Program Mission

The Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPD) will provide quality learning experiences to successfully prepare graduates for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. The program provides learners with a comprehensive knowledge and applications of the interrelationships of food, nutrition, and health for disease prevention and medical nutrition therapy intervention.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the Nutrition and Dietetics major, the student will successfully:

1. Apply the Nutrition Care Process.
2. Integrate scientific information and research into practice.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of food service management systems.
4. Demonstrate professional practice skills.

In addition to successful completion of the Nutrition and Dietetics major, the student will successfully demonstrate knowledge, application and integration of principles of health promotion and disease prevention with normal nutrition, medical nutrition therapy and public health nutrition for varied populations.

Program Goals

Goal One: The Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPD) graduates will be prepared to gain admittance into a Dietetic Internship (DI), Coordinated Program (CP), or individualized Supervised Practice Pathways (ISPP’s) Program.

Objectives:

Over a 3-year period, at least 80 percent of program students complete program/degree requirements within 3 years (150% of the program length).

Over a 5-year period, the mean for “progress on Relevant Objectives” for NUTR courses in the DPD is at or above 4.0/5.0 (raw score), as reported on the IDEA (course evaluation) Group Summary Report (GSR) or database.

Over a 5-year period, 80 percent of DPD graduates report (mean score of greater than or equal to 3.5/5.0) that the DPD program meets or exceeds each learning objective.

Over a 3-year period, 60 percent of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior or within 12 months of graduation.

Over a 3-year period, 40 percent of program graduates are admitted to a supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation.

Goal Two: The Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPD) will prepare graduates to become entry-level dietetics practitioners or registered dietitian nutritionists.

Objectives:

Over a 3-year period, the program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the DCR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.

Over a 4-year period, 80 percent of Supervised Practice Program Directors will agree or strongly agree (score 3.5/5.0 or above) that the Benedictine University (DPD has met or exceeded preparation of our graduates accepted into their program.

Over a 5-year period, of those DPD students who are not matched and/or did not apply to supervised practice programs 10% will take the DTR exam within 12 months of graduation.

Over a 5-year period, the program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the dietetic technician exam within one year of the first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietetic technicians is at least 80%.

Goal Three: The Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPD) graduates will demonstrate a commitment to service and life-ling learning.

Objectives:

Ninety percent of the DPD students will complete a leadership self-assessment prior to completing the program and will rate their leadership abilities/skills on average 3.8 or higher (on a 5.0 scale).

Over a 7-year period, 10% of DPD alumni who responded to our survey will report receipt of some form of leadership recognition, including an award.

***Program outcomes data are available upon request.

Sample Curriculum Plan

DPD Application

Revised ACEND requirements as of July 1, 2022

Meeting the above major requirements also satisfies the following General Education requirements: Engaged Learning, Learning Community, two NUTR Writing Intensive courses, Life-Scientific (QLS), Physical-Scientific (QPS), Computational, Mathematical and Analytical (QCM), and Global.

Major Specific Notes

Students must apply to the Nutrition and Dietetics program for acceptance. Refer to the “Nutrition and Dietetics Major Application Requirements” at the beginning of the Nutrition section of this catalog for more information.

Students pursuing this major must earn a cumulative Benedictine University GPA of 3.000/4.000 for acceptance, maintenance, and program completion for graduation and become a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Students pursuing this major will need to complete general electives to fulfill the University requirement for 120 credit hours toward graduation. A student earning a B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics can earn a major in Health Education. Alternatively, students can opt to select electives that are part of the graduate school affiliations or minors. Examples of complementary minors include Strength and Conditioning, Entrepreneurship, Management and Organizational Behavior, Marketing, Biology, and Psychology.

Information for Prospective Students and Interns of CDR’s Master’s Degree 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 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 [program type] program at [Institution name] 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 on Benedictine University’s Dietetic Internship/Master of Science (M.S.) in Nutrition and Dietetics program contact the Dietetic Internship Director: Janet Millikan at [email protected].

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.”

Second Degree Program

A Second Degree is available to those who enter the program following completion of bachelor’s degree elsewhere. As a minimum, all nutrition, cognate and skills courses required for the Nutrition and Dietetics major must be completed in order to complete a Second Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. Refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for additional details.

