Undergraduate Didactic Program in Dietetics Handbook

Undergraduate Didactic Program in Dietetics Handbook

Introduction

Welcome to the Department of Nutrition at University of Massachusetts Amherst handbook. I hope you find it useful. This handbook will provide you with information regarding our undergraduate degree program and the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). It is intended to provide the necessary information and guidelines for all students interested in pursuing a career in the field of nutrition, including becoming a registered dietitian (RDN). Here you will find information related to: 

This handbook will summarize the information that we feel is most relevant to students interested in the Dietetics track. The following headings may be of interest to incoming or current students:

Details specific to the dietetics track start here. The information prior to that is important for all of our undergraduates, but is not specific to the dietetics track. Following the information specific to the dietetics track, you will find information on academic policies at UMass.

cpnorton [at] nutrition [dot] umass [dot] edu (Claire Norton), MS, RD
Didactic Program in Dietetics Director
Undergraduate Program Director
413-545-1077

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UMass Amherst Undergraduate Degree Program in Nutrition

UMass Amherst Undergraduate Degree Program in Nutrition

The Department of Nutrition at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is among the most comprehensive nutrition departments in New England and has an outstanding record in teaching, research, and community service. The award-winning faculty are dedicated to excellence in education. They provide personalized advising and the opportunity for each student to tailor the program according to their educational and career goals to attain growth and quality education through the academic coursework, independent studies, field, and community experiences, and for those who meet the requirements, the Honors program. With faculty and support staff on and off campus, we offer a range of outreach programs for diverse learners, such as the UMass Extension Nutrition Education Program. Online learning is available for students and professionals nationally and internationally through UMassONE.

What Is Nutrition?

Nutrition is the science that focuses upon the nutrients contained in foods; their actions, interactions, and balance in relation to health and disease; and the processes by which an individual ingests, digests, absorbs, transports, utilizes, and excretes nutrients. In addition, the study of nutrition is concerned with the social, economic, cultural, and psychological implications of food and eating.

If you want a career that is exciting, challenging, and allows you to succeed, excel, and feel good about what you do, then consider the field of nutrition. Its is a vital, growing field open to creativity and opportunity — the possibilities are endless.

What Can I Do With a Degree in Nutrition in the Dietetics Track?

Once you graduate with a BS degree in nutrition in the dietetics track, you will have completed the requirements of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Didactic Program in Dietetics and will start your journey to becoming a dietitian. Once you are a fully qualified dietitian you may be working in a position where you provide medical nutrition therapy in a hospital or clinic. Dietitians are also employed as consultants and managers, in public relations, and food and culinary positions where they manage food service operations in health care or other institutional and commercial settings. They write books, articles, and newsletters. Dietitians are active in the health and wellness industry and in corporate wellness where they address health promotion and chronic disease prevention. Dietitians also work in national, international, and state government agencies for programs such as Women Infants and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-ED), as well as agencies such as the USDA and FDA. A growing number of registered dietitian/nurses (RDNs) work in private practice or as entrepreneurs, providing nutrition products and services to consumers. RDNs also work as humanitarians around the world in the area of public policy to help during times of nutritional crises. RDs provide many public services.

Department of Nutrition at the University of Massachusetts

The nutrition department is housed in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS). Much, but not all of the information in this manual is available on the UMass nutrition department website.

There are three tracks in the nutrition major at UMass: Dietetics, Nutrition and Health Science, and Nutrition and Society. Once admitted to UMass, student can declare the nutrition major, ideally before new student orientation.

Learn more about the nutrition major.

Learn about admission to the University of Massachusetts as a freshman or transfer student.

UMass Amherst Undergraduate Admissions is committed to the responsibility of providing access and opportunities for all, while actively upholding diversity as a priority, demonstrating our commitment to inclusion of historically underrepresented communities. We believe that a multicultural and diverse campus is essential to achieving academic excellence, allowing students of all identities and backgrounds to thrive at UMass Amherst.

