nutrition & dietetics - Graduation and Program Completion Guidelines

Students applying to a Dietetic Internship program or Masters Degree-Dietetic Internship (MS-DI) program must provide evidence that they have completed an undergraduate dietetics curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree
Students applying to programs prior to graduation (i.e., in their senior year) will request the “Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree” form in their applications to be submitted by the DPD director. This form verifies the student’s completed coursework and projected coursework to complete the degree.

Students have three years to meet graduation and DPD requirements upon receiving their “Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree”  form and/or ACEND Minimum Academic Requirements. If the student requires more than three years to complete the DPD requirements, the student must meet the requirements currently in effect in order to be granted a Verification Statement.

Verification Statement
The Verification Statement, signed by the DPD Director, documents that an individual has completed the requirements of a dietetics education program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. This document is essential to establish eligibility:

1. For dietetic supervised practice programs;
2. to take the Registration Examination for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists;
3. for Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Active membership.

The Verification Statement is also required for students wishing to pursue a career as a Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR). Successful completion of the Registration Examination for Dietetic Technicians administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) is also required for the NDTR credential.

For more information about Verification Statements “Frequently Asked Questions”, click here.

Students with a Bachelor’s Degree
For students who previously earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and have returned to meet the DPD requirements, they have a maximum of five years to meet DPD requirements from the date of the letter listing DPD requirements for granting of a Verification Statement of completion of DPD requirements. If the student needs more than five years, the student will be required to meet the DPD requirements currently in effect.

NTDT courses numbered 300 and 400 are required to be taken at the University of Delaware unless permission given to take them elsewhere has been approved by the DPD Director.

Transcript review for DPD course requirements will be limited to individuals who meet at least one of the following criteria: a) resident of the State of Delaware; b) graduate of University of Delaware with at least a bachelor’s degree and/or student accepted by the University of Delaware.

Retention and Remediation Procedures

Students are expected to maintain an overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00 GPA) to be in good academic standing and to be awarded the Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPD Program).

A minimum grade of C- is required in BISC 276, CHEM 102, CHEM 213, CHEM 214, CHEM 215, and CHEM 216.

A minimum grade of C- must be achieved for credits to count toward the fulfillment of 53 credits in NTDT; a minimum grade of C- in NTDT 200-level courses must be achieved to proceed to upper-level courses. Students must retake a course until a C- or higher grade is achieved.

Students are expected to discuss their academic program with their advisors and inform them of their progress. Faculty advisors and students are encouraged to discuss relevant academic issues with the DPD Director.