There are several steps to becoming an RD/RDN*, with options on how to fulfill these steps. See https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/accredited-programs/about-accredited-programs for more details. Here is the overview:
- Complete a graduate degree, in any field of study.
- Most people will earn a bachelor’s degree first, followed by a graduate degree.
- A dietetics degree must be from a university accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) (such as IU-Bloomington).
- Meet core knowledge competencies established by ACEND.
- Complete a supervised practice experience through an ACEND-accredited institution.
- Take and pass the national RD exam.
A person studying at IU as an undergraduate dietetics major fulfills steps 1b and 2 with a bachelor's degree and prepares students for steps 1a, 3, and 4. IUB also offers a 4+1 Accelerated Master's Pathway for dietetics. Students accepted to this Pathway will be able to earn both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in five years (4+1) instead of the usual six years by overlapping four specific courses (12 credits) that will count toward both degrees.
The state of Indiana supports licensure for RDNs to practice, as regulated by the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana: Licensure information for all states is available on the CDR State Licensure webpage.
*The terms "RD" and "RDN" are synonymous. Every Registered Dietitian is a nutritionist, but not every nutritionist is a Registered Dietitian.
Current tuition fees are published on the IU Bursar website.
Estimate your total costs per semester
Use this link to Student Central or estimate your costs based specifically on being a student in the School of Public Health at: https://moneysmarts.iu.edu/calculate-costs/index.html
Costs specific to dietetics:
The following courses might charge laboratory fees (subject to change): ANAT A215 Anatomy; SPH-N120 Introduction to Foods, SPH-N325 Food Chemistry Lab; PHSL P215 Physiology; and CHEM C117/C127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I/Lab.
A one-time $150 fee will be assessed to all dietetic students for participation in multiple InterProfessional Education (IPE) events encompassing multiple courses. The fee will be assessed upon participation in the Exposure event during SPH-N336 Public Health Nutrition.
A white laboratory coat must be purchased for use in N120 Introduction to Foods lab, N321 Quantity Food Purchasing and Production, N325 Food Chemistry Lab, and N433 Medical Nutrition Therapy Application.
Optional membership in the IU Student Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (SANDIU) is $5 per semester.
Financial aid and scholarships:
Information about financial aid for students attending IUB is available in person at the Student Central on Union St., Office of Financial Aid. Numerous scholarships are available through IU, the School of Public Health, and funds specifically designated for IU dietetics and nutrition students. Also, the Indiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (IAND) and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics have scholarships available to dietetics students.
Admission
The undergraduate dietetics program at IU requires at least 30 credit hours with at least a 3.0 GPA and a minimum C grade in CHEM-C117 and C127 (or equivalent). Students who achieve direct admission from high school must meet these standards to remain in the program.
Credit for prior learning:
Students who have specific work experience and/or college course credit have the opportunity to prove competency in knowledge or skills in lieu of taking an IU DPD course that would only repeat these competencies. The decision to grant credit for prior learning rests with the DPD director and the IU Office of Admission and/or the SPH Dean's Office as applicable. Proof of work experience/college credit and competence will be required as determined by the DPD director upon consultation. This opportunity is usually reserved for students returning to school who already have a bachelor's degree rather than those just beginning their collegiate careers.
Curriculum:
Specific curriculum requirements are given in the dietetics Degree Map and Academic Bulletin. A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for graduation. Full-time undergraduate students are expected to carry from 12 to 17 credit hours of academic work per semester. Undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to follow the Sequence of Classes reflected in the Degree Map, which is the best way to be prepared for the right course at the right time.
Schedule of classes and academic calendar:
The link to the IUB Schedule of Classes from the Registrar's Office and the link to an interactive schedule of classes and the academic calendar. Current students can also go to One.IU and use the iGPS link.
Distance education:
The default expectation for classes at IUB is to be taught in person. However, hybrid and entirely online courses do exist; the DPD curriculum mirrors this combination. Technology requirements for courses at IUB are a computer, reliable internet connection, ability to open the Canvas Learning Management System in a Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome browser, and a calculator.
Verification Statement:
Students who successfully complete the BS in Applied Health Science (Dietetics) or who complete a different bachelor's degree and fulfill the educational competencies established by ACEND are eligible to receive a Verification Statement of completion of such. To receive a Verification Statement from Indiana University, a student must meet the following criteria in addition to the above:
- Achieve a grade of C- or higher in all professional core and life/physical science courses (C or higher in CHEM-C117/C127)
- Pass a food safety certification exam (preparation given in SPH-N321)
- Complete at least one IPE experience (currently IPE events are incorporated into three DPD courses—SPH-N336, N401, and N416)
- 75% of the SPH "N" (nutrition) courses, including three of the 400-level nutrition courses, must be completed at the IU-Bloomington campus
- At least 30 of the last 60 credit hours of university work must be completed at the Bloomington campus
The mission of the IU Didactic Program in Dietetics is to promote health among individuals and communities in Indiana, the nation, and the world by preparing our students to be ethical nutrition professionals competent in Core Knowledge for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, skilled in the integration of theory into practice, and committed to lifelong learning and community engagement.
Three broad goals and associated objectives have been established to accomplish this mission and maintain a quality dietetics program.
- Goal #1 – Program graduates will be prepared for entry into further career preparation.
Outcome measures for this goal include rates of program completion, dietetic internship placement, internship completion, and passage of the national RD exam. - Goal #2 – Program graduates will be competent in Core Knowledge for RDNs (KRDNs).
Outcome measures for this goal are assessment of all KRDNs mandated by ACEND and graduating class achievement of GPA >3.0. - Goal #3 – Program graduates will demonstrate commitment to community engagement.
The outcome measure for this goal involves measure of intention to participate in community service after graduation.
Data on program outcome measures can be obtained from the DPD director upon request.
