Two programs are available in dietetics. Program I is the coordinated program in dietetics, and Program II is the didactic program in dietetics.

Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CPD)

Program I (Effective Fall 2012)

The coordinated program prepares students for dietetics practice by integrating the 1200 hours supervised practice experience (internship) required by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) with the bachelor’s degree program. Graduates of this program immediately may sit for the national credentialing examination to become a registered dietitian (RD) and are eligible for active membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The program is currently granted continuing accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606–6995, 312-899-5400.

The supervised practice phase of the program consists of community nutrition, clinical nutrition, and food service management practicum experiences and didactic coursework.

Students apply to the coordinated program three semesters prior to their anticipated date of graduation.  The program accepts a new class of students each semester. Students selected into the coordinated program are expected to complete the program in two semesters and one summer session.

Academic Progression:

• Admission to KSU and selection of the dietetics major.
• Completion of foundational coursework and introductory professional courses.
• Completion of advanced professional courses.
• Application and selective admission to the coordinated program.
• Completion of coordinated program supervised practice and didactic courses.
• Graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics and verification of 1200 hours of supervised practice.

Admission to KSU and Selection of Dietetics Major

Kansas State University students wishing to pursue dietetics as a career select dietetics as a major.

Completion of Foundational Coursework and Introductory Professional Courses

Foundational coursework includes communications, social sciences, natural sciences, quantitative studies, humanities, and introductory professional courses. Students must achieve an A or B grade in natural science and introductory professional courses for consideration for the coordinated program. Students must achieve no grade lower than a C in communications, social sciences, quantitative studies and humanities courses for consideration for the coordinated program.

Completion of Advanced Professional Courses

Advanced professional coursework includes upper level professional courses. Student must achieve an A or B grade in all professional courses to be considered for the coordinated program. It is suggested that students obtain employment and/or volunteer experience related to the field of dietetics to strengthen their application resume.

Students unable to meet grade expectations in the dietetics required curriculum will be not be allowed to continue in the major unless coursework is retaken to meet expectations.

Application to the Coordinated Program

The coordinated program in dietetics is selective and limited. The application packet and instructions are available in the Dietetics Advising Course in K-State Online.

Effective Fall 2012 admission to the coordinated program is based upon grade requirements and additional selection requirements. The new grade requirements apply to students who are incoming freshman or transfer students fall 2012 and after.

Grade requirements:

1. No grade lower than a B in natural science and professional courses.
2. No grade lower than a C in all other required dietetics curriculum foundation courses.

Applications from students not meeting grade requirements will not be accepted for review.

Additional selection requirements:

1. Evidence of employment/volunteer experience applicable to the practice of dietetics as assessed by the coordinated program admissions committee.
2. Evidence of skill, traits and leadership abilities indicative of the level of professionalism required for successful completion of the coordinated program as assessed by the coordinated program admissions committee.
3. Recommendation forms specified in the application packet.

These additional selection requirements apply to students who apply to the coordinated program fall 2012 and after.

 Completion of the Coordinated Program

Coordinated program students complete a combination of didactic courses and supervised practice courses during this ten-month program. Ongoing evaluation of the student’s academic and supervised practice performance is an important component in the coordinated program in dietetics. Evaluation of student performance is conducted by K-State faculty and preceptors in the supervised practice facilities. Students must meet program requirements and supervised practice requirements to complete the coordinated program. Coordinated program expectations are described in the Coordinated Program Student Handbook.

At the conclusion of the program, students receive their Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics and an ACEND Verification Statement, attesting to their successful completion of both academic and supervised practice experience requirements to sit for the national dietetics registration examination.

Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)

Program II (Effective Summer 2015)

The didactic program in dietetics meets the academic requirements of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). After completion of this program, the graduate must obtain the 1200 hours of supervised practice experience required for eligibility to take the national Registration Examination for Dietitians. This experience must be completed through an accredited, post-baccalaureate internships in the United States. Check the ACEND accredited program listings on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website.

The DPD program 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 ext. 5400. ACEND website.

Academic Progression

• Admission to KSU and selection of the dietetics major.
• Completion of foundational coursework and introductory professional courses.
• Application and selective admission to the didactic program in dietetics (DPD).
• Completion of the didactic program advanced professional courses.
• Graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics and Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics Verification Statement of program completion.
• Apply for dietetic internship or other post-baccalaureate program.

Admission to KSU and Selection of Dietetics Major

Kansas State University students wishing to pursue dietetics as a career select dietetics as a major.

Completion of Foundational Coursework and Selected Professional Courses

Foundational coursework includes communications, social sciences, natural and physical sciences, quantitative studies, humanities, an integrative human ecology course, and selected introductory professional courses. Students must achieve an A or B grade in natural and physical sciences and in the selected introductory professional courses for consideration for the didactic program. Students must achieve no grade lower than a C in communications, social sciences, quantitative studies, humanities courses, and the integrative human ecology course for consideration for the didactic program.

Completion of Advanced Professional Courses

Advanced professional coursework includes upper level professional courses. Students must achieve an A or B grade in all professional courses to be considered for the didactic program.

Students unable to meet grade expectations in the dietetics required curriculum will be not be allowed to continue in the major unless coursework is retaken to meet expectations. 

Application and Selective Admission to the Didactic Program

Students must apply to the didactic program the semester immediately following completion of the following courses (for full admission) or during the semester they are finishing up the last of these courses (for conditional admission)

• BIOL 198 - Principles of Biology
• BIOL 341 - Human Body I and BIOL 342 Human Body II
  or
• KIN 360 - Anatomy and Physiology
• FNDH 340 - Food and Health: Safety Allergies and Intolerances
  or
• BIOL 455 - General Microbiology
• CHM 210 - Chemistry I
• CHM 230 - Chemistry II
• BIOCH 265 - Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry
  or
• CHM 350 - General Organic Chemistry
• FNDH 132 - Basic Nutrition
• FNDH 400 - Human Nutrition
• HM 341 - Principles of Food Production Management

 Grade requirements:

1. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or above. This includes all coursework taken at any time in the individual’s undergraduate or graduate educational career prior to applying for DPD admission.
2. No grade lower than a B in natural science and professional courses.
3. No grade lower than a C in all other required dietetics curriculum foundation courses.

Applications from students not meeting grade requirements will not be accepted for review.

To apply to the DPD program, students must submit the following to the DPD director:

1. DPD application form.
2. Current DARS report generated through KSIS.
3. Academic plan showing when remaining courses will be completed.
4. Grade calculation spreadsheets showing calculations for overall GPA, science course GPA, and professional course GPA.
5. Current 1-page resume which includes:
   Education with location and inclusive dates.
   Paid work experience (dietetics or non-dietetics related) with locations and inclusive dates.
   Volunteer experience (dietetics or non-dietetics related) with locations and inclusive dates.
   Significant honors/awards.
6. A personal statement (maximum of 1000 words) outlining interest in dietetics, professional goals, strengths, and weaknesses.

Applicants will also participate in an interview, conducted via videoconferencing, with the admissions committee. A scoring matrix for evaluation of the application and interview performance will be made available to applicants in the DPD Student Handbook.

Progression in the program will require continued maintenance of at least a 3.0 GPA with no grade less than a B in the sciences or professional courses. A required course may be repeated only once in order to raise a grade to B or better. The course to be repeated must be retaken the next time that course is offered. If a B or better is not obtained in the repeated course, the student will be dismissed from the DPD and must seek a different major.

Bachelor’s degree requirements