DPDCRTU - Didactic Program in Dietetics

Undergraduate Certificate

The University of Arizona offers a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), which is nationally accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Students can complete the DPD by earning a Bachelor's of Science in Nutritional Sciences-Dietetics Option, but for those who have already completed a bachelor's degree in another area of study or at a different institution, this certificate provides a transcriptable opportunity to complete the DPD coursework without
pursuing another bachelor¿s degree. Upon completion of the certificate, students will receive a verification statement from the DPD Program Director, verifying completion of the DPD program at the University of Arizona, according to ACEND protocol.

Possession of a DPD verification statement establishes eligibility to sit for the Nutrition and Dietetic Technician, Registered (NDTR) examination to earn the NDTR credential. Possession of a DPD verification statement also signifies eligibility to move forward in the process of earning the RDN credential. After completing this certificate program, graduates will be eligible to apply for ACEND accredited supervised practice programs through a competitive admissions process. Those who complete an ACEND accredited supervised practice program will be eligible to sit for the Registration Examination for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, and if passed, will earn the RDN credential.

- Effectively communicate diet and nutrition information/knowledge to diverse populations
- Apply scientific evidence, best practices, and professional judgement when evaluation food- and nutrition-related problems
- Identify alterations in nutrition metabolism and its implications on health and disease
- Utilize food science and culinary principles in food preparation to recognize how knowledge of food can influence nutritional status