Dietetics < North Dakota State University

Dietetics Major

There are three options within the Dietetics major: (a) Dietitian Education Program, (b) Didactic Program, and (c) the Accelerated BS/MS in Dietetics and Nutrition. All programs include all didactic courses required to be accredited by the The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Only graduates of ACEND-accredited programs are eligible to take the exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR).

Students with a major in Dietetics are employed in many settings such as hospitals, clinics, community health programs, businesses, industries, school food services, and as consultants in homes for the elderly and other service institutions. Research and development opportunities are available in industry, government, and universities; in regulation of food quality through government agencies; and within companies as communication specialists.

Note: Transfer credits in dietetics or food and nutrition from other institutions must have grades of 'C' or better to be accepted for the Dietetics program at NDSU.

Dietitian Education Program (DEP) Option

This option prepares professional dietetic practitioners for work in entry-level positions in hospitals, nursing homes, out-patient clinics, businesses, and community agencies. Students in the Dietitian Education Program will complete 1,200 supervised practice hours as part of the undergraduate curriculum allowing them to take the registration examination upon graduation. The Dietitian Education Program has a gerontology concentration to train students on the health concerns of the aging population.

Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Option

This option meets the requirements for entrance into an accredited dietetic internship and prepares graduates for internships in hospitals, as well as in health care related organizations. After earning the BS in dietetics, graduates will need to complete the 1200 supervised practice hours (internship) in order to be eligible to take the registration exam for dietitians.

Acceptance into either Dietetics program is competitive and enrollment is limited. Students who have completed the prerequisite courses apply for admission in February. The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredits both program options.

Accelerated BS/MS in Dietetics and Nutrition

In 2024, the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics will require students to hold Bachelor's and Master's degree, as well as completing 1200 hours of supervised practice, in order to be eligible to take the Registration Exam for Dietitians. The Accelerated BS/MS in Dietetics and Nutrition is a comprehensive program that includes all 3 components and will allow students to earn their eligibility for registration in just 5 years. Students earn a B.S. in Dietetics (after year 4), an M.S. in Exercise Science & Nutrition (after year 5), and earn 1492.5 hours of supervised practice (by the end of year 5). Admission to the program does not require the GRE, but students will have to apply to the graduate school for acceptance.

Plans of Study

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This guide is not an official curriculum. This guide is a sample four-year degree plan of how students might plan this major with other degree requirements to complete their education in four years.Student plans will vary from this sample due to a variety of factors, such as, but not limited to, start year, education goals, transfer credit, and course availability. To ensure proper degree completion, enrolled students should utilize Degree Map and Schedule Planner in Campus Connection and consult regularly with academic advisors to ensure graduation requirements are being met.

Freshman
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
ANTH 111¹	3	Humanities	3
CHEM 117	3	ECON 105	3
ENGL 110	4	ENGL 120	3
Humanities/Fine Arts	3	HNES 141	1
MATH 103 or 104²	3	MICR 202	2
		MICR 202L	1
		PSYC 111	3
	16		16
Sophomore
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits	Summer	Credits
BIOL 220	3	Applications are due for all dietetics options.		Upper Division English (for accelerated students only)	3
BIOL 220L	1	BIOC 260	4	Combined/Accelerated Degree Program Declaration forms due to grad school for accelerated students
COMM 110	3	BIOL 221	3
HNES 250	3	BIOL 221L	1
HNES 291	1	HNES 251	3
PSYC 211 or 280	3	STAT 330	3
	14		14		3
Junior
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits	Summer	Credits
undefined		HNES 354	4	STAT 725 (Accelerated students only)	3
HNES 261	3	HNES 354L	2
HNES 261L	2	HNES 361	3
HNES 351	4	HNES 361L	3
HNES 442	3	HNES 400	3
HNES 442L	2	VETS 115	1
HNES 452	3
	17		16		3
Senior
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Upper Division Writing³	3	HNES 480	12
HNES 458⁵	4	HNES 777⁴	3
HNES 458L	3
HNES 460⁵	3
HNES 460L	3
HNES 710⁴	3
HNES 790⁴	1
	20		15
Fifth Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
HNES 798⁴	3	HNES 726⁴	3
HNES 713⁴	3	HNES 798⁴	3
Elective⁴	2-3
	8-9		6
Total Credits: 148-149

¹: SOC 110 and Cultural Diversity may be substituted for ANTH 111.
²: If the "Pre-calculus Math Placement Test" indicates MATH 105 or higher, student may select an elective in place MATH 103 or Math 104.
³: Upper-Division Writing may include: ENGL 320, 324, 325, 358, or 459.
⁴: These courses are taken by Accelerated BS/MS in Dietetics and Nutrition students. Undergraduate DEP students do not take these.
⁵: Acclerated BS/MS in Dietetics and Nutrition Students will takeHNES 658 Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy in place of HNES 458 and HNES 660 in place of HNES 460

Accelerated BS/MS in Dietetics and Nutrition Degree Requirements

If a student is interested in this option, they should speak with the Undergraduate Advisor for Dietetics in the College of Human Development & Education Academic Advising Center located in EML 270.
Students intending to pursue the Accelerated option will need a 3.5 overall GPA and a 2.75 science GPA by the end of their 4th and 5th semesters to be eligible for the program.
Students will also be required to complete a Combined/Accelerated Degree Program Declaration Form during the summer after semester 4 and then apply to the Graduate School during semester 5.
GRE is not required.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This guide is not an official curriculum. This guide is a sample four-year degree plan of how students might plan this major with other degree requirements to complete their education in four years.Student plans will vary from this sample due to a variety of factors, such as, but not limited to, start year, education goals, transfer credit, and course availability. To ensure proper degree completion, enrolled students should utilize Degree Map and Schedule Planner in Campus Connection and consult regularly with academic advisors to ensure graduation requirements are being met.

Freshman
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
ANTH 111^*	3	Humanities/Fine Arts	3
CHEM 117	3	ECON 105	3
ENGL 110	4	ENGL 120	3
Humanities/Fine Arts	3	HNES 141	1
MATH 103 or 104^**	3	MICR 202	2
		MICR 202L	1
		PSYC 111	3
	16		16
Sophomore
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
BIOL 220	3	Applications are due for the DEP and DPD
BIOL 220L	1	BIOC 260	4
COMM 110	3	BIOL 221	3
HNES 250	3	BIOL 221L	1
HNES 291	1	HNES 251	3
PSYC 211 or 280	3	STAT 330	3
	14		14
Junior
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
HNES 261	3	HNES 354	4
HNES 261L	2	HNES 361	3
HNES 351	4	HNES 361L	3
HNES 442	3	HNES 400	3
HNES 442L	2	VETS 115	1
HNES 452	3
	17		14
Senior
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Upper Division Writing^***	3	Elective	14
HNES 458	4
HNES 460	3
HNES 481	1
HNES 491	1
Elective	3
	15		14
Total Credits: 120

*: SOC 110 and Cultural Diversity may be substituted for ANTH 111.
**: If the "Pre-calculus Math Placement Test" indicates MATH 105 or higher, student may select an elective in place MATH 103 or Math 104.
***: Upper-Division Writing may include: ENGL 320, 324, 325, 358, or 459.

University Catalog 2024-25

Dietetics

Plans of Study

Accelerated BS/MS in Dietetics and Nutrition Degree Requirements