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Nutritional & Dietetics


The Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics

The Bachelor of Science program in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics prepares students for careers in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics.   The 120-hour degree plan is linked below.  Upon successful completion of the 120-hour course of study, students will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics.   

Didactic Program And Dietetics

The Didactic Program in Dietetics at Texas Southern has Full Accreditation from The Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) until July 24, 2023. ACEND is located at 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040 ext. 5400. http://www.eatright.org/ACEND.

Upon completion of the program, you will be eligible to apply for admission into an ACEND accredited supervised practice program (dietetic internship - DI). After successfully completing a DI, students/interns are eligible to take the registration exam for dietitians/nutritionists to become a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RD/RDN). The DPD at Texas Southern University (TSU) admits students into the program who are seeking a Bachelor's degree. Post-baccalaureate students who are interested in completing only the didactic courses (DPD) are also admitted. Registered dietitian nutritionists are food and nutrition experts who translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living, disease prevention, and management. They work throughout the community in hospitals, schools, public health clinics, nursing homes, fitness centers, food management, food industry, universities, research, and private practice. RDNs are advocates for advancing the nutritional status of Americans and people around the world.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree.

In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics at Texas Southern University are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements click here.

For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN click here.

Admissions 

Program Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the dietetics program must apply for admission to Texas Southern University under the appropriate classification:
Dietetics Admission

Once admitted to Texas Southern University, admission to the Dietetics program requires a student to have a:

  • 3.0-grade point average;
  • and the submission of a Declaration of Major form signed by the student, advisor, and Chair to the Registrar.
Handbook

Click HERE for the Student Handbook
GPA 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Prerequisite Courses Click HERE for a list of courses with prerequisites
Degree Plan Click HERE for the degree plan.
Course Descriptions Click HERE for course descriptions.

 

Program Mission, Goals & Objectives

In alignment with the University’s mission, the mission and goals of the COPHS, the Dietetics program at Texas Southern University seeks to provide comprehensive experiences designed to prepare students from diverse ethnic and academic backgrounds, especially African Americans and underrepresented minorities, for entry into supervised practice programs leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing examination to become a registered dietitian nutritionist by providing a series of carefully planned curriculum experiences embracing the academic knowledge/concepts and professional experiences prescribed by ACEND.

Goal 1:  The program will prepare competent graduates for supervised practice to become entry-level registered dietitian nutritionist, graduate programs, or entry-level dietetics-related careers.

 Objectives

  1. At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 3 years (full-time) or 4.5 years (part-time)(150% of planned program length).  
  2. At least 50% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation. 
  3. Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least _50__ percent are admitted 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%. 
  5. At least eighty percent (80%) of graduates who enter Dietetic Internships (DIs) will receive ratings of satisfactory or better for acceptable preparation for supervised practice. 

Goal 2: The program will prepare graduates that will add to the diversity within the dietetics profession.

Objective: At least fifty percent (50%) of the graduates will identify themselves as individuals from groups that are underrepresented in the dietetics profession.