Assessment of Prior Learning

The University’s transfer credit policy is published online on both the Undergraduate Admissions Office website and the Registrar’s Office website

Acceptance letters to transfer students include a Preliminary Transfer Credit Award form. Final official transfer credit evaluations, including course equivalencies, are completed when students indicate their intention to enroll. Once students enroll, they have access to their own degree audits after transfer credits are posted to their records through the online registration system (SPIRE). Students may also request transfer credit information from the Undergraduate Admissions Office at any time during the application process. Transfer nutrition courses are evaluated by either the admission office or nutrition faculty depending on the specific course being transferred.

Course of Study

The course of study in nutrition at UMass is expected to take four years (eight semesters) to complete. Students can access their own student file through their UMass SPIRE account. Students taking longer than 10 semesters will need the approval of the academic dean of the School of Public Health and Health Sciences. Students taking longer than 12 semesters to graduate will need the academic dean to appeal to the Admission and Records Committee in the registrar’s office on their behalf. UMass has robust support services that we strongly encourage all our students to use. In fact, students earning good grades typically are those who use these services frequently.

Online Classes

All current students in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences have the option to take some of their courses with the University Without Walls (UWW). The courses are offered in spring, summer, fall, and winter terms and are eligible for financial aid, but the cost of taking a UWW course is different from campus-based courses and may be higher, or may not be covered by your particular form of aid. Before you enroll in any UWW course/s, it is highly recommended that you contact Financial Aid to ensure your current aid package allows UWW courses.

The UWW program is firmly committed to ensuring the integrity of its distance education and degree programs. All distance education students must use their university-issued credentials to log in to Blackboard, through which all course materials and assessments are provided. SPHHS strongly encourages faculty to incorporate randomized question pools for graded online assessments. Further, assessments may utilize other identity-verification technologies, including dedicated IP addresses, synchronous observation tools, and third-party proctoring solutions integrated in Blackboard. Faculty have access to anti-plagiarism tools (TurnItIn and Safe Assign) via Blackboard. Students’ access to Blackboard and all posted content is recorded and can be monitored and saved in accordance with university policies. All faculty teaching in distance education programs have access to course design/redesign services provided by the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Instructional Media Lab to assist with ensuring academic honesty through innovative teaching methods and technologies.

Learn more about our online undergraduate courses.

Academic Support

The Learning Resource Center (LRC) serves as the central undergraduate academic and undergraduate research support unit for the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst). At the LRC, there are four different branches of academic support and undergraduate research support available to students, including Peer Tutoring (drop in and by appointment), Study Skills Tutoring, Supplemental Instruction (SI), and the Office of Undergraduate Research and Studies (OURS). LRC and OURS services are built-in campus resources, and they are completely free for UMass undergraduates. The different types of academic resources are available to support students in achieving their iteration of academic success at UMass Amherst. LRC and OURS departmental home is on the 10th floor of the W.E.B. DuBois Library! We look forward to supporting your academic success this year and beyond!

The LRC has a cohort of peer tutors and supplemental instruction (SI) Leaders. These are exceptional students who are highly trained to assist their peers in achieving academic success.

UMass University Health Services (UHS)

University Health Services provides comprehensive medical care to a diverse population of UMass Amherst constituents and promotes campus health in the broadest sense. We are committed to the holistic integration of a multitude of campus services promoting health in educational and residential environments. We emphasize students first, and strive for excellence, sustainability, and efficiency. In addition to general medicine and primary, UHS provides the UMass campus community with a wide variety of specialty services, including pharmacy, laboratory, and radiology on site. Students can access specialty services that include eye care, acupuncture, physical therapy, women’s health, transgender care, nutrition and more.

Center for Counseling and Psychological Health

The Center for Counseling and Psychological Health (CCPH) offers a community of care to UMass Amherst students to help cope with stress or anxiety, find strategies to overcome challenges, promote mental well-being, and succeed in college life and beyond. The list below shows the breadth of services available to students.

