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Bachelor of Science in Dietetics

B.S. Dietetics

If you are interested in advising people about what to eat in order to lead a healthy lifestyle or achieve a specific health-related goal, consider a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Life University. Dietitians are experts in the use of food and nutrition to promote health and manage disease. The mission of the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics at Life University is to provide diverse didactic courses in biological, nutrition, and dietetics science, as well as to facilitate practical experience for students so that the program graduates attain required knowledge and competencies for a variety of careers within the field of nutrition and dietetics.

As a Bachelor of Science student in the program, you will study in a highly competitive program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), an agency of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, alongside students and faculty who share your passion. Through classroom, kitchen lab and field training, program majors are prepared to earn their Registered Dietitian credentials and may work as clinical health professionals in hospitals, nursing care facilities, correctional facilities and outpatient settings, as well as in consultation with individual patients.

Life University’s Nutrition Department is built on a vitalistic view that what we eat can affect the entirety of our health, whether we are caring for an illness, trying to live a healthier lifestyle, maximizing our physical performance or simply cooking balanced meals for the week. Whether they plan to pursue R.D. credentials, pursue an advanced degree in nutrition, own their own business or work in professional healthcare or food industry careers, graduates of Life University’s Nutrition Department will emerge as:

  • Social educators who communicate awareness and new developments about the ways in which individual communities and broader societies understand and utilize food.
  • Nutrition experts who understand the science of food (chemistry, biochemistry, food science, etc.) and the business applications of the food industry.
  • Creative innovators who write recipes, design meal plans, counsel clients, find solutions, and explore flavor and plating – all in pursuit of colorful, conscious eating.

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: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Dietetic Program in Dietetics (DPD) program at Life University are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements click here.

For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN, click here.

students at Life U not only learn how to become a dietician, but also why it's important. Nutrition and diet are very important at a leading holistic health university.

Information for Prospective Students & Public

ACEND Accreditation

Life University’s Didactic Program in Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND):
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
800/877-1600 ext. 5400

EMAIL: ACEND@eatright.org

Description of Program, Mission, Goals and Objectives

Description of the Program: The Dietetic Program (DPD) is designed to share knowledge and provide sound training to dietetics professionals in order to meet the increasing demand for nutrition experts. Students of the Dietetic Program will receive a variety of experiences in food service, food science, and community nutrition. The DPD program consists of 180 credit hours which includes the core curriculum (60 hours), foundation to the major (30 hours), major courses (60 hours), and required electives (30 hours). The program is four years off in duration and will include instructional and laboratory-type experiences. Upon completion of the program, the student will have been exposed to the entire score of practice in dietetics and will have a working knowledge of clinical, community, food service, and administrative dietetics.

Mission: The mission of the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics at Life University is to provide diverse didactic courses in biological, nutrition and dietetics science, as well as to facilitate practical experience for students so that the program graduates attain required knowledge and competencies for a variety of careers within the field of nutrition and dietetics.

PROGRAM GOALS

Goal #1

To prepare graduates of the DPD with a broad educational knowledge and skills for successful entry and completion of the supervised dietetic internship program.

Objective 1: At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 6 years (150% of planned program length).

Objective 2: At least 80 percent of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.

Objective 3: Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 60 percent are admitted within 12 months of graduation.

Objective 4: 80% of those graduates who are not accepted or not applied to a dietetic internship within the academic year they complete the DPD will seek further training or obtain employment.

Objective 5: 80% of the IP directors will feel the graduates of the Life University DP are prepared for the IP.

Goal #2

To prepare graduates of the DPD to effectively perform job responsibilities of any entry level position in the field of nutrition and dietetics and or pursuing an advanced degree.

Objective 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%.

Objective 2: 80% of the DPD graduates who desire employment will obtain a position in their field of study within 12 months of graduation.

Objective 3: 90% of the employers of the DPD graduates who take position in the field of nutrition & dietetics feel Life University graduates are well prepared for their position.

Objective 4: Over a seven-year period, 10% of the DP graduates will apply to an advanced degree program within 3 years of graduation.

Program Outcome Data

A summary of program outcome data are available on request. Please send a written request to Dr. Kwase Dowe, DPD Director, at Kwase.Dowe@Life.edu or Nutrition Department, College of Graduate and Undergraduate, 1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta, GA 30060

Career Opportunities

Job opportunities for graduates with Registered Dietitian credential are endless and include settings such as hospitals, public health nutrition programs and long-term care facilities. Dietitians also work in child nutrition and school lunch programs, community wellness centers, health clubs, nutrition programs for the elderly, food companies and in food service management settings. Their responsibilities are as varied as the settings in which they work. Dietitians also work with physicians providing individual and group therapy. Another possibility for Dietitians is to work for pharmaceutical companies with lines of Nutritional Products.

Credentialing Process for Dietetics Practitioners

To become a registered dietician (RD) or registered dietician nutritionist (RDN), students must complete the following:

  • Complete a minimum of a bachelor’s* degree as a U.S. regionally accredited university or college and coursework accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and complete the requirements for a Verification Statement.
  • Complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program, which includes experience in clinical nutrition, food service management, and community nutrition.
  • Complete a graduate degree, effective as of January 1, 2024.
  • Successfully passed the Registration Examination for Dietitians administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the Registration Examination for Dietitians, refer to www.cdrnet.org.
  • Follow the state laws that regulate the practice of dietetics. For example, RDNs must then obtain a valid license issued by the Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians in order to practice dietetics in Georgia (https://sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-licensed-dietitian).

