• Description of program
  • The Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Foods is a residential program that prepares students to understand and apply the physical, biological, and chemical composition of food and nutrients; how the body uses nutrients to impact health and disease; and the process of food selection and preparation for maintenance or improvement of overall health, wellness, and performance.
  • Students selecting the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Foods will choose a specific option:
    • Option 1: Nutrition and Foods (Dietetics option) – completion of the Dietetics option of the Nutrition and Foods major results in a DPD verification statement. This option is for those who plan to pursue a career as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), and it specifically prepares students for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN. Graduates of Nutrition and Foods (Dietetics option) will be eligible to apply to graduate and supervised practice programs in dietetics, including dietetic internships and coordinated programs, to gain eligibility for the credentialing examination for registered dietitian nutritionists. In addition, this option allows graduates to sit for the credentialing examination for nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered (NDTR).
      • Note: Beginning January 1, 2024, a master’s degree will be required in order to sit for the RDN exam.
    • Option 2: Nutrition and Foods (General option)- this option provides many of the same nutrition and science courses as the Dietetics option while allowing customization of the degree. Students who chose the general option want a solid foundation in nutritional science but also want to pursue coursework in another field, such as fitness, wellness, biology, hotel restaurant management, entrepreneurship, or others. In addition, this option is best for students pursuing health careers outside of dietetics, such as medicine, physician assistant, physical therapy, dentistry, or nursing. See list of approved undergraduate elective options under the Course Plans link. This option does not meet the requirements to be eligible to complete a dietetic internship or credentialing exams upon graduation.
  • ACEND accreditation
    • The Northern Arizona University Nutrition and Foods Dietetics Option is accredited as a Didactic Program in Dietetics by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL., 60606-6995; (800) 877-1600; (312) 899-0040 ext. 5400; website https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend and email education@eatright.org.

• Mission

The mission of the Didactic Program in Dietetics at NAU is to effectively prepare students for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist through provision of experiential learning opportunities, with an emphasis on culinary skills acquisition.

• Goals and objectives

Goal 1: Program graduates will be well prepared with the core knowledge and skills necessary for entry into dietetic internships, graduate school, or the nutrition-related workforce.

Goal 1 objectives:

1. At least 80% of program students complete program/degree requirements within 3 years (150% of the program length).
2. At least 50% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
3. At least 40% of program graduates who apply are admitted to a supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation.
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%.
5. At least 80% of post-baccalaureate program directors will rate program graduates as satisfactory or higher within 12 months of graduation.

Goal 2: Program graduates will possess basic culinary knowledge and skills that benefit the nutritional health of diverse populations.

Goal 2 objectives:

1. On a 5-point Likert scale, at least 80% of program graduates will indicate a 4 or higher in their reported confidence of culinary skills, such as knife skills, baking, roasting, sautéing, preparing fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, and using herbs and spices.
2. On a 5-point Likert scale, at least 80% of program graduates will indicate a 4 or higher in their reported confidence of planning and preparing healthy meals and snacks for diverse populations, such as older adults, those with chronic disease, and people from varied cultures.

• Program outcomes data available upon request.

• In order to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), the following requirements must be met:
  1. Complete a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
     • Note: Effective January 1, 2024, a graduate degree (in any subject) will be required to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become an RDN.
  2. Complete academic requirements from an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).
     • Note: Students who graduate completing the Nutrition and Foods Dietetics option at NAU will concurrently complete the DPD requirement.
  3. Complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice or dietetic internship program.
  4. Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s (CDR) national credentialing exam.
  5. Gain licensure in your state of practice, if applicable.
  6. Maintain continuing education requirements.

• Obtaining a spot in a dietetic internship or graduate program is extremely competitive, so it is very important to maintain exceptional grades while completing an accredited undergraduate nutrition program. In addition, it helps to have nutrition-related work or service experience and/or have gained other applicable skills relevant to the dietetic programs to which you apply.
• If you would like to continue working towards obtaining the RDN credential after graduating from your undergraduate dietetics (DPD) program, please remember that starting January 1, 2024, anyone who wants to sit for the RDN credentialing examination MUST have a graduate degree. Fortunately, there are a number of options:
  1. Apply for a Graduate Program in Dietetics (Future Education Model), a Coordinated Graduate Program, or an MS/DI program. These programs include supervised experiential learning (dietetic internship) and graduate curriculum all in one program. These programs are typically a high credit load but are time efficient because all elements are typically completed in two years, and therefore often less expensive than doing the dietetic internship and graduate programs separately (which typically takes three years).
  2. Apply for a graduate program and then apply for a dietetic internship
     • This is an ideal option if your grades in your undergraduate program are somewhat low, or if you were unable to secure paid or internship positions relevant to the field of nutrition and dietetics.
     • Please keep in mind that this is a multi-step process in that you first apply to graduate school, then you apply and match to a dietetic internship. This process takes longer than going through a combination graduate/supervised experience program, such as those listed above.