Crisis Services

Let’s Talk

Groups and Workshops

Individual Therapy

Psychiatric/Medication Services

Specialty Services

Resources for Students of Color

Additional Resources

Nutrition Faculty

The faculty of the nutrition department carry out research on a wide variety of topics. Some faculty are also engaged in clinical practice in the field of dietetics.

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Dietetics Major at UMass

Dietetics Major at UMass

The Dietetics track at the University of Massachusetts is accredited with the ACEND [at] eatright [dot] org (Accreditation Council for the Education of Nutritionists and Dietitians) (ACEND) and is the UMass Amherst Didactic Program in Dietetics. ACEND is the accreditation arm of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND):

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
312-899-0040

Upon completion of the DPD, achieved by finishing all the requirements of the dietetics track, students will receive the DPD Verification Statement. This statement shows that students have successfully completed the courses needed to achieve the student learning outcomes and competencies set by ACEND. The DPD Verification Statement is needed to apply to a Supervised Practice or Dietetic Internship. Registration also requires passing a national Registration Examination. The Verification Statement shows that a student has achieved the academic standards in a program that meets the administrative standards of ACEND, which sets out learning objectives that all students must show mastery of in order to earn the statement. Academic programs wishing to educate future dietitians must meet rigorous administrative standards that demonstrate that our students are successful in the application process to dietetic internships and in the registered dietitian/nutritionist (RDN) exam. Upon graduation from the dietetics track all students will receive an electronic copy of their Verification Statement.

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree for eligibility to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian/nutritionist (RDN). Approval to sit for the registration examination with a bachelor’s degree requires that individuals have completed the DPD and dietetic internship (and so have met all eligibility requirements) before Dec. 31, 2023 at 12 midnight CT. They must also have submitted the application for approval to take the exam into the CDR’s Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12 midnight CT, Dec. 31, 2023. If you miss this deadline, you will have to have a master’s degree and completed 1,200 hours of supervised practice to be eligible to apply to take the exam.

For more information about the new master’s degree requirement, visit the CDR website or call 800-877-1600 ext. 5500.

Admittance to DPD Program/Dietetics Track

Nutrition students who wish to major in the dietetics track must earn a GPA of 2.5 or above and a B in Nutrition 230 (Basic Nutrition). This application usually occurs during the student’s second semester of their sophomore year.

Here are the links to the required courses and course sequence for the dietetics track:

Cost of Attendance

The cost of attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst can be found at the bursar’s webpage.

In addition to the tuition and residence costs students should be aware of the following additional costs:

Lab fees ($95 per lab), AND student membership ($58), and fee for attendance at professional meetings or webinars (variable). Also, application to dietetic internships requires several fees ($55 to D&D Digital, fee to use DICAS is $50 for the first application submitted and $25 for each additional application, and each internship has a separate fee ranging from approximately $0 to $75).

Cost of Books

Freshman year

CHEM 111/112
Custom CER CH 111 112 General Chemistry I II
$200

Nutrition 130
Nutrition An Applied Approach (Thompson and Manore)
$45 (ebook)

Biology 151
Biology 151
$45
Biology 151 lab manual
$35

Sophomore year

Nutrition 230
Nutrition (Insel, Ross, McMahon and Bernstein)
$276 (used books available)

KIN 270/272
Human Anatomy and Physiology Plus, 11th edition (Marieb, EN and Hoehn, K., 2018)
$58

Junior year

Nutrition 352
William’s Basic Nutrition and Diet Therapy
$94

Biochemistry 320
Principles of Biochemistry (Lehninger)
$356 (used books available)

Senior year

Nutrition 580
Kraus’s Food and the Nutrition Care Process
$198

Once a student has completed the undergraduate DPD they have the following options in terms of meeting the requirement that all graduates have a master’s degree in order to take the RDN credentialing exam in 2024:

  1. Complete the 4+1 MS at UMass (see details below), which allows them to complete the BS and MS in five years and then apply to a dietetic internship not associated with an MS degree. These are typically based in hospitals.

