A degree in nutrition and dietetics prepares you for a variety of career opportunities including: community nutrition; sports nutrition counseling; fitness and wellness centers; schools, colleges and universities; food service management; Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs and other public health agencies; home care, programs for underdeveloped countries, e.g. Peace Corps, United Nations; hospitals and long-term care facilities; specialized patient care, e.g., athletes, pediatrics; rehabilitation centers; private practice; nutrition research laboratories and pharmaceutical industry.

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.

Our recent graduates have a high rate of acceptance to internship programs at places such as Aramark, Inspira Health Network, Johns Hopkins Medical Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Metropolitan University of Denver, University of Maryland Medical Center, and various other internship programs.

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.

College tuition, charges and fees are listed in the current undergraduate catalog. DPD program 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 are possible and can include: Child abuse clearance screening, Flu shot, Criminal background check and Drug testing.

Withdrawal information can be found here.

Program Completion 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.

Graduation (Degree) Requirements

All undergraduate students must meet both the institutional degree requirements outlined in the university’s Undergraduate Catalog, page 36 (in the “Academic Life” section, under the subheading “Degree Requirements”) and the requirements specific to a given major/program.

As described in the catalog, to complete a baccalaureate degree at Immaculata University, candidates must:

• fulfill the general (major and core) curriculum requirements of the college (including ethics and writing intensive requirements);
• earn a minimum of 126 credit hours if a student in the College of Adult Professional Studies and 128 credit hours if a student in the College of Undergraduate Studies, with a minimum GPA of 2.00 (C).
• if enrolled in the College of Undergraduate Studies, complete a First Year Seminar (FYS) course and two contact hours in physical education;
• meet the departmental requirements appropriate for the concentration program chosen.

IU’s 3+2-year B.S. and M.S. allows you to earn your bachelor’s in just three years and enter an IU graduate nutrition program. To qualify, you must fulfill the admission requirements of a minimum high school GPA, letters of recommendation, an essay and an interview with the program director. You will take courses year-round and must earn at least a C in chemistry and biology courses, a B- in foods and nutrition courses, and a 3.0 GPA.

You will be guaranteed acceptance into Immaculata’s M.S. in Nutrition Education and Counseling. Alternatively, you may apply for the M.S. in Clinical Nutrition with Dietetic Internship, which provides the academic preparation and supervised practice necessary to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).

The mission of the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) 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 DPD program has the following goals:

Goal 1 – Graduates will be well prepared in the field of nutrition and dietetics, demonstrating logical and critical thought, independent study, and integration of knowledge.

• Objective 1.1: At least 80% of program students complete program/degree requirements within 6 years (150%) of the program length.
• Objective 1.2: Graduates who respond to the post-program completion survey will rank program satisfaction as a minimum overall mean score of 4.0 out of 5.0.
• Objective 1.3: 80% of supervised practice program directors will indicate overall satisfaction with graduate’s preparation for supervised practice.

Goal 2 – Graduates who successfully complete the DPD program will be eligible for supervised practice, graduate school, or employment.

• Objective 2.1: At least 70% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
• Objective 2.2: Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 70% are admitted within 12 months of graduation.
• Objective 2.3: The programs 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 2.4: Graduates who respond to the post-program completion survey will indicate that the program promoted mastery of subject material to prepare them for employment as a minimum overall mean score of 4.0 our of 5.0.

Goal 3 – Graduates will be prepared to communicate ideas effectively in a multicultural society, while respecting diversity, exhibiting personal integrity, and displaying ethical conduct.

• Objective 3.1: Graduates who respond to the post-program completion survey will rank preparedness to work professionally and communicate within a multicultural society as a minimum overall mean score of 4.0 out of 5.0.
• Objective 3.2: Graduates who respond to the post-program completion survey will rank overall coursework relating to professional growth as a minimum overall mean score of 4.0 out of 5.0.