- A minimum of 116 credits are required for this major, including at least 25 upper-division credits.
- This major requires completion of the Family and Consumer Sciences Core, which includes: FCS 1050 Introduction to FCS, FCS 3240 Individual and Family Development, and 4899 Senior Capstone.
- Also known as the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), this major is approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
- After you complete the DPD and the baccalaureate degree, you are awarded the DPD Verification.
If you intend to become a registered dietitian (RDN), you must also complete a post-baccalaureate dietetic internship and pass the national registration examination for dietitians offered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Appointments to dietetic internships are awarded on a competitive basis. Additional information on educational requirements, the RDN credential and a listing of dietetic internships is available from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Complete program information can be found in the Dietetics Handbook, which is located on the Dietetic Emphasis webpage in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department webpages.
Post-baccalaureate students and the major
If you are a post-baccalaureate student seeking DPD verification, your course requirements are identical to those of the Dietetics emphasis, except for the following:
FCS 1050 Introduction to FCS and FCS 3240 Individual and Family Development are not required.
If you are a post-baccalaureate student seeking a second bachelor’s degree in addition to DPD verification, you must complete the requirements listed above, as well as the following:
- At least 45 credits from SPU as a matriculated student.
- At least 15 upper-division credits in the major.
- Five credits in Christian Scriptures or Christian Theology
Your previous academic work, if completed within the last seven years, will be considered for meeting DPD requirements. A transcript review by the DPD director will determine the courses that you must complete to fulfill requirements.
The admission requirements and application process for post-baccalaureate students are identical to those listed above for undergraduate students.
If you are completing the requirements for a second baccalaureate degree, you may be eligible for federal student financial aid; non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.
Admission data for the Nutrition and Dietetics Major
Admission to the Nutrition and Dietetics major is selective and based upon prior academic performance. Recent admission data is depicted below.
| Academic Year |
2017–18 |
2018–19 |
2019–20 |
| Average GPA of Admitted Students |
3.5 |
3.3 |
3.4 |
| Lowest GPA of Admitted Students |
3.0 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
| Number of Applicants |
15 |
13 |
20 |
| Number Admitted |
15 |
12 |
17 |
Entering and completing a major or minor
In order to earn a degree, you must complete an academic major. SPU encourages students to explore various academic paths, and students are not required to enter a major immediately upon admission to the University. However, you should enter a major by the end of your sophomore year to help ensure your timely completion of a degree. Students who transfer as juniors and seniors should identify and enter their major within their first two quarters at SPU.
- The University requires a grade of C- or better in all classes that apply to a major or minor; however, programs may require higher minimum grades in specific courses. You may repeat an SPU course only once for a higher grade.
- Students on academic probation (with an SPU cumulative GPA below 2.0) will not be permitted to enter a new major or minor until they regain good academic standing.
- To advance in your program, meet with your faculty advisor regularly to discuss your grades, course progression, and other indicators of satisfactory academic progress. If your grades or other factors indicate that you may not be able to successfully complete the major or minor, your faculty advisor can work with you to explore options, which may include choosing a different major or minor.
- You must complete the major or minor requirements in effect in the SPU Undergraduate Catalog for the year of admittance to the major or minor.
Entering the Food and Nutritional Sciences major or minor
- If this is your first quarter at SPU and you wish to enter the Food and Nutritional Sciences major (either emphasis) or the minor, you may select a program by using the online Major or Minor Application form. You will receive an email notification of acceptance.
- If you are an SPU student with an SPU cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better, use the online Major or Minor Application form to select your major or minor. You will receive an email notification of acceptance.
Apply to the Nutrition and Dietetics major
- Admission to the Nutrition and Dietetics major is selective and based upon prior academic performance.
- Before being admitted to the Nutrition and Dietetics major, you are required to complete the following courses with a grade of C- or higher:
- BIO 2129, BIO 2130; CHM 1310, CHM 1330, CHM 1360; FCS 1050; and FCS 2365 or FCS 3340.
- An overall college GPA of 3.0 or higher is required for application to this major.
- Once you have met minimum requirements for application, you may apply by using the online Major or Minor Application form.
- Your application is due on or before the first Friday of Autumn, Winter, or Spring quarter.
- Applications are reviewed once per quarter.
The SPU post-baccalaureate nutrition and dietetics internship certificate program is a nine-month, post-baccalaureate program that provides dietetics interns with a minimum of 1,200 hours of supervised professional experiences and learning activities in the areas of clinical nutrition, community nutrition, and food service management.
Upon program completion of the internship program, graduates will be eligible to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitian Nutritionists.
Learn more about this program's requirements and admission.
Professional licensure disclosure
If you plan to become a registered dietitian (RDN), note that eligibility and procedures for certification/licensure vary from state to state. Further, requirements for certification/licensure can change without notice.
The state professional licensing boards make the ultimate decision as to whether or not an individual will be eligible for licensure based on the rules and regulations in place at the time the individual submits their application for licensure. Find information here about certification/licensure in the state where you intend to practice your profession.
Time Schedule:
Course planning: Suggested course sequences