), and some require a minimum score on a specified exam.

Dietetic Registration and State Dietetic Licensure

The Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Credential is earned by passing the credentialing exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Starting January 1, 2024, the CDR requires a minimum of a master’s degree and 1000 hours of Supervised Practice to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). For more information visit CDR's website.

Accredited Dietetics education programs must report to ACEND on the RD Exam Pass Rate for students graduating from each program. Students passing the exam on their first try is the desired goal. The exam covers all domains of the dietetics core curriculum and is computer-based. Study guides may be purchased from AND or from private RD Exam prep providers. YSU has purchased Visual Veggies RD and DTR Exam Prep software so that graduates of our programs may use to study and practice taking the exam. Contact the program director for access.

The requirements for Licensure as a Dietitian in Ohio are described in Section 4759.06 to 4759.061 of the Ohio Revised Code. Graduates who have passed the Dietetic Registration exam administered by CDR may apply for licensure in the state of Ohio. A Limited Permit license is available for individuals who have met academic and pre-professional requirements and are planning to sit for the next available examination. For more detailed information on applying for dietetic licensure in the State of Ohio, please visit: https://med.ohio.gov/Apply/Dietitian-LD.

Proessional Links:

Contact Us

Dr. Zara Rowlands, Program Director

(330) 941-2021
zcshah@ysu.edu

Youngstown State University