Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)

Students are encouraged to contact the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Director, Wanda Koszewski, PhD, RD, to request an appointment to discuss Winthrop's DPD Verification and Dietetic Internships or Graduate Degrees in human nutrition.

The DPD Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). ACEND can be contacted by:

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

• National Organization of Blacks in Dietetics and Nutrition (NOBIDAN)
• National Organization of Men in Nutrition (NOMIN)

Students completing Winthrop University's Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) meet or exceed the minimum academic requirements of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. ACEND is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation Association and the United States Department of Education. 

Students are prepared to work as entry-level dietitians after completing an accredited internship.  ACEND Didactic Program in Dietetics verification from Winthrop University requires completion of the BS degree in Human Nutrition with a minimum grade of C- in all NUTR courses completed at Winthrop and a cumulative grade point average greater than or equal to 3.0 in all NUTR courses.

At least 32 semester hours of NUTR courses above the 299 level must be completed at Winthrop University.  A maximum of 12 hours of NUTR-equivalent courses above the 199 level may be transferred into the major from another accredited institution with approval from the Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics.

Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Mission and Goals

The mission of the Didactic Program in Dietetics in the Department of Human Nutrition is to prepare our graduates as future dietitians and nutrition professionals for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. Graduates will embrace lifelong learning and service to the profession.

Program Goal 1: The DPD program will prepare Human Nutrition graduates for supervised practice experiences to become an entry-level registered dietitian nutritionist by successful completing CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionist.
Goal 1 Program Objectives:

1. Over a three-year period at least 80% of program graduates complete program/degree requirements within 3 years (150% of the program length).
2. Over a three-year period, 70% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to, or within 12 months of graduation.
3. Over a three-year period, 70% of program graduates are admitted to a supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation.
4. Over a three-year period, 75% of the DI Directors responding to a program survey will rate WU DPD graduates a minimum of 3 on a 4 point scale
5. Over a three-year period, 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%
6. Over a three-year period 75% of WU DPD graduates will rate themselves on the DPD Graduate Survey on questions 7 and 8 a minimum of a 4 on a 5-point scale, where 1=Strongly disagree, 2=Disagree, 3=Neutral, 4=Agree, and 5=Strongly Agree (program specific)

Program Goal 2: Graduates of the DPD program will embrace lifelong learning and service to the profession.     

Goal 2 Program Objectives:

1. Over a three-year period 70% of the DPD graduates participate in some type of lifelong learning activity and state on 3-year postgraduate survey they Agree or Strongly Agree that it is important competency to perform as part of the dietetic profession.
2. Over a three-year period 25% of the DPD graduates will state on the 3-year post-graduate survey that they are participating in service to the profession by doing community service, working on district/state/national committees, precepting students and interns, or volunteering.

Program outcome data are available upon request.  Please contact the Department of Human Nutrition if  you would like access to the data.

 

Degree Checklist/Program Requirements

 

Master's Students and the DPD Program:

If you are taking the DPD courses as part of your MS studies, you must plan out your coursework so that prerequisites are taken before entering the DPD program. The entry courses for the DPD program are NUTR 421 or NUTR 371. The DPD Handbook and the MS in Human Nutrition Guidelines include the department policy on this.

Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Must Have or Complete:

1. Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university
2. Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) verification statement from a ACEND-accredited institution
3. Dietetic Internship program from a ACEND-accredited institution
4. Passage on Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam. CDR sets the standards for the credentialing exam
5. Pay the RD enrollment fee to the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
6. If applicable apply for your state licensure to practice at a licensed dietetic professional.  The state of South Carolina does have licensed dietetic nutritionist (LDN)

The Department of Human Nutrition currently offers a BS in Human Nutrition, which is an undergraduate Didactic Program in Dietetics ("DPD"), and a post-graduate dietetic internship. Both programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The Department of Human Nutrition also offers an MS in Human Nutrition. 

The path to becoming a registered dietitian

Upcoming CDR Credential Requirement

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 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). In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) program at  Winthrop University are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program/apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

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

Licensure 

The State of South Carolina licenses registered dietitian nutritionists. Applicants must hold a baccalaureate or master's degree in human nutrition, nutrition education, foods and nutrition, public health nutrition, or an equivalent major course of study from an approved regionally accredited college or university. An applicant must have a current Registered Dietitian Certification with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

Licensure laws vary by state. Please refer to the CDR's Licensure Summary of Statutes for more information.

Contact information for state regulatory agencies can be found here.

Admissions

 Admission Application for the DPD program can be found at the Winthrop Admission website found at:

    Freshman Admission

    Transfer Admission

Program Schedule

The Winthrop University DPD program follows the University Five-Year Calendar

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and Fees can be found at Winthrop Tuition and Fees. 

Additional Fees Include:

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Student Membership	$58.00
Drug Testing Fees	$25.00-$140.00
Books	$300.00-$500.00 per semester
Liability Insurance	$25.00-$40.00
Background Checks	$30.00
Medical Exams Basic	$25.00
Immunizations	$120.00
SDA Membership	$10.00
NUTR 490A Practicum Fee	$100.00
Lab Fees	$10.00-$60.00 per semester
OSHA Training	$25.00

 

D&D Digital Dietetic Matching

The D&D Digital Internship Matching serves as a clearinghouse to help applicants obtain an Internship (supervised practice position) from their rankings to help Dietetic Internships (DI) obtain applicants from their choices.  It eliminates unfair pressures and premature decisions in appointments by internship an acceptance or rejection of appointments by applicants. 

There are two components to applying to a Dietetic Internship and an applicant must complete both components to participate in DI Matching.

1.  Most internships participate in an online Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS) to receive your application.  Applicants to other Internships should be sent to the DI Program Director.

2.  Each Applicant must also register for Dietetic Internship matching with D&D Digital to create/edit/verify their prioritized list of Dietetic Internships to participate in DI match.

Dietetic Internships

Please note that competition for Dietetic Internships is very competitive, so students completing their didactic coursework should begin preparing themselves early to increase their chances of obtaining a position in a supervised program. If you are interested in Winthrop's Dietetic Internship, contact Stephanie Nielsen, MS, RD, LDN.

DPD Handbook (PDF - 734KB)