The Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CPD) is accredited by The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-0995. This option combines the theory presented in class with experience in health care settings under the supervision of faculty or other health professionals. Students are eligible to take the national examination to become Registered Dietitians after completion of supervised practice experiences and the master’s degree in human nutrition.
MISSION OF THE CPD
The mission of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics is to prepare individuals to become entry-level Registered Dietitians Nutritionists who will serve as professionals to improve the quality of life of individuals and communities.
PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Program Goal 1The program will produce entry-level graduates prepared to work in the areas of clinical, management, and community nutrition practice.
- Objective 1.1: In the Coordinated Program in Dietetics, at least 80 percent of students will complete the program requirements in 3 years.
- Objective 1.2: Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80 percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
- Objective 1.3: In the Coordinated Program in Dietetics, at least 90% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian’s nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
- Objective 1.4: 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 nutritionists is at least 80%.
- Objective 1.5: Surveys of employers will show satisfaction with competence of graduates by rating their nutrition knowledge and performance at a 3.0 or higher on a scale from 1 to 5.
Program Goal 2The program will instill in graduates the importance of continual learning after graduation and throughout their professional career.
- Objective 2.1: At least one graduate from each class will apply to pursue a terminal degree within 5 years of completing the program.
- Objective 2.2 Eighty percent of graduates will participate in continuing educational activities within one year of program completion.
Students apply for admission to the Coordinated Program in the spring semester of their junior year. Admission decisions are based on overall GPA, grades in relevant courses, work/volunteer/leadership experience, class attendance, professionalism, and letters of reference. If admitted, the CPD is a 24-month program
COORDINATED PROGRAM IN DIETETICS APPLICATION MATERIALS
Applications are due on February 1st of each year. Concurrent admission in theUA Master of Science in Human Nutrition programat the University of Alabama is required for admission into the Coordinated Program in Dietetics. Please see theCoordinated Program Handbookfor prerequisites for applying to the Coordinated Program in Dietetics. Application materials include a CP application form, statement of purpose, resume, transcripts, and two letters of recommendation.
Graduate Coordinated Program Application Form and Instructions
Visit UA’sacademic calendarand the Coordinated Program handbook for more information on completion requirements and when courses and rotations will be completed throughout the program. After completion of all academic coursework, award of a master’s degree, completion of all supervised practice hours, and passing an exit exam for the CPD, the student is issued a verification statement, which allows them to take the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist registration exam.
For information regarding cost of the CPD, visittuition, fees, room, and board estimates. For other CPD costs, visit the Coordinated Program handbook.
For information on financial aid and scholarships, visithttps://financialaid.ua.edu/andhttps://scholarships.ua.edu/.
COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COORDINATED PROGRAM IN DIETETICS
Completion requirements for the Coordinated Program in Dietetics at The University of Alabama to obtain a verification statement to be eligible to sit for the RDN exam include the following:
- Completion of 57 credit hours of nutrition graduate coursework (36 academic courses/21 supervised practice experience)
- A Capstone experience
- Award of a master’s degree in human nutrition
- Pass all supervised practice rotations
- A passing score on a Coordinated Program exit exam
Required Graduate Coursework for the Coordinated Program in Dietetics
- NHM 509: Research Methods
- NHM 530: Advanced Nutrition Counseling
- NHM 558: Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Disease
- NHM 566: Advanced Clinical Nutrition
- NHM 587: Integrated Food Systems Management
- POPH 522: Biostatistics
- NHM 562: Metabolism of Energy Nutrients
- NHM 567: Nutrition Support of the Critically Ill
- NHM 588: Advanced Food Service Systems Management
- NHM 561: Advanced Vitamin & Mineral Metabolism
- NHM 550: Advanced Community Nutrition I
- NHM 585: Clinical Nutrition Management
- Supervised Practice in Health Promotion & Wellness
- Supervised Practice in Long-term Care
- Supervised Practice in Food Service Management I
- Supervised Practice in Medical Nutrition Therapy I
- Supervised Practice in Food Service Management II
- Supervised Practice in Community Nutrition
- Supervised Practice in Medical Nutrition Therapy II
The program outcomes data for the UA Coordinated Program in Dietetics are available upon request.
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) before12:00 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 CoordinatedProgram or the Graduate Dietitian Program (beginning in Fall 2022)at The University of Alabamaare eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.
In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements.
For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN.
