All the necessary coursework required to meet the criteria set for the Registered Dietitian (RD) Exam is provided in full by San Jose State University’s (SJSU) Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).
The core curriculum of the Dietetics program at SJSU is supported by additional courses from social science, life science and physical science. There is flexibility offered to students who take the DPD program with the option to undertake study in minors such as business, human performance, education studies, chemistry and human performance. Additionally flexibility is afforded to students through the option of being able to take elective courses that are outwith the main course of study. Students, as part of the DPD program, are also given the appropriate preparation required to allow them to undertake future advanced degree study and post-baccalaureate study through Dietetic Internships. Graduates will need to meet the academic standards set by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in order to apply for a Dietetic Internship which comes with official approval and is ACEND-accredited. Once the Internship has been successfully completed, all students are then given extensive preparation towards taking the final exam towards becoming a licensed and Registered Dietitian (R.D.).
Undergraduate Study in Nutritional Science with a Focus on Dietetics
You are allowed to use the Declaration of Intent when applying for internships.
However, it is important to note that when you finish your study of all the modules noted down on the Declaration of Intent, you have to give additional transcripts to the Lecturer. This is to show the official graduation date with the month, date and year specified to verify that the modules have all been completed. You must also ask for your Verification Statement to be issued. This does not require any further payment, however please not that this may take up to six weeks to be issued during the summer vacation period.
Three SJSU Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Classes That Have Prerequisites
- Human Physiology (BIO 066): Although Human Physiology has a recommended prerequisite of BIO 605 (Human Anatomy), DPD students have been able to bypass this prerequisite.
- Food Processing and Packaging: (NuFS 103): has prerequisites of 2 years of lab science, as well as high school intermediate algebra (or its equivalent).
- Nutrition for the Health Professions (NuFS 008): Students may challenge this prerequisite with an exam if they have a previous background in nutrition.
The 3 Steps To Become A Registered Dietitian (RD)
- The first step to obtaining your Registered Dietitian designation is completing San Jose State’s Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), which is accredited by ACEND
- Step number two is completing your Dietetic Internship (DI), which is work experience that is supervised and accredited by ACEND.
- The last step before earning your Registered Dietitian credential is studying for, taking, and passing the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) National Exam
Taking an External Dietetic Internship
It is possible for students to choose to undertake their Dietetic Internship (DI) at an institute other than SJSU as part of the external program. There are only a set number of places and, as such, applying for an external internship can be competitive. At present, over two hundred internships are offered according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), which are offered at various location across the United States. The length, start dates and places available for intern varies by institution, as does potential financial aid. If you want to find out more about this path of study, the official website of AND where you can get details on how to contact the institution you are interested in attending for more details. If you take an external Internship, then you don’t need to log the 450 required internal DI hours. You also don’t need to complete the DI content exams. Any external SJSU DI application meeting will be carried out by the director of the DPD at a period between the end of September and the start of October. Each and every dietetic student is warmly welcomed to come along and receive information on topics such as the process of applying and how transcripts will be assessed.
Dietetic Internship at San Jose State University
At San Jose State University, you can choose to to do your Dietetic Internship over seven months full-time or over a full year as part of a part-time program. Both part-time and full-time internships are given full accreditation by ACEND – the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. After completing the program, you are then eligible to sit the CDR registration examination for Dietitians. You must pass this exam to become a CDR Registered Dietitian.
The overriding goal of the Dietetic Internship Program is to give students the necessary practical experience, under a supervised setting, to make them skilled and capable practitioners. This should enable you to function well in a management capacity in many different areas. You will gain experience in catering, in both community and clinical dietetic environments and will be prepared for the first rung of professional practice in areas such as hospitals and community institutions.
The process of applying begins by getting an application packet through attendance of one of SJSU DPD compulsory settings–in meetings.
You can obtain the time and date of the meeting throughout the semester from the Central Classroom Building. It is compulsory that you enroll in Nutrition (280A) to get orientated to the DI during the semester that you apply. You will be provided with, at a minimum, 1200 supervised practice hours for the internal San Jose State University Dietetic Internship, which will allow you to achieve the required level of core competency to be able to work as a first-tier dietitian.The supervision will take place in facilities within the Bay Area and you will benefit from working under experts in the field of dietetics. Those who have previously completed a B.S. degree either have to reapply or register for an extra session which allows them to enroll onto the necessary course modules. Those with an M.S. can delay until the DI is completed. All those who apply are interviewed by every cooperating facility which they have listed as their choice. The final decision as to where you will carry out your internship will be decided by you, the facility where the DI will take place, and the Nutrition Department.
San Jose State University 408-924-1000 One Washington Square San Jose, CA 95192 Nutrition, Food Science, and Packaging