Didactic Program in Dietetics

The on-campus University of Cincinnati Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Certificate Program is designed for students who are interested in becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) but have not yet completed all required coursework. In order to be eligible, you must have completed at least a baccalaureate degree prior to entering the DPD Certificate Program. The DPD Certificate Program provides you with the coursework requirements necessary to apply for an accredited post-baccalaureate dietetic internship and ultimately become an RDN. These coursework requirements are set forth by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Upon completion of the DPD Certificate, you will earn a DPD Verification Statement confirming your eligibility to enter an accredited dietetic internship. After completing a dietetic internship, you are required to pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration credentialing exam for RDNs. Most states also require certification or licensure in order to practice as an RDN.

Program Length

The DPD Certificate Program requires completion of 91 semester credit hours and can be pursued either full-time or part-time. The DPD Certificate is an on-campus program with some courses that have online options. Applicable courses from previous undergraduate and graduate degrees can be transferred into the program to reduce the number of credit hours required.

Students enrolled in the MS in Nutrition Program at UC will have completed many of the DPD Certificate courses upon graduation from the MS in Nutrition; these courses will all be applied toward the DPD Certificate requirements.

If you receive transfer credit for the majority of the science and general education requirements from previous degrees and/or have completed the MS in Nutrition at UC, you can generally complete the certificate program in approximately one year if you take classes full-time.

If you enter the program with minimal transfer credit for the science and general education requirements, you may need three years to complete the certificate program if you take classes full-time.  If you take classes part-time, the time to completion will be longer.

Additional Information

The DPD Certificate includes the same Mission & Goals, Program Outcomes, and Program Costs as the BS in Nutrition and Dietetics.  To learn more, please visit these webpages: Mission & Goals, Program Outcomes & Links, and Program Costs.

Dietetics professionals work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, supermarkets, private practice settings, eating disorder centers, with athletes, academia, research, health departments, business corporations, health clubs, and many other areas.

If you are interested in becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), you must complete the didactic coursework in dietetics (DPD Certificate Program), an accredited dietetic internship, and pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration credentialing exam for RDNs. This credential enables the RDN to perform nutrition risk assessments and prescribe medical nutrition therapy to remediate or prevent disease.

The United States Department of Labor Standard Occupational Code for Dietitian is 29-1031.00. An occupational profile for a Dietitian can be found at the Department of Labor's O*NET

Please click on the following link for Gainful Employment disclosure information: Gainful Employment Disclosure

• Complete Common Application
• Pay $100 non-refundable fee
• Submit official School transcripts
• Submit official test scores
• Submit letter of recommendation (optional)