The Registered Dietitian Option at Prairie View A&M University is designed to meet the basic foundation knowledge, skills, and competencies required by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Graduates of the program who are verified by the program director may apply for entry into the Dietetic Internship Program to establish eligibility to write the registration examination for dietitians. Upon successful completion of the registration examination, students will then become Registered Dietitians.

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). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR’s Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. 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 program at Prairie View A&M 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 visit https://www.cdrnet.org/state-licensure.

For more information about educational pathways to become an RDN visit https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/students-and-advancing-education/information-for-students.

The Didactic Program in Dietetics at Prairie View A&M University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

120 South Riverside Plaza Suite 2190
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995
Tel: 800-877-1600

https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend

Information about program tuition and fees, program admission requirements, the academic program calendar, and graduation and program completion requirements is located in the Registered Dietitian Student Handbook located on this website.

For more information on the program, please contact:

Dana R. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
DPD Program Director
Prairie View A&M University
Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Human Ecology
P.O. Box 519, MS2004
Phone: (936) 261-2531
Email: drsmith@pvamu.edu

The mission of the undergraduate program in Human Nutrition and Food is to provide quality dietetic education that enhances the students’ total development and prepares students for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.

Students will possess the knowledge and competencies required to enter into dietetic internships, successfully complete graduate nutrition and related programs, and enter into entry-level positions in the nutrition profession, thus meeting the needs of the residents of Texas and the nation. The degree plan emphasizes the significance of lifelong learning, individual development, problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision making. Graduates are encouraged to utilize their professional preparation and personal potential to improve the health of individuals and families throughout the life cycle.

Didactic Program Goal 1

Goal #1 – Prepare competent graduates for entry into supervised practice.

Objective 1: 80% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.

Objective 2: Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 80% percent are admitted within 12 months of graduation.

Objective 3: 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 4: Over a five-year period, 80% of the supervised practice program directors who respond to our survey will rate the preparation of PVAMU graduates for dietetic internships as satisfactory or above.

Objective 5: At least 80% of students will rate the quality of academic training received in major course requirements as satisfactory or better.

Didactic Program Goal 2

Goal #2 – Add to the cadre of historically under-represented individuals who are successful professionals in their field of study.

Objective 1: At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 3 years (150% of planned program length).

Objective 2: Within 18 months of graduation, 50% of students not applying to dietetic internships who respond to our survey will be accepted into post-graduate programs.

Admission to PVAMU is open to qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, or educationally unrelated handicaps. Academic preparation and motivation to succeed are major criteria for admission to the University and to the Human Nutrition and Food program. To be accepted into the Registered Dietitian (RD) concentration within the Human Nutrition and Food program in the Department of Human Nutrition and Food, students must be of junior standing and must fulfill the university requirements for successful academic progress toward graduation.

Additionally, students must:

  1. Have and maintain a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 in each program core course and the major courses in the degree plan/option.
  2. Meet with the Program Director for counseling, review of their transcripts, and advisement on suggested course sequence.
  3. Graduate with at least a 3.0 GPA to receive a verification statement. A student must receive a verification statement to be eligible to apply for entry into supervised practice

5 Steps to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

PVAMU DPD Student Handbook for 2023-2024

Registered dietitians are in demand because of a growing and aging population, increased public interest in nutrition, and consumer demands for more nutritious products.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of dietitians and nutritionists is projected to grow 16 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations.

Career opportunities include community and public health, food service management, public relations, consumer affairs, and marketing. Registered dietitians often work in clinical dietetics, government agencies, consulting, and private practice.

Read about the steps to becoming a Registered Dietitian here: