Bachelor of Science in Nutrition

The Didactic Program in Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND a division of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics). The website (for ACEND) is https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend and email is ACEND@eatright.or. 

ACEND can be contacted at 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312-899-0040, ext. 5400. Entry into the DPD requires a formal application process. Students who are interested in becoming Registered Dietitians may apply to the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) after passing 60 hours through a formal application and interview process.

Transfer students or current students wishing to change their major may also apply to the DPD after passing 60 hours and having taken at least 6 hours of nutrition courses at ACU. A GPA of 3.0 is required for entrance into the DPD. Graduates of the DPD are prepared to enter dietetic internships, after which they may sit for the Registered Dietitian examination. Registered Dietitians may find employment in healthcare facilities, community and public health nutrition programs, other government entities, private practice, school nutrition programs, sports nutrition and corporate wellness programs, university education, research, sales, marketing, restaurant management, and food companies. Learn more >

According to this site, an RDN current salary is approximately $52,834. Learn more >

• DPD Mission, Goals, Objectives, and Outcomes
• Criteria for Admittance into the DPD
• DPD Student Handbook (Revised September 2020)
• Application for Admittance into the DPD

Didactic Program in Dietetics majors may apply to dietetic internships accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics as they are completing the DPD requirements.

Verification statements will be issued to students by the Director of the DPD upon graduation or completion of the DPD requirements. These verification statements can be provided to Dietetic Internship Directors when applying to dietetic internships.

Many states, including Texas, require dietitians to be licensed in order to use the term Licensed Dietitian. The website for information on becoming a licensed dietitian may be found here.
 
A person who is registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), has already met the educational, experience, and examination requirements needed to apply for a Texas dietitian license.

Course Descriptions

An increased emphasis is placed on health promotion in our society today. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans by the Department of Health and Human Services and the U. S. Department of Agriculture recommend 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity activity on most days. Other national organizations have similar recommendations. As a result, proper nutrition for exercise and sport has increased in importance for individuals to stay healthy before, during, and after exercise. Graduates with the Exercise Science concentration are trained to counsel individuals concerning proper nutrition practices in wellness centers or other exercise-related settings such as gyms or sports facilities. However, they are not prepared to counsel individuals concerning disease states. They can also receive a personal training certificate.

Course Descriptions

Nutrition professionals are in demand to educate the public in various settings. Graduates of the Community concentration are trained to effectively communicate nutrition messages to individuals and the public. They may find employment with the Extension Service, school nutrition programs, supermarkets, or in public health/government nutrition programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

Course Descriptions

The food service industry affects virtually every person living in the U.S., and employment opportunities are expected to increase. Graduates of the Food Service concentration are trained in food management, food marketing principles, and food safety. They may find employment in school nutrition programs, food service facilities or restaurants as managers, or health departments as food inspectors.

Course Descriptions