Nutrition and Dietetics Resources

Students interested in receiving an education in nutrition and dietetics or becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) must complete the academic coursework required through the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). These requirements can be met through the Nutrition and Dietetics Concentration of the Family and Consumer Sciences degree program, which is fully accredited through June 2026 by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 800-877-1600 ext 5400. https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend.

The DPD at North Carolina Central University offers a professional degree for undergraduate, second-degree and nontraditional students at competitive tuition rates.

“To graduate culturally diverse leaders who are prepared for supervised practice programs and the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam to become registered dietitian nutritionists."

The dietetics program has two primary goals that guide the actions of faculty and administrators to help foster student success:

Goal 1

Program graduates will be prepared for admission to supervised practice or other advanced academic programs.

Objectives

1.1 At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 3 years (150% of planned program length). 

1.2 At least 60% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.

1.3 Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 60% are admitted within 12 months of graduation.

Goal 2

Program graduates will be prepared for entry-level employment in food service, nutrition, dietetics, and related fields and have the critical thinking, leadership, and professional skills to work in a wide range of practice settings.

Objectives

2.1 The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of the first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%. 

2.2 At least 80% of supervised practice program directors will indicate satisfaction with program graduates’ preparation for employment and job performance. 

2.3 At least 80% of program graduates will agree they were prepared for a supervised practice program, advanced study programs, or entry-level employment. 

2.4 At least 80% of program graduates will indicate that the DPD curriculum offered opportunities for critical thinking, leadership, and professional skill development. 

Program Outcomes

Program outcomes data are available upon request. Please contact the program director.

The DPD has been designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully complete the program and present themselves as strong applicants for supervised practice programs (dietetic internships).

View NC Central's Tuition and Fees

In addition to tuition and fees, students may be responsible for other education-related expenses:

1. Complete the requirements of an ACEND® accredited bachelor’s or master’s program. The required didactic coursework in dietetics consists of various courses in food and nutrition science, clinical dietetics, food service management, nutritional biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, chemistry and biology.
2. Receive a verification statement from an accredited university. This statement indicates that an individual has successfully completed all the coursework and is able to demonstrate the mastery of the competencies as set forth by ACEND. This statement enables an individual to apply to supervised practice programs (i.e., dietetic internships) throughout the United States.
3. Complete an ACEND® accredited dietetic internship or other supervised practice programs that includes 1000 hours of clinical, community and foodservice experiential practice.
4. 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). For more information about this requirement, visit CDR’s website.
5. Pass the nationally recognized Registration Examination for Dietitians administered by CDR.
6. Apply for licensure if practicing and working in North Carolina. The North Carolina Board of Dietetics/Nutrition provides licensures to qualified RDNs  (see steps one to five). Eligible candidates can apply to receive licensure as a licensed dietitian nutritionist (LDN).

The undergraduate DPD at NCCU facilitates matriculation through steps one and two.

The Dietetic Internship program at NCCU facilitates matriculation through step three.

Starting January 1, 2024, steps three and four may be completed in either order or simultaneously.

For more information regarding an education in nutrition and dietetics or to schedule a call, virtual meeting or in-person appointment, please contact Jason M. O'Briant, director of the Undergraduate Didactic Program in Dietetics.