Here is an example of some courses you may take in the Nutrition and Dietetics program:

• Nutrition through the Life Cycle
• Foodservice Operations
• Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism
• Medical Nutrition Therapy I
• Nutrition Counseling

Nutrition and Dietetics courses (NUTR)

Courses include: NUTR, WRIT, COMM, MATH, PSYC, SOCL, CHEM, BIOL, HLED

Lisle undergraduate courses and descriptions

Mesa undergraduate courses and descriptions

Candidates seeking a career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) should have a sincere desire to provide individualized counseling, which could include medical nutrition, show intellectual promise, and display personal, professional and academic characteristics indicative of a RDN. The requirements for attaining the RDN credential are established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), and include completion of academic course requirements prescribed by a Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPD) (Plan III and IV are not accepted) and an ACEND accredited Dietetic Internship Program, then passing of the Registration Examination for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

To qualify for receipt of the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics Verification Statement, Benedictine University students must have earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative Benedictine University undergraduate GPA of at least 3.000/4.000, and met all the requirements (e.g., NUTR and HLED courses, cognates, skills, grades, major application requirements) of the Benedictine University Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in the Nutrition and Dietetics major program.

Credits to be transferred from other regionally accredited institutions are evaluated on the basis of their equivalence at Benedictine University. Benedictine University accepts transfer course credit from regionally accredited colleges and universities if the courses are comparable in scope and level of difficulty to courses offered at Benedictine University. Acceptance of transfer credit to be applied to health education courses are determined by the Nutrition Department Chair. Acceptance of transfer credit to be applied to the area of dietetics (food and nutrition) is determined by the DPD director. Courses taken prior to specific dates may be unacceptable as transfer credit because of substantial subsequent developments.

Those seeking DPD verification of coursework after completing a baccalaureate degree granted by another United States regionally accredited college or university, or equivalent as determined by an independent foreign degree evaluation agency approved by our university, must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.000/4.000 on all undergraduate college/university coursework. These individuals must meet all the requirements (e.g., NUTR and HLED courses, cognates, skills, grades, major application requirements) of the Benedictine University B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics program, as determined by the Nutrition Department Chair and DPD Director at Benedictine University on the Lisle main campus.

To have transcripts evaluated and accepted, the prospective student must first apply to the Enrollment Center at Benedictine University as a second-degree candidate and submit an original copy of all college and university transcripts, along with his/her application materials. At the time of course acceptance, completed courses will be evaluated according to the current program Course Acceptance and Validation Policy, as stated in the Nutrition and Dietetics Major Guide, and with the assumption that the student is beginning his/her studies at our university the following term. Students accepted into this program are required to successfully complete at least 12 semester credit hours of 3000/4000 level classroom courses at Benedictine University within a seven-year time period; 12 hours is a minimum number and may not be adequate to meet requirements for completion of this major program, since this major is 72 credit hours (plus completion of skills). Typically, more than 12 semester credit hours are required for completion of the DPD. Upon successful completion of all of the requirements, the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPD) Verification Statement will be awarded. A second degree will be awarded to those completing the Second Baccalaureate Degree program.

With careful planning of the undergraduate course sequence, the Nutrition and Dietetics major program offers the student the possibility of completing select graduate courses to meet some of the requirements of nutrition and public health graduate programs while an undergraduate student. Space in these graduate courses is limited. Permission to enroll in and/or completion of graduate nutrition courses does not imply acceptance into the Nutrition and Dietetics major program or the graduate programs, including the Dietetic Internship program. Admission to the graduate program is not automatic; the student must meet program requirements, apply and receive acceptance into the respective graduate program in his/her junior year in order to have the opportunity to take select graduate courses during his/her undergraduate senior year.

When students with a declared Nutrition and Dietetics major at Benedictine University have only two semesters of coursework to complete the B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics (normally after Junior year), they can apply for pre-admit into the Benedictine University M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics/Track A with accredited Dietetic Internship program or pre-admit into Track B. Pre-admit into Track A requires application to both the graduate school and the Dietetic Internship program (see Dietetic Internship website for details). This

acceptance is considered binding with the following conditions: the student remains in the Nutrition and Dietetics undergraduate major in good standing (academic, financial, etc.) and completes the undergraduate degree in two semesters or less. To complete this graduate degree Track A in a year (to 16 months) following completion of the Nutrition and Dietetics major program, students need to complete NUTR 5491 Nutrition Assessment Lab in their undergraduate senior year.

The Registered Dietitian (RD) is an expert in nutrition and nutrition. The process to become a RD is outlined here. Click on the graphic to enlarge.

Careers in Nutrition

After successful completion of the accredited Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (i.e., Dietetics Concentration of the Nutrition Major at BenU) you are eligible to take the Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) exam.

