Nutrition

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Please see the CU degree requirements effective Fall 2023. All enrolled students can also review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion in Degree Works. 

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Please see the CU degree requirements effective Fall 2023. All enrolled students can also review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion in Degree Works.

Nutrition and dietetics students are subject to all University academic requirements.  The following academic requirements apply only to those continuing in the Nutrition and Dietetics Program.  

1. Courses required for the B.S. in Nutrition: Dietetics concentration may not be taken Pass/Fail.  
2. Nutrition and Dietetics courses may be repeated once.  Failure to achieve a “C” grade or better after taking the same course for a second time will block the student from earning the DPD Verification Statement.  If the course is failed twice, the student will not be able to earn the Nutrition degree.  
3. Requirements for the B.S. in Nutrition: Dietetics concentration must be completed in 7 years, or the student may need to repeat certain courses.

The following academic standards stated must also be met to receive a Verification Statement.  This statement is required for an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) dietetic internship or supervised practice program.  It may be required by Future Education Graduate Programs and Coordinated Programs in Dietetics, state licensure, and in some states for certification. It may also be required by potential employers.

1. Students must meet all DPD course KRDN learning outcomes benchmarks with a grade of 70% or higher. Failure to achieve a 70% or better will require remediation (See Remediation Policy for further details).
2. Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.7 upon graduation.  
3. A grade of “C” or above is required in all nutrition and dietetics (NUTR) courses or the course must be repeated.  
4. Student must earn their bachelor's degree in nutrition with a concentration in Dietetics.

Additional information about Verification Statements is available on the ACEND website by clicking here.

Students must meet all clinical agency health requirements. These may include background checks, specific immunizations, urine drug testing, and a respirator fit test. Students will be expected to cover the costs of background checks, immunizations, urine drug testing, and respirator fit test. 

Degree Requirements: Nutrition

Core Courses:

Nutrition: Dietetics (B.S.): 120 s.h.

The Dietetics Concentration is for students who wish to become registered dietitians and seek a varied background in nutrition.

Required Courses

Total Semester Hours for the major (Core plus Concentration): 73 credits

Sample Schedule

View Dietetics sample schedule

Degree Requirements: Nutrition

Core Courses:

Nutrition: Sports Nutrition (B.S.): 120 s.h.

Required Courses

Total Semester Hours for the major (Core plus Concentration): 66 credits

Sample Schedule

View Sports Nutrition sample schedule

1. Students must earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition, Dietetics option, and earn their Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) verification statement from CU – Mansfield DPD to be eligible to apply for an ACEND accredited dietetic supervised practice program.
2. Be accepted to and complete an ACEND accredited dietetic supervised practice program after completing the degree at CU – Mansfield.

There are 3 types of accredited Dietetic Supervised Practice Programs that students can choose to apply to:

1. Dietetic Internship
2. Future Education Model Graduate Program
3. Coordinated Master’s Program

Information can be obtained on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) website.

Dietetic Supervised Practice Programs require a minimum of 1,000 hours of ACEND accredited supervised practice program.  There are 3 major areas of dietetics which include clinical dietetics, community and nutrition education, and food-systems management.  Additional experiences that might be provided include research, sports nutrition, pediatrics, culinary nutrition, retail nutrition, informatics, food sustainability, and other related areas.  The additional experiences vary by program.  For more information, view the ACEND Accredited Program Directory.

Students apply for dietetic supervised practice programs during their senior year of the baccalaureate degree.  Dietetic supervised practice programs are highly competitive.

3. Pass the Registration Examination for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN). The Registration Examination is a national board registration examination, which leads to the credential of Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.  The Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR) sets the requirements for the RDN exam.  The RDN exam is a computer-based exam that covers the content in the three major areas of dietetics: Clinical, Community, and Food Service and Food-systems Management. Once students complete the dietetic supervised practice programs and earn the dietetic supervised practice program’s Verification Statement, they are eligible to sit for the RDN examination.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master's degree (the master’s degree does not need to be in the area of nutrition) to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). For more information about this requirement visit the CDR website. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at CU - Mansfield are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.

In some states, licensure or certification is required for registered dietitian-nutritionists.  State requirements vary by state. The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) provides information about state licensure requirements click here.  Pennsylvania has licensure requirements, which can be viewed here.  CDR provides an overview between CDR certification and state licensure; click here for more information.

For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN click here.

Graduates who do not complete ACEND-approved dietetic internships after graduation are eligible to take the national dietetic technician, registered (DTR) exam and work as dietetic technicians in long-term care, community nutrition programs such as WIC, other health care settings; food service managers in schools, health care institutions, and additional settings.  Graduates may also continue their education by attending graduate school. 

• Undergraduate Student Handbook (pdf)
• Information on Verification Statements (pdf)
• Transfer Equivalency Policy (pdf)

Mission Statement

The mission of the CU Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is to provide graduates with the evidence-based knowledge and skills foundational to supervised practice leading to eligibility for the Commission for Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN). The program also prepares graduates to become Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTR) and to pursue entry-level careers in foodservice management, community nutrition; and/or to attend graduate school in a complex and changing global society.

Program Goal #1

Program graduates will be adequately prepared to apply for acceptance into accredited supervised practice programs.