  2. Complete an MS, MPH, MA, MBA in another department or college (these may be one or two years in duration), then apply to a dietetic internship, which is not associated with a graduate degree.

  3. Apply to a dietetic internship, which will give a graduate degree, typically an MS or MPH while also completing a dietetic internship (these are usually two years in duration).

The nutrition department has developed an accelerated MS degree, in which students can earn an MS in one year of post-graduate study. This allows the graduates of the DPD program to have more options when applying to a dietetic internship.

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Dietetics Internship Application Process

Dietetics Internship Application Process

Acceptance into dietetics internships is very competitive, with the recent national acceptance rate at about 61 percent. The acceptance rate for the UMass graduates who applied to dietetic internships has been over 80 percent of graduates who apply for the past three years. While at UMass DPD students are given guidance on how to work through the process of applying for a dietetic internship.

Here is a brief summary of the process:

Internship applications are typically submitted online to an application agency (DICAS). Application deadlines are in mid-February for programs beginning in the summer or fall, or September for January start dates. Programs that offer graduate degrees may differ.

For the Spring application cycle (when most of our students apply), the didactic program director holds several meetings to explain the application process in detail. Students may apply to as many programs as they choose. Selection is done largely by computer matching through an online matching agency, D&D Digital (again, graduate programs may differ). Students register with D&D Digital in order to participate in the computer matching process, in which they rank the internships to which they are applying in order of preference.

Around the middle of April, applicants will receive notification of if and where they have been matched. Students can only be matched with one program. Acceptance of the position is required by a specified date. Because of the competitive nature of DI applications, it is strongly recommended that students obtain nutrition-related experience through extracurricular activities and work and volunteer experiences. It is also recommended that students have at least a 3.0 GPA in order to apply for a DI.

Where have our own dietetics students matched? (2012-2021)

California
Cal State Pomona (1)
UC Davis Medical Center (2)

Colorado
St. Francis Colorado Springs (1)
Tri-County Health Department in Denver (1)

Connecticut
St. Joseph’s Hospital (7)
University of Connecticut CP MS program (1)
Yale (4)

Delaware
University of Delaware (1)

Georgia
Georgia Regents University (1)
Southern Regional Medical Center (1)

Illinois
Bradley University (1)
Illinois State University (1)
Rush University Medical Center (1)

Iowa
Iowa State Distance (1)

Louisiana
Tulane University (2)

Maryland
National Institute of Health (NIH) (1)
University of Maryland College Park (1)

Massachusetts
Beth Israel Medical Center (7)
Brigham and Women’s Hospital (8)
Boston University DI/MS (1)
Mass General Hospital (8)
Mount Auburn (4)
Priority Nutrition Care (2)
Simmons College (6)
Sodexo (New Bedford) (2)
South Shore Sodexo (Obesity) (1)
UMass Amherst (13)
UMass Amherst MPH + DI (3)
UMass Lowell (1)
Wellness Workdays (4)

Minnesota
University of Minnesota (1)

New Hampshire
Keene State (6)
University of New Hampshire (1)

New Jersey
College of St. Elizabeth (3)
Rutgers (3)

New York
Bronx VA (1)
Hunter College (1)
New York Presbyterian (5)
Sage College (2)(
Sodexo (MNT) (3)
Stony Brook University (1)
Stony Brook University Distance (1)
SUNY Oneonta (1)

North Carolina
Aramark (Fayetteville) (1)
Duke University Hospital (1)
Meredith College (2)

Oregon
Oregon Health and Science University (1)

Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Department of Health Dietetic Internship (1)

South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina (1)

Texas
Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center and Master’s Program in Houston (1)

Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System (2)

Wisconsin
The University of Wisconsin Green Bay (1)
Viterbo University Wisconsin (1)

Washington
Bastyr (1)

Distance Programs
Aramark Distance Learning Internship (1)
Sodexo Distance Dietetic Internship (3)

The Didactic Program in Dietetics Mission, Goals, and Objectives

The Didactic Program in Dietetics has developed a mission statement as well as goals and objectives for its graduates.

