Mission

The mission of the Didactic Program is to prepare students for careers in nutrition and dietetics  by applying principles of nutrition, food science, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, management, behavioral and social sciences to the promotion of optimal health in individuals including treatment and management of chronic illnesses.

Goals with Corresponding Objectives

Program Goal 1

The program will prepare graduates for acceptance into a supervised dietetics program, successful completion of the registration exam, or nutrition related employment.  

Program Objectives for Goal 1:

1. At least 80% of program students complete program/degree requirements within three years (150% of the program length).
2. At least 50% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
3. Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 80% are admitted 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 nutritionist is at least 80%.

Program Goal 2

Graduates will integrate foundation knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary for competent supervised practice, graduate studies, or nutrition related employment.

Program Objectives for Goal 2:

1. At least 70% of supervised practice program directors will rate program graduates academic preparation for supervised practice as satisfactory or higher.
2. At least 70% of program graduates that completed supervised practice programs will rate the preparation they received in the DPD program as satisfactory or higher.
3. At least 80% of students completing their last month of the DPD program will answer “very much” to the survey question regarding the student’s perceived ability to think critically as a result of the DPD program.