Adult Professional Studies

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Advanced Nutrition I
Principles of human nutrition; factors involved in the availability, digestion, absorption, and utilization of macronutrients; energy balance; techniques for assessing personal nutritional status.
Medical Nutrition Therapy I
Study of the physiological basis for therapeutic diets in disease; dietary modifications for specific disease conditions; role of the dietitian in patient care.
Nutrition Practicum
Application of education in pre-professional experience in clinical and community environments. Combination of classes and off-campus experiences.
Experimental Foods
Experimental techniques and procedures used to study the physical and chemical properties of basic food materials and the alterations they undergo during preparation. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours laboratory.
Strategies in Teaching Nutrition Concepts
Application of education in pre-professional experience in clinical and community environments. Combination of classes and off-campus experiences.
Accreditation
Immaculata University’s Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL, 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040 ext 5400. http://www.eatrightPRO.org/ACEND
Steps to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Registered Dietetic Technician (DTR)
After completing your bachelor’s in Nutrition and Dietetics from Immaculata and receiving your Verification Statement confirming your eligibility to apply for an internship, Immaculata Nutrition faculty advise and support you as you apply and match with an internship. However, since dietetic internships are very competitive, there is no guarantee of a match with an internship site.
All dietetic internships require 1,200 hours of supervised practice in clinical or community nutrition, food service, and other areas. Once you successfully completed the internship, you must pass the CDR credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. More information is available here.
Those interested in becoming a Registered Dietetic Technician (DTR) can learn more here.
Tuition and Additional Costs
College tuition, charges and fees are listed in the current undergraduate catalog. DPD fees are estimated. We cannot anticipate all fees. Additional fees are possible.
- Text and resource materials (~ $200 per course)
- Department fees
- Food Science Laboratory and supplies fee (~$70 per lab course)
- Practicum fee for FNU 359 and FNU 370 ($55 for both courses)
- Medical insurance
Additional required documentation fees can include: child abuse clearance screening, flu shot, criminal background check and drug testing.
Program Requirements
Application, Admission, and Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate students in the Nutrition and Dietetics program are required to have a minimum overall GPA of 2.6 and earn a minimum grade of B- in all FNU courses to graduate and receive the Verification Statement. This document is required to apply for a dietetic internship or to be eligible to take the exam to be a Registered Dietetics Technician.
- Transfer students are required to complete a minimum of 12 credits at Immaculata University to complete the DPD and receive the Verification Statement.
Students who meet the minimum GPA but have earned lower than a B- in any FNU course(s) must repeat the course(s) before graduation and earn at least the minimum grade requirement to receive a Verification Statement. If students do not meet the program minimum and/or overall GPA requirement, they may still graduate but will not earn a Verification Statement.
Mission
The mission of the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics at Immaculata University is to provide educational excellence that prepares graduates for supervised practice, leading them to be eligible for the CDR credentialing exam to become registered dietitian nutritionists. The Didactic Program also strives to promote a lifelong appreciation for the attributes of a liberal arts education beyond graduation, encompassing ethical integrity, service, justice, and peace.
To accomplish this mission, the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics has the following goals:
- Goal #1 – Students who graduate will be well prepared in the field of nutrition and dietetics, demonstrating logical and critical thought, independent study, and integration of knowledge.
- Objective #1: At least 80% of program students complete program/degree requirements within 6 1⁄2 years (150% of the program length).
- Goal #2– Students who graduate will have experiential learning that enhances their preparation for supervised practice.
- Objective #1: 80% of program graduates will apply for admission to a supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation.
- Objective #2: 70% of program graduates are admitted to a supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation.
- Objective #3: 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 #4: 80% of supervised practice program directors will indicate satisfaction with graduate’s preparation for supervised practice.
- Goal #3 – Students who graduate will be prepared to communicate ideas effectively in a multicultural society, while respecting diversity, exhibiting personal integrity, and displaying ethical conduct.
- Objective #1: 80% of graduates will respond that they felt well prepared to work professionally within a multicultural society.
Didactic Program in Dietetics outcome data is available on request.
Just the facts
90+
years of Nutrition & Dietetics Programs
150
hours of experiential learning embedded in the curriculum
SDA
Student Dietetics Association supports professional development
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