The undergraduate nutrition major provides a solid knowledge base for those who plan to enter Medical or Chiropractic Schools, or pursue graduate school in Nutrition, Nursing, Exercise Physiology, or other allied health programs.

The 2022 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that employment of dietitians and nutritionists is expected to increase by 7% from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than average compared to other occupations. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area is the 6th largest metropolitan area in the U.S. for employment of these professionals. The 2022 Occupational Outlook Handbook reported the median annual wage for dietitians and nutritionists as $66,450. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2021 Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession, the median wage for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) (not including nutritionists) was higher, at $72,000 in 2021. As with other professions, income will vary by region of the country, type of employment setting, and scope of responsibility; wages tend to be highest in the practice areas of food and nutrition management, consultation and business, and education and research. According to this 2021 Survey, income also increases with years of experience and additional certifications, with the top 25 percent of dietitians earning more than $87,700.

Career Opportunties

The field of nutrition is one of the most dynamic, diverse professions. Thus, career opportunities are quite varied. For example, a solid background in the science of nutrition helps prepare you to:

Become a Registered Dietitian (RD) after the completion of a DPD and an accredited Dietetic Internship practice experience. The RD is the nutrition expert in food and nutrition, challenged to translate the interdisciplinary knowledge into practical applications. Some RDs work as clinical dietitians or community dietitians, providing consultation and therapeutic counseling for optimum nutrition to individuals and groups in clinics, health care facilities, medical offices, school systems, corporations, fitness centers, and in private practice. Other RDs work with professional athletes, in spas, on cruise ships, and in other entrepreneurial careers. Read more about this in the Nutrition Major Handbook.

• Work in policy planning in public health agencies and health associations.
• Develop and implement educational programs and events to improve the nutritional and health status of the community.
• Work as a nutritionist health educator, health coach, fitness coach, or health promotion consultant in schools, health care facilities, corporations, wellness facilities or fitness setting.
• Explore a career in food service as a manager of food services, food broker, or sales representative in restaurants, health care facilities, schools, or industry. Other related choices include quality control supervision and culinary education.
• Supervise those delivering health promotion or education.
• Develop a career as an author or editor of food and nutrition-related print media.
• Use the bachelor’s degree in nutrition as the knowledge foundation to a enter Medical, Chiropractic, or Nursing school.
• With further study in chemistry, work in food science research for ingredient and product development.
• Further study nutrition or other health-related fields, such as biochemistry, physiology, exercise physiology, and public health. Or, elect to pursue an education, marketing, or management advanced degree to complement your career interests. Approximately 50% of Registered Dietitians hold master degrees while 3% hold doctoral degrees.
• Serve to educate nutrition and allied health professionals in an academic setting, after earning an appropriate graduate-level degree.

What our Graduates have done with this degree:

Some of the food and nutrition career positions held by our Benedictine University graduates include: clinical dietitian, neonatal and pediatric clinical nutrition specialist, public health case management dietitian, dietitians working in gerontology, nurse, dietetic technician, social worker, exercise physiologist, clinical services manager, internal nutrition support sales representative, quality assurance manager, food and nutrition services director, consumer affairs specialist for a major grocery store chain, product buyer, director of client services, manager of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Teams, community and university educator, corporate health promotion and wellness specialist, public relations specialist for a food association, owner of a bakery, nutritionist in public health programs and on reservations, weight loss counselor, author, researcher, and consultant in private practice.

Financial Assistance

Many opportunities exist for nutrition students in need of financial assistance. Grants, low interest bank loans, or scholarships may be available from the government, corporations, community or civic groups, philanthropic and religious organizations, and Benedictine University.

Contact a representative in the University Financial Aid Office and refer to the university website for scholarship information. A student should always ask, even if he/she does not believe him/herself to be eligible for financial aid, as there often are Merit Scholarships based on academic performance available as well.

The Dr. Scholl Scholarship fund is open to students who major in Nutrition and Dietetics and Nutritional Sciences. There are also several endowed scholarships not designated to a specific major, but based on financial need, achievement, and sometimes leadership. More information for all of these are posted on the scholarship page of the Benedictine University website.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy) offers students the opportunity to apply for scholarships. To qualify, students must be at least junior standing and enrolled in an accredited undergraduate Nutrition and Dietetics program, Dietetic Internship program, or master degree program, depending upon the scholarship. Due to the limited number of available scholarships, these are quite competitive and thus prestigious to receive. Refer to the September Supplement of the Journal of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics or the Academy website for more information. Generally, you must be a member of the Academy to receive an Academy or local dietetic association scholarship. Membership information is available on the Academy website or through the Nutrition Department.

