University of Central Oklahoma College of Education and Professional Studies Human Environmental Sciences Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Management Student Handbook The Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Management program at the University of Central Oklahoma is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Located at: Email: [email protected] 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190 Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995 Phone 800/877-1600, ext. 5400 Upon completion of this degree, also called the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), students are 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 (R.D.N). At the undergraduate level, this degree emphasizes the knowledge and skills essential for competent entry-level dietetics practice. To become a Registered Dietitian (R.D.), a student must: 1. Earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Management or have a degree from an ACEND accredited University. Upon successful completion of the degree requirements, students may earn a verification statement (see verification policy) that allows them to apply for entry into a supervised practice program. (see Post Baccalaureate section) 2. Successfully complete an ACEND accredited supervised practice program which requires 1200 supervised practice hours (dietetic internship). 3. Pass the Registration Exam for Dietitians. Admission There is no admission process to become a DPD student. Any student who has been admitted to the University will be considered a dietetics student upon the declaration of their major. Any student may declare Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Management as a major (Code 3080). Students may not apply for entry into a dietetic internship until the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) has been successfully completed AND the student has met the requirements to 1 earn a verification statement. Likewise, students are not eligible to sit for the registration exam until they have successfully completed their supervised practice program. *Beginning in 2024, a minimum of a master's degree will be an eligibility requirement in order to take the CDR dietetic registration exam. A graduate program is offered at the University of Central Oklahoma and can be completed at the same time as the Dietetic Internship. Students not wishing to become a registered dietitian or who do not meet the requirements to earn a verification statement may complete a degree in Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Management. This degree is designed to meet the requirements for Pre-med, dental, optometry, pharmacy and other post-graduate programs in the health care arenas for those who qualify as well as jobs in public health, foodservice management and food science. Students earning a degree in Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Management will have an in-depth knowledge of the science of nutrition and a solid foundation in applied science. Mission Statement The mission of the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) didactic program in dietetics (DPD) is to provide high quality nutrition education and skills necessary to encourage responsible, ethical, competent professionals and prepare students for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become registered dietitians, nutritionist, or related fields. The program will foster an environment, which will encourage leadership, professional development, and community service through transformative learning. Program Goals Goal 1: The program will prepare graduates with basic knowledge and skills needed for acceptance into a supervised practice program. Objectives 1. 80% of program students complete program/degree requirements within 3 years (150% of the program length). 2. 70% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation. 3. 80% of program graduates are admitted to a supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation. 4. 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%. 5. 90% of Dietetic Internship Directors completing a DI Director survey will rate graduates as satisfactory for entry level into supervised practice. 6. 80% of graduates completing a graduate survey/exit interview or alumni survey will indicate the DPD program prepared them to succeed in a dietetic internship. 2 Goal 2: The program will prepare graduates for a career in food, nutrition, or health related fields through development of professional skills, leadership and transformative learning. Objectives 1. 80% of graduates completing a graduate survey/exit interview will indicate that they agree or strongly agree that they were exposed to a variety of career paths in nutrition and related fields. 2. 80% of graduates completing a graduate survey/exit interview will agree or strongly agree they were exposed to leadership and professional development activities. Outcome measures of this program are available on request. Degree Plans Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Management (ACEND Accredited Track) Coursework designated NTRN under “Major Requirements” must have been taken within the last five years to be considered current and qualify for a verification statement. Courses taken at other Universities for consideration to be substituted and/or transferred are at the discretion of the DPD Director. https://www.uco.edu/academic-affairs/files/ug-catalog/degree-sheets/ceps/nutr-dietetics- foodmngmt.pdf Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Management program must complete at least 124 credit hours of courses. Students must complete University core curriculum requirements in addition to DPD courses (major requirements). See the Undergraduate Catalog or your assigned academic advisor for approved courses or for information regarding credit for courses. Students must earn a 2.50 minimum cumulative grade point average in all college coursework, coursework at UCO, and major courses to qualify for the degree. You may earn a degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Management without earning a verification statement. Students must apply for the degree on or before published dates. Contact your academic advisor prior to registering for your final semester for specific dates. Requirements for Earning a Verification Statement 3 A verification statement is an official document that certifies successful completion of a Baccalaureate degree and the requirements of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited program. A verification statement is required to qualify for application to a dietetic internship. The following is the policy of the UCO DPD program for earning a verification statement. The DPD Director will issue a verification statement if the following criteria are met: • A GPA of 3.2 in the DPD required coursework (all courses excluding the University Core) • No grade lower than a C in all DPD courses • Meet all coursework requirements within a 5-year period • All 4000 level NTRN courses taken in residence at the University of Central Oklahoma. All students meeting the requirements for a verification statement will be issued one. It will be retained on file in the Program Director’s office indefinitely. A Declaration of Intent form will be provided by the Program Director for students applying to supervised practice programs prior to when coursework is completed. Issuance of a verification statement requires up to four weeks post-graduation. Students receiving a verification statement who are unable to enter a dietetic internship may qualify to become a Dietetic Technician Registered (DTR). A DTR is a food and nutrition practitioner who has completed at least a two-year associate's degree at a US regionally accredited university or college, required course work and at least 450 hours of supervised practice accredited by ACEND or at least a bachelor's degree at a US Regionally accredited university or college and required coursework for a Didactic Program (DPD) or Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP). Earning the DTR credential does not require additional supervised practice hours however, you must pass a national DTR examination administered by CDR and complete continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration. The majority of DTRs work with RDs in a variety of employment settings including health care (assisting RDs in providing medical nutrition therapy), in hospitals, HMOs, clinics or other health-care facilities. In addition, a large number of DTRs work in community and public health settings such as school or day care centers, correctional facilities, weight management clinics and WIC programs as nutrition counselors. Advising Academic advising is every student’s best source of information about academic programs, procedures and sequence of taking courses at the UCO. Academic advising services are a vital aspect of the university's active commitment to student's academic success. Thus, the university expects all students to participate in the academic advising process throughout their careers at UCO. For student success in the program, it is highly advised that you meet with