Food and Nutrition

Verification statements are issued upon completion of the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). The DPD Verification Statement verifies that a student has completed an ACEND-accredited DPD and is eligible to apply for an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program (dietetic internship). After completing a dietetic internship, a second verification statement will be issued verifying eligibility to sit for the Registration Examination for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists offered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

If you already have a bachelor’s degree in another field, you must have your college transcript(s) evaluated by the DPD Program Director to determine the additional classes that are needed to be satisfactorily completed to obtain a Verification Statement. You may need to submit syllabi of transfer coursework for determination of equivalency for DPD requirements.  Declaring a second degree in Food and Nutrition (dietetics option) while completing the remaining DPD classes allows you to be eligible for financial aid.

Once all of the DPD course requirements are completed for the Food and Nutrition Major (dietetics option) and the Registrar has cleared the student for graduation from MSU, the DPD Program Director will issue six originals of the Verification Statement. Suggested uses for the Verification Statements:

• to include in your permanent file
• to submit for active membership status in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• to submit with application to dietetic internships
• to submit with application for state licensure/certification
• to submit with application for CDR specialty practice certifications

 Post-baccalaureate students wishing to pursue a master’s degree while completing DPD requirements to earn a Verification Statement must first apply and be admitted to the MSU graduate program in Exercise and Nutrition Sciences or an MSU graduate program in a related area.  College transcript(s) must be evaluated by the DPD Program Director to determine the additional classes that are needed to be satisfactorily completed to obtain a Verification Statement. Often an additional semester or two is needed to complete both MS graduate requirements and DPD requirements.  Students who earn an MS degree while working on the DPD requirements to earn a Verification Statement will be eligible to apply to an accredited Dietetic Internship.

Verification Statements are important: Once a student receives their signed original verification statement, it is their responsibility to keep it in a safe place for easy access when needed. Official copies of student DPD Verification Statements will be kept on file permanently by the DPD director for all DPD students.

If a student already has a bachelor’s degree in another field, the student must have his or her college transcript(s) evaluated by the DPD Director to determine the additional classes that are needed to be satisfactorily completed in order to obtain a verification statement. Certain courses must be taken at Montana State University to obtain a verification statement from MSU. (See verification policy above.) Declaring a second degree in Food and Nutrition (dietetics option) while completing the remaining DPD classes may allow eligibility for financial aid.

Post-baccalaureate students wishing to pursue a master’s degree while completing DPD requirements to earn a verification statement must first apply and be admitted to the graduate program in Exercise and Nutrition Sciences or to an MSU graduate program in a related area.  College transcript(s) must be evaluated by the DPD Director to determine the additional classes that are needed to be satisfactorily completed in order to obtain a verification statement. (See verification policy above.)  Often an additional semester or two are needed in order to complete both graduate requirements and DPD requirements.

Program graduates will be prepared to succeed in accredited dietetic supervised practice programs and/or graduate programs and employment in nutrition and dietetic related fields.

• Objective 1: At least 80% of program students complete program/degree requirements within 3 years (150% of the program length).
• Objective 2: At least 60% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
• Objective 3: Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 70% are admitted within 12 months.
• Objective 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 5: At least 80% of program graduates accepted into a MS/DI will rate how well-prepared they were supervised practice at least a 3 on a scale of 1-4.
• Objective 6: At least 80% of program graduates accepted into graduate school/dietetic internship will rate how well-prepared they were for graduate school at least a 3 on a scale of 1 to 4.
• Objective 7: At least 80% of program graduates accepted into graduate school will rate how well prepared they were for graduate school at least a 3 on a scale of 1 to 4.
• Objective 8: At least 80% of program graduates who were not accepted (or did not apply) to an internship or graduate school will rate how well-prepared they were for employment in nutrition or dietetics related field at least a 3 on a scale of 1-4.

Program graduates will be committed to professional involvement, leadership and service to communities.

• Objective 1: At least 80% of senior level students at their exit interview will report being involved in one or more community service activities independently or as part of the student dietetic association during their academic career at MSU.
• Objective 2: At least 80% of graduates responding to the Alumni survey will report being involved in their communities and professional organizations.

• Hospitals, HMOs or other health care facilities educating patients about nutrition and administering medical nutrition therapy as part of the health care team. They may also manage the food service operations in these settings, as well as in schools, day-care centers, and correctional facilities, overseeing everything from food purchasing and preparation to managing staff.

• Sports nutrition and corporate wellness programs, educating clients about the connection between food, fitness, and health.
• Food- and nutrition-related businesses and industries, working in communications, consumer affairs, public relations, marketing, or product development.
• Private practice, working under contract with health care or food companies, or in their own business. RDs may provide services to food service or restaurant managers, food vendors, and distributors, or athletes, nursing home residents, or company employees.
• Community and public health settings, teaching monitoring, and advising the public, and helping to improve their quality of life through healthy eating habits.
• Universities and medical centers, teaching physicians, nurses, dietetics students, and others the sophisticated science of foods and nutrition.
• Research areas in food and pharmaceutical companies, universities, and hospitals, directing or conducting experiments to answer critical nutrition questions and find alternative foods or nutrition recommendations for the public.

Upon admission to MSU transfer students send their official transcripts to the Office of Admissions for review by an admissions evaluator. Once that is step is completed, the program director will evaluate transfer course(s) from an accredited university or college to determine equivalency to a DPD requirement. A course syllabus from the semester and year that the course was taken is required for previous course work to be evaluated.  Non-academic courses or prior learning experiences (i.e., work or volunteer) are not accepted to take the place of academic coursework.  If you are considering taking a required course from another school, check the MSU transfer equivalency page.  Courses listed in the transfer equivalency search tool have been pre-approved. An official transcript with your final grade is sent directly from that school to the MSU Registrar’s Office for the course to be officially recorded on your transcript.

Average tuition for full-time students varies each academic year.  Tuition rates and estimated expenses for books and housing are listed for both Montana residents and out-of-state students on the MSU Catalog page. A summary of the Montana University System Residency policy can be found on the Montana University System website.

Additional costs for the DPD may include:

• Nutrition classes with labs require additional fees per semester (NUTR 227, NUTR 301, NUTR 395, NUTR 401, NUTR 422, NUTR 426, and SFBS 445R or SFBS 451R)($487-547)
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Membership is recommended. ($58)

Please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid Services, located in Montana Hall, with any questions or concerns.

Scholarship opportunities are available to students enrolled in the College of Education, Health and Human Development. There are also scholarships available through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation and the Educational Foundation of National Restaurant Association.