Tuition and Fees Resources

• BenU Financial Aid Office
• BenU Tuition and Fees
• BenU Scholarships
• Academy Scholarships

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Benedictine accept transfer credit?

• Yes, we accept course credit from other colleges and universities with accreditation. Credits are examined on a case-by-case basis. For those who took courses in Illinois, all courses successfully completed with IAI (Illinois Articulation Initiative) designations are transferable. Only courses with grades of a “C” or better, within a specified time frame, can count towards meeting the nutrition Major requirements. Refer to our Course Acceptance and Validation Policy Guidelines for details of the timeline.

  Application procedures, transfer FAQ, transfer guides, and other pertinent information can be found online at: Benedictine University Transfer.

I am a transfer (or second degree) student. Can I just come in and show you my transcript for an evaluation?

• We want to make certain that you have the most accurate and complete articulation possible, so we require that you submit your completed application, including official transcripts, directly to the Enrollment Center so a representative of the Center can begin the articulation process. They are the “articulation experts.” Only through an official articulation can we tell you the answers to the questions: “How many courses do I have left?” and “How long will it take me to complete the program?”

  Second Degree Program Applicants: Those students seeking DPD Verification coursework after completing a baccalaureate degree elsewhere must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.000/4.000 on all undergraduate college/university coursework. To initiate the articulation process you should submit your completed application as a second-degree seeking student directly to the Enrollment Center. Refer to the Nutrition and Dietetics Major Guide for additional details.

  While your articulation is in progress, you may receive a request for further information, such as a more complete course description or syllabus of a cognate (e.g., science course). If you completed any nutrition courses within the accepted Course Acceptance and Validation Policy Guidelines, you will need to provide syllabi and course projects to the Nutrition Department Chair (on the Lisle campus) after the rest of the articulation process is completed by the Enrollment Center representative. Acceptance of a course towards graduation credit requirements is not the same as towards specific DPD (Dietetics) requirements; only the Lisle campus DPD Director determines these. The Transfer Counselor (from the Enrollment Center) will assist you throughout the transfer process and your first term of registration. Your advising file is then sent to the Nutrition Department.

  If you only want a quick “estimate” via an informal evaluation, you are encouraged to utilize the checklists and course descriptions available in the Program Guide. Transcript evaluations do not occur at our department or college level for the nutrition programs. We do not accept requests for transcript reviews.

I am an international student. Can I just show you my transcript for an evaluation?

• The general articulation process for an international student is similar to that of a transfer student. Please read the response to the previous question.

  In addition to submitting official transcripts, the international student must also submit official translations, and the foreign degree evaluation. Visit the university International website for information about the Admissions Process, deadlines, the required documents, etc. Submit these documents directly to the Enrollment Center.

  While your articulation is in progress, expect to receive a request for further information if any of your coursework includes nutrition or science courses. However, note that the Course Acceptance and Validation Policy Guidelines apply. Normally international students are asked to provide a copy of the entire course syllabus per degree (original, and translated to English, if needed), a copy of your original transcripts, and course assignments and projects you believe related to the Benedictine University Nutrition Major to the Nutrition Department Chair (Lisle campus). The Department Chair cannot fully articulate (i.e., give you the most credit possible) the international courses without all the requested pieces. Allow several weeks for the process once you submit all the required documents to the Enrollment Center.

  A Transfer Counselor will assist you throughout the transfer process and your first term of registration. Your advising file is then sent to the Nutrition Department.

Am I guaranteed to be eligible for the Nutrition and Dietetics Major (DPD) if I am accepted to the University?

• No. Refer to the Nutrition and Dietetics Major Guide for eligibility and application procedures for the DPD.

Once I complete the Nutrition and Dietetics Major (Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics), am I guaranteed a placement in a Dietetic Internship program?

• No. Students must apply to Dietetic Internship programs of interest. Consistent with ‘match’ procedures, neither the university or faculty place undergraduate students into Dietetic Internship programs. Acceptance and match into Dietetic Internship programs are competitive; the national computer match rate for Dietetic Internships is approximately 50% (of those who apply to those who are matched in April). You must make yourself a competitive candidate. Refer to the Nutrition and Dietetics Major Guide for more information about the process and suggestions to enhance your competitiveness.