Didactic Program In Dietetics
A Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is an undergraduate nutrition or dietetics program that meets the course work requirements set by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE).
Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at Cal Poly
At Cal Poly, the courses (major and concentration courses) required for a B.S. in Nutrition with an Applied Nutrition concentration meet the DPD requirements. Since CADE also requires a dietetic intern to have a bachelor's degree, the General Education requirements at Cal Poly are also mandatory. This course work will ensure that students have the "Knowledge and Skills" required by CADE to enter a dietetic internship. If you already have a bachelor's degree you can complete only one DPD coursework.
Didactic Program in Dietetics Mission Statement
The mission of the Didactic Program in Dietetics program at Cal Poly is to provide students with contemporary knowledge, including medical nutrition therapy, and practical skills to prepare them for successful completion of a dietetic internship and a satisfying career in dietetics.
Didactic Program in Dietetics Goals
- To provide education in a learning environment that prepares graduates to demonstrate knowledge and skills producing the competencies needed for dietetic registration.
- Program faculty and staff work continuously to maintain course offerings, course content, and methodology to prepare DPD students with a balanced, forward looking curriculum to prepare them for academic and career goals after graduation.
- Through encouragement, motivation, and support, program faculty and staff will increase the number of students who complete their dietetics program of study and qualify for a Verification Statement.
Graduates of the Applied Nutrition Concentration:
- Can use their working knowledge of food composition, food preparation principles, and commercial food technology to produce palatable, safe, affordable, and nutritious foods.
- Can define diets, and promote consumption of foods, to meet the medical nutritional and health needs of individuals and groups.
- Demonstrate their understanding of effective and ethical management concepts and functions, particularly as applied to food service operations and nutrition programs.
- Have working knowledge of public policies, regulations, and the health care system as each relate to and impact the field of nutrition.
For more information on the program goals and assessments schedule, click here to see the Program Assessment Plan (pdf)
A DPD is the first step in the road to becoming a Registered Dietitian. After a student earns a B.S. in Nutrition in the Applied Concentration, he/she is eligible to apply for a dietetic internship. Graduates of a dietetic internship program can sit for a (computerized) national certification exam.
Those who successfully pass the exam then become Registered Dietitians (RD). Therefore, the only way to become a registered dietitian (RD) is by completing (1) a bachelor's degree, (2) the DPD required courses, (3) an accredited dietetic internship, and (4) the RD exam (successfully).
CADE was set up by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) to set Standards of Education for undergraduate baccalaureate programs (i.e. DPD) and for dietetic internships. Cal Poly's DPD is accredited by CADE.
If you have a previous degree but did not complete the DPD at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, you must complete the core DPD courses (along with the prerequisites) to receive verification of the completion of the knowledge and skills required of the DPD at Cal Poly. Click here to see Courses for DPD Evaluation.
Due to budget restraints,Cal Poly is not currently accepting students into the post-baccalaureate DPD Program.
For more information, please see the American Dietetic Association's web page at www.eatright.org/CADE/
Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education
American Dietetic Association
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000.Chicago, IL 60606-6995
312-899-0040 ext. 5400 Fax: 312-899-4817
E-mail: education@eatright.org
Cal Poly Yearly Goals
This timeline is designed to help you plan your classes and activities in preparation for an internship. No one plan is suitable for all students. Since each student has different desires this guide should only be used as a reference.
Freshman/Sophomore
- Take FSN 101 for a general introduction to your major
- Join the Nutrition Club as a way to find out more about the field and meet others in your major. Other clubs that may be beneficial are the Food Science Club and the Health Professions Club.
- Start taking your chemistry classes (all chemistry classes should be completed by the end of your sophomore year in order to graduate in four years)
- Decide which nutrition concentration you would like to pursue
- The Applied Nutrition concentration is designed to meet all requirements for applying to a dietetic internship. If you are in another concentration, you may need to take additional classes to qualify.
- Decide if you would like to complete a minor
- Maintain good grades
Junior
- By the end of FSN 328 Advanced Nutrition, file a Declaration of Concentration form specifying "Applied Nutrition Concentration" in the FSN Office (Building 11, Room 244)
- Become active in the Nutrition Club
- Volunteer in the community, dietetics related experienced are viewed most favorably.
- Begin reviewing the Directory of Dietetic Internships
Senior
- Become an officer in the Nutrition Club
- Be a peer health advisor for great experience
- Get an early start on your senior project
- Keep your GPA above 2.75, shoot for a 3.0
- Attend an internship workshop
- Call or email prospective internships for more information
- Decide on 3-8 internships to which you will apply
- Check appointment deadlines and apply on time
The First Steps in the Application Process
Get ready to get organized! Download the "Process summary 2008/2009" form. Forms mentioned below can be found in the "ADA file box" outside of Dr. Nicholson's office (11-208) or on this website (see DPD Forms).
