Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Management
This program prepares students to assist people in selecting and obtaining nourishing, healthy food to meet the needs of this rapidly growing profession. The nutrition, dietetics and food management degree offers a diverse mixture of courses that will lead to an entry-level position in the area of dietetics, and completion of the program may qualify graduates to enter a dietetic internship and/or enter a graduate program.
Curriculum
Upon completion of this degree, also called the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), students may be eligible to apply for entry into a supervised practice program (internship), which will make them eligible to take the Registration Examination to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). At the undergraduate level, this degree emphasizes the knowledge and skills essential for competent entry-level dietetics practice. For more information on the program's mission, objectives and process/requirements to become a registered dietitian nutritionist, please see the DPD student handbook.
Please find important updates to the verification policy related to the P/NP grade option for spring 2020 in the DPD Handbook below.
Nutrition Professional Associations
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Oklahoma Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Accreditation
The Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Management program at The University of Central Oklahoma is currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Outcomes 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 by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). In most states, graduates must also obtain licensure or certification to practice. Oklahoma requires licensure. Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited DPD program at UCO are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities for Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Management include:
- Clinical Dietetics
- Food & Nutrition Management
- Public Health Nutrition
- Consultant/Private Practice
- International Food Organizations
- Food Science
Scholarships & Tuition Waivers
Incoming freshman are eligible for a variety of scholarships within the General Academic Scholarship Program. There are multiple scholarships specific to the College of Education and Professional Studies.