• Application processes vary by program. Students should verify the application requirements and procedures with programs they are interested in.
• Most dietetic internships follow common applications, processes, and schedules for application and program acceptance decisions. There are two timeframes for applying to these dietetic internships: spring (February – April) and fall (September – November). Most ACEND-accredited dietetic internships use a centralized application and computer matching process, which involves three phases for applicants: The application phase, the computer matching phase, and the appointment phase.
• Application phase
  1. Complete the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) online application.
  2. It is recommended you obtain current application materials from selected dietetic internships at least six months prior to the application deadline in February or September. Note that applications for dietetic programs that do not use DICAS are not available on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website or from support staff. You must get all required application information directly from the dietetic programs.
  3. Discuss application materials with your DPD Program Director.
  4. If required, apply to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
  5. Request references from advisors, faculty, and employers, and order official transcripts as needed to submit to DICAS and internships not using DICAS.
  6. Complete the dietetic internship application according to instructions provided and submit the materials to the dietetic internship director by the designated deadline date.
  7. Provide telephone number(s) and email address with applications where you can be reached for interviews as well as on Appointment Day.
  8. If application materials need to be mailed, send all materials before the postmark deadline and by receipted mail for proof of mailing date and delivery.
  9. Applicants applying to programs that participate in matching must register online with D&D Digital, pay the computer matching fee with a credit card, and submit their list of selected dietetic programs prioritized by preference before the designated deadline dates (refer to Dates for the Computer Matching Process for each appointment period). Please note that applicants should only rank the dietetic internships they are actually willing to accept. Applicants should call D&D Digital prior to the deadline if they do not receive an email with login information.
  10. If you do not receive a match, a list of programs with openings can be obtained. Applicants can use their DICAS application to apply to programs that did not fill in the match.
• Computer matching phase
  1. Applicants are responsible for notifying D&D Digital in writing of a decision to withdraw from the matching process if circumstances will prevent them from accepting a match that may occur (including accepting appointments at a program that does not utilize D&D Digital matching).
  2. Applicants are responsible for calling D&D Digital if they cannot access the D&D Digital Internet site to view their personal matching results on Notification Day.
• Appointment phase
  1. Applicants who receive a computer match dietetic internship appointment are responsible for accepting or rejecting the match by telephone or email by 6 pm (of the program’s time zone) on Appointment Day.
  2. Applicants who submitted a Declaration of Intent to Complete form with their dietetic internship applications must obtain a signed DPD Verification Statement from their DPD Program Director and official transcripts documenting completion of a bachelor’s degree before they may begin the dietetic internship.
• Note regarding matching results: participants in the computer matching process are expected to adhere to the results of the match and accept a match that may occur. It is unethical to decline a match in order to pursue an appointment to another dietetic program, including programs accredited under Future Education Model and Coordinated Program standards.
• Applying to graduate programs:
  1. Graduate programs have varying deadlines, and applications are often separate for each school. While not all graduate programs use DICAS matching, some do. Be sure to contact each program you are interested in to obtain accurate application information.

• Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are considered the food and nutrition experts and can work in a wide range of fields administering medical nutrition therapy:
  • hospitals and other healthcare facilities
  • community and public health
  • research and academia
  • sports nutrition
  • corporate wellness
  • journalism and communications
  • private practice
• In addition to the RDN credential, practitioners can gain specialty credentials in obesity and weight management, gerontological nutrition, sports dietetics, pediatric nutrition, pediatric critical care nutrition, renal nutrition, and oncology nutrition. Board-certified specialists are credentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
• Nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered (NDTRs) are nationally credentialed providers of nutrition services. NDTRs operate under the supervision of an RDN if working in direct patient or client care (such as in a hospital setting) but may work independently if providing general nutrition education to healthy populations. Students who obtain DPD verification and do not complete a supervised practice program are eligible to take the registration examination for nutrition and dietetics technicians.

• For both Nutrition and Foods options (Dietetics and General), students must have applied and been accepted to Northern Arizona University: https://nau.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/ and declared Nutrition and Foods as their major.
• For the Nutrition and Foods Dietetics option, there are two routes that can result in a DPD verification statement.
  1. The first route is for students who fall under the 2017 (or earlier)-2021 catalogs. Under the 2017-2021 catalogs, students must apply and be accepted to the NDTR track (*Note: Even though it is called the NDTR track, completion of this route will result in a DPD verification statement. Prior to summer 2021, the nutrition program was accredited under the Future Education Model Bachelor degree standards. The fall 2022 catalog reflects program changes associated with the change to accreditation as a Didactic Program in Dietetics). In order to apply, the following requirements must be met by the end of the semester in which students apply:
     • Completed a minimum of 60 hours
     • Earned a minimum 3.0 GPA in all completed coursework
     • Completed the following courses with at least a C or better:
       • NTS 135 Human Nutrition
       • NTS 157 Careers in Nutrition and Foods
       • BIO 202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
       • CHM 230 Fundamental Organic Chemistry
     • In addition, students must complete an application and submit unofficial transcripts. The application and upload link are found within a Blackboard Learn shell that students are added to upon contacting the program director.
     • Our accreditation allows up to 35 students per semester (fall and spring). The application deadline for admission into the program is April 1 for the following fall semester and November 1 for the following spring semester. If any of the prerequisites are being completed in the same semester in which a student applies, admission decisions will be deferred until the semester grades are posted.
  2. The second route is for those students who enter the Nutrition and Foods Dietetics option under the fall 2022 catalog. With this route, there is no separate application requirement. Once accepted into Northern Arizona University and declaring Nutrition and Foods as a major, students who follow this route will need to successfully complete the Dietetics option progression plan, which will result in a DPD verification statement.
• No separate application is necessary for those completing the Nutrition and Foods General option that does not result in a DPD verification statement.
• Policy for Assessing Prior Learning: students who transfer with undergraduate course credit must follow NAU’s policies for credit transfer. See: https://www5.nau.edu/policies/Client/Details/487 . Students who previously completed a non-DPD bachelor’s degree but wish to be awarded a DPD verification statement will be required to send transcripts to the program director for evaluation. Syllabi may be requested to determine course equivalency. In order to receive DPD verification, students will be required to take equivalent courses to all courses on the NAU DPD course list. Any course deficiencies identified will need to be fulfilled through the appropriate NAU courses. Additionally, regardless of equivalent course completion, students will be required to take 12 credit hours of upper level (300- and 400-level) Nutrition and Foods courses from NAU.