Mission Statement of the DPD Program

The mission of the DPD program of the University of Massachusetts is “to provide quality teaching and a good scientific foundation to students, thereby enabling them to be successful in accredited dietetic internship programs or professional careers.”

Goals and Outcome Objectives of the DPD Program

Program Goal 1: To prepare graduates for careers in dietetics, dietetics internships, and successful completion of the dietetic registration examination.

Standard 3.3 Program Objectives related to Goal 1 (2017-2022):
  1. “At least 80 percent of students who are enrolled in the dietetics track as juniors will complete the program within three years of that time.”
  2. At least “60  percent of dietetics graduates will apply to supervised practice programs prior to or within 12 months of graduation.”
  3. At least “50 percent of program graduates who apply are admitted to a supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation.”
  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 percent.”
  5. At least 80 percent of dietetic internship directors rate at least a four on a five-point scale that UMass students came into the internship with an adequate level of knowledge competence appropriate for a supervised practice program*

Program Goal 2: To educate graduates who will reflect current nutrition science in their professional practice by providing a strong understanding of the scientific basis of the study of nutrition and dietetics.

Outcome Measures related to Goal 2 (2017-2022):
  1. 80 percent of dietetic directors rate at least a 4 on a 5-point scale, indicating that UMass graduates have a strong understanding of the scientific basis of dietetics practice.**
  2. 60 percent of seniors will rate at least a 4 on a 5-point scale that they received a strong understanding of the scientific basis for the study of dietetics in their coursework at University of Massachusetts
  3. 60 percent of graduates will rate at least 4 on a 5-point scale that they received a strong understanding of the scientific basis for the study of dietetics in their coursework at University of Massachusetts.

Currently, the dietetics program at UMass has met or exceeded all benchmarks. For more information please contact the cpnorton [at] umass [dot] edu (DPD director).

The dietetics program is designed to meet the 2017 Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education Foundation Knowledge Requirements and Learning Objectives for dietetics programs. These requirements and objectives are:

  1. Scientific and Evidence Base of Practice: integration of scientific information and research into practice.
  2. Professional Practice Expectations: beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors for the professional dietitian level of practice.
  3. Clinical and Customer Services: development and delivery of information, products, and services to individuals, groups, and populations.
  4. Practice Management and the Use of Resources: strategic application of principles of management and systems in the provision of services to individuals and organizations.
  5. Support Knowledge: knowledge underlying the requirements specified above

For more information on how the UMass DPD program meets these ACEND learning objectives, please contact the cpnorton [at] umass [dot] edu (DPD director).

For more information about the Didactic Program in Dietetics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, including required courses and recommended course sequence, as well as other information on our career preparation, please visit our undergraduate program information webpage

For more information on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the dietetics profession, please visit the AND website.

For requirements for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, please visit the ACEND website.

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Undergraduate Student Policies and Resources

Undergraduate Student Policies and Resources


Written policies and procedures on academic honesty, family educational rights and privacy, dispute resolution, and other important topics are clearly outlined in the Code of Student Conduct.

Student Privacy and Access to Personal Information

In compliance with the FERPA law, the university will not distribute grades or any other academic information to anyone but you. As owner of your academic records, you decide whether or not you want to share this with others. For more information, go to: https://www.umass.edu/living/ferpa-guideline.

Students also have the right to a response to a reasonable request for explanation and interpretation of records that apply to them. The university will provide the student with a copy of his/her transcript upon written request and payment of a fee as applicable. If a student wishes to see any of the educational records that apply to them, they are instructed to go to the office that keeps the records during regular working hours. Students should make all requests in writing, following the procedures established by the office. If possible, students will have immediate access to their record. In no case will a student have to wait more than 45 days.

Student Performance

To continue as a student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, you are expected to meet performance criteria as outlined by the Academic Regulations set by the Office of the Provost. All undergraduate students are responsible for complying with the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures contained in this publication as well as those in other official oniversity publications and announcements which may be issued from time to time. Students are also expected to familiarize themselves with other important documentation including, but not limited to, the Guide to Undergraduate Programs. The University reserves the right to change policies and regulation whenever such action is deemed appropriate or necessary. This publication is compiled by the Office of the University Registrar.

