The Coordinated Program (CP) in Dietetics at Arkansas State University – Jonesboro is administered by theDietetics Program in the College of Nursing & Health Professions. The program provides for the achievement of knowledge and performance requirements for entry-level dietitians through integration of didactic instruction with a minimum of 1080 hours of supervised practice as established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The supervised practice experiences occur in foodservice, community and clinical settings. The program features a “clinical” concentration, which allows students to build upon foundation knowledge and competencies for future proficiency in the clinical area of dietetics.
Students apply for admission to the CP after they have finished the sophomore year. The CP requires two years to complete the didactic instruction and supervised practice rotations. Students must have reliable transportation for travel to various practice sites for the rotations. A Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics is granted to students upon completion of the program. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the national credentialing examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) to become registered dietitians. In addition to RD credentialing, many states have regulatory laws for dietitians and nutrition practitioners. Frequently these state requirements are met through the same education and training required to become an RD.