• Nutrition and Foods Dietetics Option Progression Plans – these are the plans that can lead to a DPD Verification Statement. Those who wish to eventually work as an NDTR or RDN should follow the plan that corresponds to their catalog year.

1. 2017 and Earlier Catalog Progression Plan – In order to obtain a DPD verification statement under these catalogs, students must 1) complete degree requirements, including specific NTS courses not listed on the progression plan. These additional courses include NTS 157, 325W, 407, 415, 445, and 457. 2) Students must also apply and be accepted to the NDTR track. 3) Finally, students must successfully complete NTS 408.

2. 2018-2021 Progression Plan – In order to obtain a DPD verification statement under these catalogs, students must 1) complete degree requirements including specific NTS courses, 2) apply and be accepted to the NDTR track, and 3) successfully complete NTS 408.

3. 2022 Progression Plan – In order to obtain a DPD verification statement under this catalog, students must complete degree requirements including specific NTS courses. There is no longer a requirement to apply to the dietetics track or to complete NTS 408.

• Nutrition and Foods General Option Progression Plan: This option does not meet the dietetics requirements to be eligible to complete supervised practice upon graduation (no DPD Verification Statement) but is meant for those who want a solid foundation in nutritional science and plan to apply it in other fields.
  1. Students in the 2017 (or earlier) – 2021 catalogs will follow the same progression plans as those pursuing a DPD verification statement, except there is no application to the NDTR track and NTS 408 is not required.
  2. Students in the 2022 catalog will follow the progression plan below. Students choosing this option are required to take 15 credits of electives. Approved elective options are detailed below the progression plan.

• Approved electives for Nutrition and Foods General Option:

• Up-to-date tuition, fees, and estimated living expenses for all NAU undergraduate programs can be found here:
  • Undergraduate tuition and expenses: https://nau.edu/admissions/tuition-and-cost/tuition-expenses/
  • Summer tuition and fees: https://in.nau.edu/sdas/summer-tuition/
• Undergraduate program fee at $150/semester during junior and senior years. The program fee covers program management and course-related costs, such as lab materials and program accreditation fees.
• Financial aid may be available to those who qualify. Please visit the NAU Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid for more information: https://nau.edu/office-of-scholarships-and-financial-aid/

• The minor in Nutrition and Foods prepares students with diverse career interests to integrate nutrition and food selection and preparation knowledge as it applies to health promotion and disease prevention, fitness and wellness, physical performance, clinical settings, and public health programs. Students majoring in medical or health and wellness-related fields (such as Public Health, Fitness Wellness, Physical Education, Nursing, Exercise Science, Hotel and Restaurant Management, and Biomedical Sciences) may find a Nutrition and Foods minor compliments their careers. Note: This minor is not available to students completing the Health Science Nutrition and Foods major.
• For students who are in catalog years prior to 2022-2023, to minor in Nutrition and Foods, the requirements are:
  • Earn a C or better in NTS 135 Human Nutrition and HS 200 Healthy Lifestyles
  • Take any 12 credits of NTS courses
• For students who are in the 2022-2023 or later catalogs, to minor in Nutrition and Foods, the requirements are:
  • Earn a C or better in NTS 135 Human Nutrition and HS 200 Healthy Lifestyles
  • Take 12 credits from the following NTS courses:
    • NTS 159 Nutrition Careers and Healthcare Systems
    • NTS 250 Food in Medicine
    • NTS 356 Nutrition and Disease
    • NTS 407 MNT I
    • NTS 415 Nutrition Across the Life Cycle
    • NTS 417 MNT II
    • NTS 425 Nutrition for Sport Performance and Wellness
    • NTS 445 Food Service Management
    • NTS 450 Nutrition Education and Counseling
      • Note: Many of these classes have prerequisites. Please refer to NAU’s Academic Catalog: https://catalog.nau.edu/Courses/