The Steps...
- Decide which internships to which you are going to apply. To find out about different internships, you can go the ADA's web page (http://www.eatright.org/cade). In addition, the Applicant Guide to Supervised Practice Experience is on reserve at Kennedy Library under "FSN 400 Dietetic Internship Locations" (Dr. Nicholson).
- The Applicant Guide provides more detail on the programs than is available on the ADA website. This guide gives information on program length, starting date, estimated program costs, program focus, admission requirements and how each internship evaluates the candidates.
- Download the Dietetic Internship Program Application form as a MS Word document.
Once you decide on which internships to which you will apply...
- Order official transcripts from all colleges you attended as part of your DPD program coursework - Order one set of transcripts for EACH application.
- Request letters of recommendation - All internships require letters of recommendation with their applications. Be sure to check with the internship before making requests for letters of recommendation. Some require letters from specific professors (e.g. a food service professor).
- When requesting letters of recommendation - do so in person, either during office hours or make an appointment with the professor
- Provide each person from whom you are requesting a letter of recommendation with the contact name and addresses of ALL of the internships you are applying to.
- Clearly indicate any DEADLINE dates that differ from the usual ones.
- ASK EARLY - For the February deadline ask your professors at the end of Winter Quarter. For the Fall deadline, ask your professors at the end of Spring quarter.
- The evaluation form is always required for EACH LETTER-WRITER for EACH internship to which you are applying.
- Please see the ADA box outside of Dr. Nicholson's office (Bldg. 11, Room 208) for letters of recommendation requirements or see: Letters of Recommendation
- List of Cal Poly Nutrition Faculty (Cal Poly Staff & Faculty)
Completing the Application Process
After you have completed all of the tasks in THE FIRST STEPS you are ready to complete the process. If you are applying to more than one internship, be sure to follow the list of requirements from EACH internship.
Putting the Application Package Together
- Most internships have specific requirements so you must follow the directions for each program. Assemble into one packet per application with all forms, letters, transcripts and fees and send the complete application packet to the internship by the deadline date.
- INTERNSHIPS ASK FOR DIFFERENT MATERIALS SO REVIEW EACH PACKET CLOSELY BEFORE YOU SEND IT. Typically, an internship program will request the following:
- A completed Dietetic Internship Program Application form
- Letter of Application or Personal Statement
- Internships that request a letter or statement usually specify what information to include. For example, they may ask how you became interested in nutrition or ask you to identify an influential person in your life and explain the impact he or she made on you.
- Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree from OR the Verification Statement
- Applications require EITHER a "Declarations of Intent to Complete Degree Requirements: OR a "Verification Statement".
- IF YOU HAVE NOT GRADUATED OR COMPLETED THE DIDACTIC PROGRAM IN DIETETICS, you will submit the "Intent to Complete" form with your DI applications. (Declaration Intent)
- IF YOU HAVE GRADUATED see the forms and directions regarding your program verification Declaration of Concentration.
- This must be completed by the DPD Director after verifying your DPD file
- Official transcripts from each college/university you have attended.
- Letters of Recommendation (ADA Recommendation Form)
- Be sure to include the proper number (usually 3-4) and from the proper sources (professors vs. employers)
- Anything extra requested by internship
Final Recommendations for Your Application
- Check and double check!!!
- Each internship requires different information. Make sure you have included all of the required forms. Do you have the proper number of recommendation letters? Do you have all of your transcripts? Enclose the necessary fees.
- Review and proofread your application letter.
- Do not rely on "spell check" to catch all spelling mistakes. Points may be deducted for each spelling mistake that the internship director finds in your letter.
- Does your letter include all of the information that the internship requested? Leaving one part out may mean fewer points for your application.
- Have friends/family proofread your letter to catch spelling and grammar mistakes.
- Have you put your best qualities in your letter? (IE. If you put yourself through school or were an officer in a club)
- If needed, explain how/why your grades improved after ...
- Highlight accomplishments that may be lost in the standard application (i.e. You have additional certifications, licenses, minors, or language skills).
Computer Matching
Most supervised practice programs participate in a process called computer matching through a company called D & D Digital (web site link www.dnddigital.com). This process is used to match an internships' top choices with the students' top choices.
The Student's Role
After a student decides on the internships to which they will apply, the student must rank the internships in order of preference. The student must get a rating card from D & D Digital. D & D Digital charges a $50 fee for the matching process. After completing the card, the student must have the card (with check enclosed) postmarked by a specific date. This date usually coincides with the last date of postmark for internship applications. If the card is postmarked with a later date, the card will not be processed.
