Didactic Program in Nutrition
The Didactic Program in Nutrition prepares students for post-baccalaureate dietetic internships leading to the Registered Dietitian (also known as Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist or RDN) credential, or to take the exam leading to the Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered credential. Course work meets all Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics academic requirements and offers opportunities for focused electives or for a minor area of study to match a student’s interests or career goals. Electives may also be used to take additional courses to prepare for graduate study in other health sciences, such as medicine, physician’s assistant, physical therapy, and others (students may be required to take different science coursework as well to prepare for these other careers).
Graduates work to promote health and wellness within communities and have employment opportunities in public health agencies (government and private), food service facilities, and businesses.
- Apply to La Salle University through the Office of Admissions
- Upon completion of all required course work, you will receive a Verification Statement that permits application to a dietetics supervised practice program.
- Once academic requirements are met, apply to the La Salle Coordinated Program in Dietetics or outside internship to meet supervised practice requirements*
- Completion of supervised practice qualifies you to take the Registered Dietitian examination to earn the R. D. (also called Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist or RDN) credential, which is granted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Once the R.D. credential has been earned, you are eligible to apply for licensure in states that have licensure for dietitians. You can refer to the state licensure board for the requirements in the state where you intend to practice.
*The supervised practice requirement is an unpaid internship, a minimum of 1200 hours, typically full-time for approximately 10-12 months. The La Salle Coordinated Program offers a spot in our internship for students who meet academic criteria, while application to outside internships is very competitive.
Transfer students may also apply to the Didactic Program in Nutrition:
- Previous transcript(s) will be evaluated by the Program Director for course work that can be applied to Dietetics requirements. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has very specific course requirements for eligibility to apply to a supervised practice program. Courses which may be completed at another college or university include: English Composition, Public Speaking, Computer Science, Statistics, Macroeconomics, Psychology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, and Microbiology. In addition to these courses, 11 (for Coordinated Program acceptance) or 13 (for verification to apply to outside internships) Nutrition courses are required which must be completed through an ACEND-accredited DPD program.
- A personalized course sequence will be developed to complete Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics academic requirements and earn a Verification Statement.
Please contact Dr. Laura B. Frank, R.D., L.D.N., Director of Didactic Program in Nutrition, for further information about the program, curriculum and outcomes at frankl@lasalle.edu
You can also refer to the Didactic Program in Nutrition Student Handbook.
To learn more about this program’s curriculum, visit the online course catalog.
