Department of Kinesiology

Click here to download PDF version of this information

Mission Statement for the Didactic Program in Dietetics

The mission of the DPD is to provide program graduates with the skills and knowledge to be comfortable and competent in their dietetic internship and serve as professionals capable of providing excellent entry-level dietetic services in numerous community, food service, management, and clinical settings.  The program will provide an evidence-based curriculum that is communication focused, provides for a variety of practicum experiences, and promotes life-long learning, problem solving, and the effectiveness of teamwork.  Faculty members will serve as professional mentors in both the academic and professional settings.

UNLV DPD Program Goals

The DPD program will:

• Prepare graduates for a dietetics career utilizing the knowledge and skills gained during the DPD.
• Recruit and retain a diverse population of students.

UNLV DPD Program Outcome Measures

Outcome Measures Goal 1:

1. Eighty percent of the program graduates will pass the registration examination on the first try.
2. At least 80% of graduates will be employed enrolled in a dietetic internship program, or enrolled in graduate/professional school within one year of graduation.
3. At least 80% of the graduates will rate that they were at least satisfied with the overall knowledge gained during the DPD (Rating Scale: “quite satisfied”, “satisfied”, or “dissatisfied”.
4. At least 80% of graduates will rate themselves as being prepared for their dietetic internship or their first job (Rating scale: Well-prepared, prepared, somewhat prepared, not well-prepared).
5. When surveyed, at least 80% of employers or internship directors will give program graduates under their supervision a mean rating of 3 or “satisfactory” for all entry level knowledge and skills assessed (Rating scale: 5 = excels; 4 = above average; 3 = satisfactory; 2 = below average; 1 = incompetent).
   

Outcome Measures Goal 2:

• At least 80% of the students who begin their junior year in the program will graduate from the program.
• At least 25% of the students will be from a minority ethnic or age group.

The Credentialing Process: Becoming a Registered Dietitian

The first step in becoming a Registered Dietitian is to successfully complete the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).  Once the program is completed, students will receive a Verification Statement from the Program Director. 
The next step is to apply for, become accepted into, and successfully complete a Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) approved dietetic internship (supervised practice experience) or CADE approved program with a supervised practice component. Some of these programs may simultaneously grant a Master’s degree and will provide you with the CADE required supervised practice experience.  For a complete list of programs, visit http://www.eatright.org.  The Verification Statement issued at completion of the DPD is needed for the application to the Dietetic Internship.
Upon completion of the Dietetic Internship or other CADE accredited program that provides supervised practice experience, the student will receive another Verification Statement from the Program Director.  This will allow the student to sit for the National Registration Examination for Dietitians.
The final step to becoming a Registered Dietitian is to pass the National Registration Examination for Dietitians.

Estimate of Program Costs

Click here to download PDF version of this information

Mission Statement for the Didactic Program in Dietetics

The mission of the DPD is to provide program graduates with the skills and knowledge to be comfortable and competent in their dietetic internship and serve as professionals capable of providing excellent entry-level dietetic services in numerous community, food service, management, and clinical settings.  The program will provide an evidence-based curriculum that is communication focused, provides for a variety of practicum experiences, and promotes life-long learning, problem solving, and the effectiveness of teamwork.  Faculty members will serve as professional mentors in both the academic and professional settings.

UNLV DPD Program Goals

The DPD program will:

• Prepare graduates for a dietetics career utilizing the knowledge and skills gained during the DPD.
• Recruit and retain a diverse population of students.

UNLV DPD Program Outcome Measures

Outcome Measures Goal 1:

1. Eighty percent of the program graduates will pass the registration examination on the first try.
2. At least 80% of graduates will be employed enrolled in a dietetic internship program, or enrolled in graduate/professional school within one year of graduation.
3. At least 80% of the graduates will rate that they were at least satisfied with the overall knowledge gained during the DPD (Rating Scale: “quite satisfied”, “satisfied”, or “dissatisfied”.
4. At least 80% of graduates will rate themselves as being prepared for their dietetic internship or their first job (Rating scale: Well-prepared, prepared, somewhat prepared, not well-prepared).
5. When surveyed, at least 80% of employers or internship directors will give program graduates under their supervision a mean rating of 3 or “satisfactory” for all entry level knowledge and skills assessed (Rating scale: 5 = excels; 4 = above average; 3 = satisfactory; 2 = below average; 1 = incompetent).
   

Outcome Measures Goal 2:

• At least 80% of the students who begin their junior year in the program will graduate from the program.
• At least 25% of the students will be from a minority ethnic or age group.

The Credentialing Process: Becoming a Registered Dietitian

The first step in becoming a Registered Dietitian is to successfully complete the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).  Once the program is completed, students will receive a Verification Statement from the Program Director. 
The next step is to apply for, become accepted into, and successfully complete a Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) approved dietetic internship (supervised practice experience) or CADE approved program with a supervised practice component. Some of these programs may simultaneously grant a Master’s degree and will provide you with the CADE required supervised practice experience.  For a complete list of programs, visit http://www.eatright.org.  The Verification Statement issued at completion of the DPD is needed for the application to the Dietetic Internship.
Upon completion of the Dietetic Internship or other CADE accredited program that provides supervised practice experience, the student will receive another Verification Statement from the Program Director.  This will allow the student to sit for the National Registration Examination for Dietitians.
The final step to becoming a Registered Dietitian is to pass the National Registration Examination for Dietitians.

Estimate of Program Costs

Graduation and Program Completion Requirements

Upon admission to the major, students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 each semester and have no grades less than a C in all nutrition science courses.  Students who fail to maintain a GPA of 2.50 will be placed on academic probation and will be required to receive academic advising.  Here the student will meet with an academic advisor and decide if they want to improve their GPA and re-apply for the Nutrition Sciences major or choose another major with different GPA expectations.
A minimum of 124 credit hours is required for graduation with 62 credits earned at a four-year institution. 
Upon meeting the above requirements, students will receive a Verification Statement from the DPD Director.  A copy will also be placed in the student’s permanent file.

Concentrations that meet the DPD Requirements

Comprehensive: This general program allows students to meet all DPD requirements.  This concentration allows students to choose Nutrition Sciences elective courses.
Sports Nutrition: This concentration allows students to take specialized courses in sports nutrition and exercise physiology.  These specialty courses will replace elective choices.  Students in this concentration will meet DPD requirements. 
Nutrition & Dietetics Management: This concentration allows students to take specialized courses in food and beverage management.  These specialty courses will replace elective choices.  Students in this concentration will meet DPD requirements.