Approximately 2 months later, on the "Notification Date," D & D Digital will post each student's matching result on a website. D & D will provide each student involved in the match with the website and an individualized password prior to the matching date. On the match/no match date the student can go to this website and check if s/he matched with a program.
If the student is matched with an internship, the student must contact the internship director within two days, by the Appointment Date, to accept/decline the position. If the student is not matched, the student can go to the D & D Digital website two days after the matching date to view a list of internships that still have space available. If the student would still like to match to an internship, it is then up to the student to contact one of the internships on that list and speak with the internship director.
The Internship's Role
After receiving the applications, the application committee at each internship assesses each application they receive. After reviewing the applications, they must rank the top applicants and send this list to D & D Digital. Matches are based on this ranking relative to the ranking each applicant chose for that internship.
On the same date that the students are informed of their internship match, the internship directors are also informed of the students that have matched to their internship.
D & D Digital's Role
D & D receives the students' ranking list AND the internships' ranking list and enters both criteria into a computer program. The computer than looks at the internship's top choice and checks to see how high that student ranked that internship. If the relative ranks from the internship and the student choices are high enough, the computer will match the two parties.
For answers to the top 10 questions about computer matching go to: http://www.eatright.org/students/top10.html
For more information, you can contact D & D Digital at http://www.dnddigital.com
Why does the process use computer matching?
The computer matching blends the top priorities of the students applying with the top applicants to each program so that the best possible matches are made. In addition, this process prevents bias.
What if I didn't match to an internship the first time?
Because of how the computer matching system works (please see above "D & D Digital's Role"), students may not get matched even if the student was on the internship's ranking list. Not everyone matches on the first day; over the next couple of weeks internships continue to fill openings. Many students will be placed in this second phase.
Application Forms
Several forms are needed for the application process. The forms you will need are provided below and are compatible with Word; save on your own computer and complete.
- The Sample Forms are demonstrations of completed forms that provide extra instructions and hints to help you accurately complete your forms.
Dietetic Internship Program Application (Standard ADA Form)
- Downloadable Dietetic Internship Program Application form
- SAMPLE Dietetic Internship Program Application
Letter of Recommendation (Standard ADA Form)
Declaration of Intent to Complete Form
- SAMPLE Declaration of Intent to Complete Form
- Note: this form needs to be supplied by the DPD Director (Nicholson) and signed by her before the application.
Declaration of Concentration
- All Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo Nutrition graduates in the Applied Concentration should have signed a Declaration of Concentration form on file in the FSN office (11-244). At the time of graduation, if you meet the GPA (great than or equal to 2.75) and coursework requirements, you will be mailed six (6) copies of the ADA CADE Verification Statement, signed by the DPD Director.
- If these have not arrived within three months of graduation, email the DPD Director and verify that we have your correct mailing address on file.
- IF YOU GRADUATED PRIOR TO DECEMBER 2005: Print this form, read and sign it and mail it to the DPD Director along with the address where your six Verification Statements should be mailed.
- If you have previously received Verification Statements and need additional copies, these may be requested at any time. Please email your request to lmnichol@calpoly.edu
Courses for DPD Evaluation
- List of DPD Coursework
- Special Status students: Students who have completed baccalaureate and/or post-baccalaureate work at another university, or in another major and concentration than Nutrition with an Applied Nutrition concentration, can complete only the needed coursework for the DPD. All the ADA foundation knowledge and skills must be met before a Verification Statement will be issued. Use the "Courses for DPD Evaluation" form for evaluation. Both the DPD Director and the student need to keep a copy.
Being Accepted into the DPD
- Due to budget restraints,Cal Poly is not currently accepting students into the post-baccalaureate DPD Program
- Cal Poly Admissions Procedures: The student applies using the CSU Mentor form but marks the "professional program" box (not 2nd baccalaureate, not Master of Science in Agriculture). You must print the hard copy to mark this box. Note: Applicant must have talked to the DPD director first.
- Evaluation of Prior Coursework:
- Student meets with the DPD director with all transcripts from prior colleges or universities in which coursework to be considered as part of the DPD is included. Student should submit the catalog pages for course descriptions.
- Using course descriptions and transcripts the essential courses (as on the Course for DPD evaluation) are checked off.
- Both student and Director should agree on the classes needed to complete the program. Both receive a copy of that agreement.
- When the student has completed all of the necessary classes, the form is updated and a final version created. This final form, signed and accompanied by the final transcript including all coursework, remains in the student's DPD file and the Verification Statement is issued.
- For some students who are completing the Master of Science in Agriculture, this Verification Statement date may precede the final MS degree award date. The Verification Statement date is the date the last DPD course grade was posted online
DPD Forms