Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Dietetics

Overview

Sarah Larson

Welcome from the Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics!

Welcome to URI’s DPD Program! I look forward to working with you to help you achieve your goal of becoming a Registered Dietitian. After exploring our website, email me if you have further questions or want to talk more about our program and your future.

Learn More About Professor Larson

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Dietetics prepares you for a career as a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. Registered Dietitians/Nutritionists help people meet their nutritional needs through diet counseling and nutrition support, with the overall goals of improving health and preventing disease throughout the lifespan. Dietetics integrates knowledge of food, nutrition, management, sciences, and social sciences to improve the dietary intake and health of individuals and communities.

 

 

 

 

Becoming a Registered Dietitian

To qualify for the professional title of Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, you will need to complete:

  1. Training through an academic program
    You will fulfill this requirement by completing the B.S. in Dietetics, which includes the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) courses. The DPD program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
  2. A supervised practice requirement
    Complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice. This requirement is met by completing an ACEND-accredited dietetic internship, individualized supervised practice program (ISPP), future education model graduate program (FEM), or coordinated Master of Science/Dietetic Internship (MS/DI) program. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website contains the most current listing of dietetic internship programs and information on how to apply.
  3. A national exam
    Upon completion of academic and experience requirements, students become eligible to take the national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Passing this exam gives you the professional title of Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, then you’ll need to meet continuing education requirements to maintain your registration status. Students who become Registered Dietitians/Nutritionists are eligible for licensing in the state of Rhode Island as a Dietitian/Nutritionist. The Rhode Island Department of Health provides complete information on licensing requirements. The Academy website contains information on licensing in all states.

Accreditation

The B.S. Dietetics program provides the academic coursework (Didactic Program in Dietetics, or DPD) outlined by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to become a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. The DPD at the University of Rhode Island is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312.899.5400, https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend. After completing the degree program, students will receive a Verification Statement showing they have completed ACEND academic requirements.            

Program outcome data is available upon request.

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). In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited ACEND. In Rhode Island, graduates also must obtain licensure to practice. Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited DPD at the University of Rhode Island are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program. For more information about educational pathways to become an RDN please visit information for students.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

In accordance with the 2019 Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, URI hereby discloses that the curriculum for this program meets the educational requirements for licensure as a Registered Dietitian in all U.S. States and Territories. The applicable licensing board in these states may impose additional requirements* on candidates prior to granting a license (e.g., passing of an exam; completing a post-baccalaureate internship; etc.), and we encourage you to investigate those requirements with your licensing board.

*Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) requires the completion of a 1200-hour, post-baccalaureate internship to meet eligibility to sit for the Registered Dietitian credentialing exam.