The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Dietetics prepares students to meet the eligibility requirements to sit for the Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR) exam. The BS in Dietetics is also designed to prepare students for graduate coursework and supervised practice in programs leading to eligibility for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential. To be successful in their field, NDTRs and RDNs need a strong science foundation along with courses in management, clinical and community nutrition, food science, communication, counseling, therapeutic nutrition, and nutrition for the lifespan. The BS in Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) as a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). 

• Mission, Goals and Objectives

  Mission of the Dietetics Program

  To guide the future of dietetics and nutrition in Alaska by preparing graduates for success in academic or professional pursuits.

  Goal #1 – Program graduates will be prepared for successful application and admittance to post baccalaureate programs.

   

  Objectives

  1. At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 3 years
  2. At least 60 percent 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 percent are admitted within 12 months of graduation
     

   

  Goal #2 – Program graduates will be prepared to become competent entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) or Nutrition and Dietetic Technicians Registered (NDTRs).

   

  Objectives

  1. 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 nutritionists is at least 80%”.
  2. 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 dietetic technicians is at least 80%.
  3. At least 75% of DI or Graduate  program directors of UAA DPD alumni will rate alumni with a knowledge base of at least “satisfactory” on follow-up surveys.

   

  Program outcomes data is available upon request.
• Requirements and Process to Become an NDTR and RDN

  Graduates with a BS in Dietetics are eligible to sit for the Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR) exam from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). 

  In order to practice as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in Alaska the following steps are required:

  1. Complete an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)- accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) with a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree. 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). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement, visit CDR's website.
  2. Complete ACEND-accredited supervised practice, such as a Dietetic Internship or coordinated Master’s degree that includes supervised practice.
  3. Pass the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) exam. You will only be eligible to sit for the exam following completion of the above requirements.
  4. Apply for licensure: See the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development at http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/pdtn.htm for more information.

  Additional information regarding state requirements for licensure can be found on the CDR’s website. 

• Distance Education

  The UAA BS in Dietetics and Nutrition program is an online program. Many of the classes do have scheduled meetings times which will be published in the course schedule and available at the time of course registration.

  The following are required and expected for online courses:

  1. Required technology tools: Blackboard, Zoom, Microsoft Office or Google Apps, Google Chrome browser, Mozilla Firefox browser and Adobe Reader (PDF reader).
  2. Computer and information literacy skills expectations: Ability to use Blackboard, email, word processing and presentation software, online search tools and online libraries/databases. Please note: students must have access to a working computer with a functional web camera and microphone to successfully participate in the online courses.

Application Process

Students may apply for admission to the full dietetics major in the spring semester in which they are completing the final prerequisites for the full major. The application deadline for the BS in Dietetics is February 15. Applicants transferring credit from another institution should apply to UAA no later than November 1 prior to spring application to the dietetics program to allow sufficient time for application processing and transcript evaluation. Spring enrollment in another institution may postpone transcript evaluation and therefore affect program acceptance.

• Admission Requirements 
  1. Complete the Admission Requirements for Baccalaureate Programs.
  2. All students will initially be admitted to a pre-major status. Admission as a pre-major does not guarantee admission to the dietetics program. 
  3. Students may apply for admission to the full dietetics major in the spring semester in which they are completing the final prerequisites for the full major (see course list below). The application deadline for the BS in Dietetics is February 15.
  4. Complete the following courses with a minimum grade of C and an overall GPA of 3.00*. BIOL, CHEM and DN courses (or a higher level course in similar subject matter as approved by the program director) must have been completed within the past 10 years:
     
     

  • BIOL A111 Anatomy and Physiology I
  • BIOL A112 Anatomy and Physiology II
  • CHEM A105 General Chemistry I
  • CHEM A105L General Chemistry I Lab
  • CHEM A106 General Chemistry II (completed or in progress)
  • CHEM A106L General Chemistry II Lab (completed or in progress)
  • DN A100 The Profession of Dietetics
  • DN A203 Nutrition for the Health Sciences
  • DN A151 Nutrition Through the Lifecycle
  • Humanities GER (3 cr)
  • Humanities GER (3 cr)
  • ALEKS score > or MATH A151 or higher
  • Oral Communications GER
  • PSY A11 or SOC A101 General Psychology
  • WRTG A111 Methods of Written Communication
  • WRTG A 212 Technical Writing or WRTG A 213
    
    

  *Conditional acceptance to the program can be granted if the students are in the process of taking any of the prerequisite courses during the spring semester. Students will need to provide official proof of course completion with a minimum grade of C prior to starting the program.