*Beginning in 2024, a minimum of a master’s degree will be an eligibility requirement in order to take the CDR dietetic credentialing exam. The graduate degree may be a master’s degree or doctorate in any discipline. Students who take the RD exam before 2024 will not have to meet the graduate degree requirement.

As mentioned above, the requirements will change 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 to 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: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Dietetic Program in Dietetics (DPD) program at Life University are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements click here.
For more information about educational pathways to become an RDN, click here.
Completing the B.S. in Dietetics does not guarantee admission into a dietetic internship supervised practice program. The most common supervised practice program is a dietetic internship program that LU does offer. Some supervised practice programs are combined with graduate and undergraduate studies. These programs vary in cost, length, and specialty. Supervised practice internship programs vary in length, ranging from six to 12 months. Admission to supervised practice programs is highly competitive, and the acceptance process is through a matching process that occurs twice a year (spring and fall).

Cost of Attendance

Annual cost and fees to attend Life University are described on the LU website under the cost of attendance https://www.life.edu/admissions-pages/cost-of-attendance/.

The data presented is an estimation of the program cost to the individual student. These estimates are based on full-time attendance (15 quarter hours for three academic terms).

Additional costs include books, supplies, course materials, and equipment ranging from $600 to $1,000 per term.

Application and Admission Information

When you apply to Life University, the admission committee will evaluate your academic achievement, preparation, and standardized test scores.

The Enrollment Team at Life University must receive your application and supporting documents to begin the evaluation process!

Check out the Undergraduate Admissions page her for specific admissions information for Freshman, Transfer and Provisional Admission Requirements.

Program Completion Requirements

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Dietetics – Degree Completion Requirements

  1. Satisfactory completion of all required courses as outlined above (180 CHs nutrition and non-nutrition) with a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above is required for a B.S. in Dietetics.
  2. All science minimum course grade of C or better (BIO 111, BIO 201, BIO 203, BIO 431, CHM 111, CHM 112, CHM 211, CHM 212, CHM 315, and CHM 316).
  3. Completion of Service-Learning Projects (SLP) requirements (10 hours) and documentation on co-curricular transcript.
  4. To receive a BS degree in Dietetics from Life University, a student must earn at least 25% of the course work at LU.
  5. The maximum time to complete the degree requirements is 150% of the planned program length (within 6 years of the start of enrollment).
  6. Students must provide the Director of Didactic Program in Dietetics with their university issued student ID number and permanent address during the last quarter at LU so that a Verification Statement can be mailed upon degree completion.
  7. The student must file a petition to graduate.
  8. The student must complete the following reviews:
    1. Registrar Office – complete a formal academic records review.
    2. Complete Exit Counseling, if applicable, online at www.studentaid.gov
    3. Student Accounting – rectify any account balance.

 

Financial Aid Information

For in-depth information regarding financial aid, please visit this link: https://www.life.edu/admissions-pages/financial-aid/

LIFE Flex

The DPD Program is only offered through the College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies (CGUS). The College of Online Education does not offer this program as a distance education program.

Life Flex Student Information can be found in the Life Flex Student Guide and Student FAQs.

University Computer Use Policy

The University Computer Use Policy is located under the Policy Index (institutions webpage) and found here.

The technology requirements for all programs includes:
Computer Minimum Requirements

  1. Macintosh or Windows computer
    1.  Operating System: Windows 10 or Mac OS X (10.14 or higher)
    2.  Hard Drive: 128 GB
    3. Memory: 8 GB RAM
    4. Processor: i5 intel (8th gen) processor similar
  2.  Latest version of Adobe Reader
  3. Current word processing software
  4. A microphone
  5. A webcam
  6.  Browser Requirements
    1. Chrome
  7. Internet Access
    1. Broadband internet connection is required. Examples of broadband internet connection are high-speed DSL or a cable modem.
    2. Use of Life University email

Support
Life University (LIFE) is committed to developing and implementing an advanced, flexible, instructional model that supports the needs of today’s learners and the changing higher education landscape. If you require support during your course, please refer to the contacts below:

If you require technical support, contact Information Technology at itsupport@life.edu

Policies & Procedures -Evaluation of Prior Learning, Coursework etc.

A specific policy related to evaluation of transfer credit is located in the University Policy Index at this link: https://catalog.life.edu/content.php?catoid=28&navoid=3578

This link provides access to all relevant and current University Policies: https://www.life.edu/university-policies/

Program Overview

For more information on program specifics, please see here.

Important Information for the Prospective Student and Public.

Complete program information may be found in the DPD Handbook

Fast Facts

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dietitians and nutritionists is projected to grow 11% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the national average for all occupations.


The median annual wage for dietitians and nutritionists was $63,300 in May 2020


Testimonials

Jennifer Baugh, B.S.
“The Nutrition Department here at Life University is full of a lot of really talented and educated women, and I really admire them and enjoy taking classes under their mentorship.”

“You better be prepared to work hard for this degree! But, the reward is so amazing – the knowledge and the sense of accomplishment you gain is well worth it.”


Cindy Cozad, B.S. Alumna
“I like how nutrition transforms people’s lives in a more emotional way, the psychology of being overweight, the self-esteem issues.”

“(Life University’s) campus drew me in so much. I liked the tie-in to the health, wellness and Vitalism aspect.”


Tiffany Brown, B.S. and M.S. Clinical Nutrition Alumna
“Life University dietetics is different because we’re small, but we’re innovative. We have state-of-the-art kitchens. Each professor you encounter is a specialist in his or her field – from community to clinical to food service. You get real professional experience from those who have worked it and know it, and you have hands-on access to that faculty.”

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