Failure to meet the criteria outlined in the Academic Regulations will result in one or more of the following:

Academic Warning

Students whose cumulative average is 2.000 or above, but whose semester average is less than 2.000, will be sent a warning indicating that they should consult with their academic dean.

Academic Probation

Students whose cumulative average falls below 2.000 will be placed on Academic Probation. Students who have been placed on Academic Probation or who have received a second consecutive Academic Warning should contact their academic dean (NOTE: these are students with acceptable CUM GPA that repeatedly do not meet minimum term GPA requirements.)

Academic Suspension

Students on probation who fail to achieve or maintain good standing in any subsequent semester will be placed on Academic Suspension unless an appeal is granted. Suspended students may not enroll in the succeeding Fall or Spring semester. Suspension is a one semester separation from the university, including University Without Walls. Following one semester on Academic Suspension, students who file an Application for Re-enrollment with the Registrar’s Office (by March 15 for the Fall semester or Oct. 15 for the Spring semester) are entitled to re-enroll.

Academic Dismissal

Academic Dismissal is a permanent separation from the University. Students who are readmitted after any Academic Suspension and fail to achieve or maintain good standing in any subsequent semester will be placed on Academic Dismissal unless an appeal is granted.

Appeals Process

If a student receives a discipline as noted above they have the right to appeal their academic status and will work closely with advisors in the SPHHS Center for Student Success. 

Withdrawing From UMass

The University of Massachusetts has a process for taking a leave from the university. Students can take a break from their studies for the following reasons: personal, medical/health, academic, military service, or financial. Students who want to to pursue a break from their studies will need to officially withdraw from the university, and follow the procedure for returning as described in the Academic Regulation Handbook.

Student Grievances

As described in the Code of Student Conduct, any student who wishes to discuss grievances regarding the nutrition department disciplinary policies or disputes related to the program in a confidential manner can file a grievance with the Ombuds office.

Filing a complaint with ACEND

If a student is not satisfied with the outcome of complaints within UMass, ACEND has established a process for reviewing complaints against accredited programs in order to fulfill its public responsibility for assuring the quality and integrity of the educational programs that it accredits. Any individual, for example, student, faculty, dietetics practitioner, and/or member of the public, may submit a complaint against any accredited program to ACEND. However, the ACEND board does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for individuals in matters of admissions, appointment, promotion, or dismissal of faculty or students. It acts only upon a signed allegation that the program may not be in compliance with the Accreditation Standards or policies. The complaint must be signed by the complainant. Anonymous complaints are not considered.

Cost of Attending UMass

The cost of attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst can be found at the bursar’s webpage.

Financial Aid

The University offers a variety of opportunities for undergraduate students to receive financial aid and scholarships. For further information on financial aid available to undergraduate students, including federal student loans and grant programs, visit the UMass Amherst Financial Aid Services website at: https://www.umass.edu/umfa/.

Scholarships for Nutrition Majors

A variety of scholarships are available for undergraduate nutrition majors, graduates who are entering dietetic internships, or graduate students in nutrition. Applications for scholarships are completed through a centralized application system called AcademicWorks and include:

Withdrawal and Refund of Tuition and Fees

Students may at any time terminate their affiliation in the current semester with the university for personal, academic, financial, or medical reasons by processing the University Withdrawal Form. The students' Undergraduate Dean or the Director of University Health Services will determine the effective date of the withdrawal. Students' eligibility to return is determined by their academic status after the withdrawal is processed. Students eligible to return after a withdrawal must apply for readmission by the established deadlines. A student who leaves the university for any reason before a semester is completed will be granted a pro rata refund of tuition and fees.

Academic Calendar

The University of Massachusetts Amherst follows the academic calendars approved by the Faculty Senate. 

 

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