• Application Instructions

  Application for admission to the full dietetics major is completed in the spring semester in which final prerequisites for the full major are being completed (see admission requirements above for list of prerequisites). The application deadline is February 15.

  1. Schedule an appointment to meet with a Dietetics and Nutrition program advisor. Applicants must meet with a Dietetics and Nutrition program advisor regarding the application and program admission requirements prior to application to ensure all requirements to apply have been met. For an advising appointment, call 907-786-1276 or email alurbanus@alaska.edu.
     
     
  2. Once eligibility to apply is confirmed, applicants are added to the Didactics Program in Dietetics (DPD) Application Assessment Group in ePortfolio. This should be done at least 2 weeks prior to the application deadline. This will provide you access to the application template (further explanation on how to access and use ePortfolio will be provided by the Dietetic and Nutrition program advisor).
     
     
  3. Complete the DPD (BS Dietetics full-major) application.  The DPD application is submitted through UAA's eWolf ePortfolio system.  Application includes applicant information, work experience, extracurricular activities, and an online interview assessment*. 
     
     *Interview: Applicants to the full dietetics major will complete an online interview assessment. You will be sent a link via email that will provide instructions on how to complete the interview. It will take 30-60 minutes to complete and you will complete this on your own time. The interview assessment must be completed before the application deadline.
• Graduation Requirements
  1. Complete the General University Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
  2. Complete the General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
  3. Meet the following GPA requirements:
  1. A minimum overall GPA of 3.00 in major requirements.
  2. A minimum grade of C in all courses that count toward the major.
  3. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
  4. Complete the following major requirements:
     
     

  SUPPORT COURSES
  BIOL A111 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
  BIOL A112 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
  BIOL A108 Principles and Methods in Biology
  CHEM A105 General Chemistry I
  CHEM A105L General Chemistry I Laboratory
  CHEM A106 General Chemistry II
  CHEM A106L General Chemistry II Laboratory
  HLTH A151 Breaking Trail on Your Health and Social Services Career
  MATH A151 College Algebra for Calculus (or any course for which MATH A151 is a prerequisite or test score placement into higher level course)
  Fine Arts GER (3 credits)
  Humanities GERs (language recommended) (6 credits)
  Oral Communication Skills GER (3 credits)
  Social Sciences GER (3 credits)
  PSY A111 Introduction to Psychology or SOC A101 Introduction to Sociology
  STAT A200 Elementary Statistics
  WRTG A111 Writing Across Contexts or WRTG A1W Written Communication Skills GER
  WRTG A212 Writing and the Professions or WRTG A213 Writing and the Sciences or WRTG A2W Written Communication Skills GER
  

  CORE COURSES
  BIOL A240 Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences
  CHEM A321 Organic Chemistry I
  CHEM A441 Principles of Biochemistry I 
  DN A100  The Profession of Dietetics
  DN A151 Nutrition Through the Life Cycle
  DN A203 Nutrition for Health Sciences
  DN/CA A270 Culinary Nutrition
  DN A275 Introduction to Culinary Medicine
  DN A301 Nutrition Assessment
  DN A312 Nutrition Communication and Counseling
  DN A325 Food & Nutrition in Modern Alaska
  DN A350 Foodservice Systems and Quantity Foods
  DN A355 Weight Management and Eating Disorders
  DN A360 Sports Nutrition
  DN A401 Medical Nutrition Therapy I
  DN A402 Medical Nutrition Therapy II
  DN A415 Community Nutrition 
  DN A430 Research Methods in Nutrition and Dietetics
  DN A450 Dietetic Management
  DN A475 Advanced Nutrition
  DN A492 Senior Seminar in Dietetics

  Please visit the UAA Academic Catalog for more information.

• Email: ACEND@eatright.org
• Phone: 1-800-877-1600, ext. 5400
• Mail: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995
• Website: www.eatrightpro.org/ACEND