The mission of the Didactic Program of Dietetics (DPD) is to provide students with the foundational knowledge and skills through theory-to-practice, relationship-driven education with the proper communication skills for graduates to successfully obtain a career as an entry-level registered dietitian nutritionist. The program is committed to instilling in students the ability to be critical and independent thinkers while working in a team environment, considering all aspects of the person, becoming leaders in a diverse environment, and promoting an appreciation of and dedication to the profession of dietetics.
EIU DPD students are eligible for DIRECT ADMISSION to the EIU Master's in Nutrition & Dietetics program, which includes a Dietetic Internship track which leads to the RDN, and a Nutrition Education track. Talk to our academic advisor Mrs. Amanda Harvey or any of our Nutrition & Dietetics faculty for more information about qualifying for direct admission.
EIU Nutrition & Dietetics majors may also be eligible for our Accelerated Program. Students apply after 60 semester hours, and if accepted, may complete up to 12 s.h. of graduate course work while they finish their undergraduate degree. Students may then move directly in to the graduate program, or "bank" those course and start their graduate studies later.
Degree: B.S.
Completion time: 120 hours
Internships:
An undergraduate internship is included as an example of a high-impact learning opportunity. Many times, students will complete the internship in the summer between their junior and senior years. Past students have completed internships in their hometown hospitals, the county WIC office, SNAP-Ed programs, Cooperative Extension, the USDA, the Health Education Resource Center on EIU's campus, and the nearby Fit 2 Serve program.
Accreditation: The Didactic Program in Dietetics is currently granted full accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for the Education of Nutrition and Dietetics.
The undergraduate dietetics program is designed as a first step to earning the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential. Career opportunities include working as a clinical dietitian, a WIC nutritionist in the community, a school food service dietitian, a food service director and clinical nutrition manager. Based on data collected in 2017 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the median salary for an entry-level dietitian is $25/hr.
EIU Nutrition & Dietetics undergrads are now eligible for direct admission to the graduate program! We have two ways to do that:
(1) Accelerated Program: Students apply after completing 60 semester hours, and if they meet requirements, may take up to 12 semester hours of graduate courses while they are still an undergraduate student. Those hours count toward BOTH the undergraduate and the graduate degree programs.
(2)Pre-Select/direct admit: Undergraduate Nutrition & Dietetics students in their senior year may request pre-select status to the EIU Master's degree program in Nutrition & Dietetics, and bypass the DICAS match process.
For more information about the Accelerated Program, contact our undergraduate academic advisor, Mrs. Amanda Harvey (AJHARVEY2@eiu.edu). For more information about direct admit, contact Dr. Julie Dietz, Chair, Department of Public Health & Nutrition.
The undergraduate dietetics program is transfer friendly. Please be sure to consult with your community college advisor and/or your EIU academic advisor to be sure that the courses taken at your community college will transfer in as required dietetic courses.
EIU Nutrition & Dietetics undergrads are now eligible for direct admission to the graduate program! We have two ways to do that:
(1) Accelerated Program: Students apply after completing 60 semester hours, and if they meet requirements, may take up to 12 semester hours of graduate courses while they are still an undergraduate student. Those hours count toward BOTH the undergraduate and the graduate degree programs.
(2)Pre-Select/direct admit: Undergraduate Nutrition & Dietetics students in their senior year may request pre-select status to the EIU Master's degree program in Nutrition & Dietetics, and bypass the DICAS match process.
For more information about the Accelerated Program, contact our undergraduate academic advisor, Mrs. Amanda Harvey (AJHARVEY2@eiu.edu). For more information about direct admit, contact Dr. Julie Dietz, Chair, Department of Public Health & Nutrition.
The undergraduate dietetics program is designed as a first step to earning the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential. Career opportunities include working as a clinical dietitian, a WIC nutritionist in the community, a school food service dietitian, a food service director and clinical nutrition manager. Based on data collected in 2017 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the median salary for an entry-level dietitian is $25/hr.
EIU Nutrition & Dietetics undergrads are now eligible for direct admission to the graduate program! We have two ways to do that:
(1) Accelerated Program: Students apply after completing 60 semester hours, and if they meet requirements, may take up to 12 semester hours of graduate courses while they are still an undergraduate student. Those hours count toward BOTH the undergraduate and the graduate degree programs.
(2)Pre-Select/direct admit: Undergraduate Nutrition & Dietetics students in their senior year may request pre-select status to the EIU Master's degree program in Nutrition & Dietetics, and bypass the DICAS match process.
For more information about the Accelerated Program, contact our undergraduate academic advisor, Mrs. Amanda Harvey (AJHARVEY2@eiu.edu). For more information about direct admit, contact Dr. Julie Dietz, Chair, Department of Public Health & Nutrition.
4303 Klehm Hall
Email: jcdietz@eiu.edu
URL: https://www.eiu.edu/dietetics/