Objective 1.1: At least 80% of students complete program requirements within six years (150% of planned program length).  

Objective 1.2: At least 40 percent of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.

Objective 1.3: Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 60 percent are admitted within 12 months of graduation.

Objective 1.4: 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%.

Objective 1.5: Within 12 months of graduation, 75% of the graduates’ supervisors who complete a survey will agree or strongly agree that the graduates are prepared for their current position (e.g., Supervised Practice, Graduate Program, or Employment).  

Objective 1.6: Within 12 months of graduation, 75% of the graduates who complete a survey will agree or strongly agree that they are prepared for their current position (e.g., Supervised Practice, Graduate Program, or Employment).  

Program Goal #2

Program graduates applying to graduate or pre-professional school will be accepted, and those seeking entry-level employment in nutrition, or a related field will be employed.  

Objective 2.1: Of those who do not apply or are accepted into supervised practice programs, at least 75% of graduates will apply to graduate schools, or pre-professional schools, or seek employment within 12 months of graduating from the program.

Nutrition Student Learning Objectives

Our students will:

• Demonstrate the ability to use and interpret current research in developing knowledge of nutrition, sports nutrition, and dietetic practice.
• Demonstrate the ability to use oral and written communications effectively as individuals and in group settings requiring collaboration and teamwork.
• Demonstrate problem-solving and critical thinking skills related to medical nutrition therapy.
• Demonstrate their ability to apply management principles using problem-solving and critical thinking skills in hypothetical practice situations.
• Exhibit understanding of public policy and its effects on health care systems.
• Demonstrate the ability to develop nutrition prescriptions for a variety of individuals and groups

Program outcomes data are available upon request.

Student Learning Outcomes

BS Nutrition Dietetics Program

1. Demonstrate the ability to use and interpret current research in developing knowledge of nutrition, sports nutrition, and dietetic practice.
2. Demonstrate the ability to use oral and written communications effectively as individuals and in group settings requiring collaboration and teamwork.
3. Demonstrate problem-solving and critical thinking skills related to medical nutrition therapy.
4. Demonstrate their ability to apply management principles using problem-solving and critical thinking skills in hypothetical practice situations.
5. Exhibit understanding of public policy and its effects on health care systems.
6. Demonstrate the ability to develop nutrition prescriptions for a variety of individuals and groups nutrition therapy.

BS Nutrition Sports Nutrition Program

1. Demonstrate the ability to use and interpret current research in developing knowledge of nutrition, sports nutrition, and dietetic practice.
2. Demonstrate the ability to use oral and written communications effectively as individuals and in group settings requiring collaboration and teamwork.
3. Exhibit understanding of public policy and its effects on health care systems.
4. Demonstrate the ability to develop nutrition prescriptions for a variety of individuals and groups.
5. Assess and make sports-specific recommendations for athletes.

BS Nutrition Minor  

1. Promote nutrition knowledge among non-nutrition majors Promote basic knowledge of foods among non-nutrition majors
2. Students are able to Apply professional guidelines to a practice scenario Use the nutrition care process to make decisions, to identify nutrient related problems, and determine and evaluate nutrition interventions.
3. Develop food and nutrition interventions to affect change and enhance wellness in diverse individuals and groups
4. Develop an educational session or program / educational strategy for a target population 

The Nutrition and Dietetics Program has been in existence at Mansfield since the 1970's. The Commonwealth University-Mansfield Nutrition and Dietetics program is currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) (Formerly the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association or CADE) the accrediting agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 800/877-1600 ext. 5400.

This program provides the didactic instruction required to meet the ACEND (Formerly CADE) Foundation Knowledge and Skills for Entry-Level Dietitians and Standards of Education. This program allows graduates to apply for an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (Formerly Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education) supervised practice program, which leads to eligibility to write the registration examination for dietitians.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master's degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).

For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at CU-Mansfield are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.

In some states, licensure or certification is required for registered dietitian-nutritionists.  State requirements vary by state. The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) provides information about state licensure requirements click here.  Pennsylvania has licensure requirements, which can be viewed here.  CDR provides an overview between CDR certification and state licensure; click here for more information.

For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN click here.

B.S. IN NUTRITION: DIETETICS CONCENTRATION - ACCREDITATION

The Commonwealth University – Mansfield dietetics concentration is currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) (Formerly the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association). The last self-study was completed in 2016 and was successfully approved for the maximum 7-year term for accreditation. The program is fully accredited through 12/31/2025.

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)

120 South Riverside Dr.
Plaza Suite 2000 
Chicago, IL 60606 
(312)-899-0040 Ext. 5400 
Email: acend@eatright.org

Distance education components for multimodal classes, via Zoom include access to an electronic device (laptop, computer, notepad/IPad, or phone), camera, speakers, and microphone.  In addition to accessing Zoom, an electronic device that is capable of logging into an account and/or running software will be needed to access the Learning Management System – CU Brightspace, or any other software/web-based program.  When logging into Learning Management System – CU Brightspace, or any other software/web-based program, you will need to use your university email and password.  You may need to show your student identification card for online exams/quizzes.  All students’ private information will be protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).

Cost of Attendance & Financial Aid