Program Information

Description

The Coordinated Program (CP) in Dietetics at Arkansas State University – Jonesboro is administered by the Nutritional Science 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 1200 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 (includes two summers) 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’s 126 hours. 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.

Costs

Program specific costs, in addition to university tuition and fees, are estimated below.

• Books - approximately $350-$500 per semester
• Lab Coat - $30
• Name Tag - $10
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Student Membership - $50
• ASU annual student dietetic membership - $10-$20
• Professional Student Liability Insurance - $25
• Travel and Vehicle Insurance - Students must travel to supervised practices sites, some of which are located in Jonesboro area or within a 75-90 mile radius of Jonesboro. Students must furnish their own transportation to and from these facilities and assume all costs and liability involved with this travel. Vehicle insurance is required, the cost of which varies by plan.
• Professional Expenses - Some meetings may be available locally; however, travel and accommodation expenses for state and national professional meetings should also be budgeted. You should also budget for the Registered Dietitian Examination which is about $200.
• Immunizations - available at Student Health Center for approximately $300, which includes Hepatitis B vaccines (series of 3 doses), TB skin test, Tetanus and MMR.
• CPR Certification - approximately $25 - $40
• Student Health Insurance - The Student Health Center offers students the opportunity to purchase health insurance provided by a reputable insurance company, if no insurance coverage is available under a family policy. The cost is approximately $650-$700 annually. Contact the Student Health Center for more information.
• Drug Screening – approximately $25, if required by clinical facility
• Criminal Background Check – approximately $48, if required by clinical facility

Admission Requirements

Students must apply for admission to the CP by April 1 after they have completed the sophomore year. Class size is limited due to the availability of supervised practices sites and all applicants may not be accepted into the program. A screening procedure is used to select the most qualified students. Letter of application, academic status, reference forms and completed application, including answers to particular questions are used in the selection process.

CP admission requirements include:

• Cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale of all college work attempted
• English proficiency requirements, if foreign born
• Completion of program prerequisites with a minimum grade of “C” required in all courses

Required prerequisite courses include:

Application Procedure

Apply for admission to the Coordinated Program in Dietetics by April 1 after the sophomore year. Application packet is available on this website.

Submit the completed application packet to:

Coordinated Program in Dietetics
College of Nursing & Health Professions
PO Box 910
State University, AR 72467

Application packet includes:

• Letter of application
• Program application
• Official transcripts of all college work completed
• Documentation of English proficiency, if foreign born
• Completed reference forms (three)

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Student will be notified of their acceptance into the program by May 15.

2013 Application Packet

Dietetics Curriculum

The Coordinated Program in Dietetics requires 72 semester hours which includes 21 hours in supervised practice rotations in a variety of foodservice, community and clinical settings.

The following is a typical course sequence.

Year One Fall Semester

Year One Spring Semester

Summer One

Year Two Fall Semester

Year Two Spring Semester

Summer Two

Academic and CP Schedule

During the junior, senior and summer semesters, students will have holidays consistent with the ASU academic calendar. Individual course syllabi and the Supervised Practice Rotation Schedule will provide additional information about the CP schedule. Policies and procedures specific to the dietetics program including supervised practice rotations will be available in the Dietetics Student Handbook.

Graduation and/or Program Completion Requirements

In order to receive a B. S. in Nutritional Science from Arkansas State University that signifies completion of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics, a student must:

• Complete all didactic course requirements with a grade of C or above in all dietetics courses
• Successfully complete five supervised practice rotations
• Complete all general education and university requirements pertaining to the major
• Maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Have no outstanding financial or other program obligations

Based on the ACEND benchmark for program completion (within 150% of the time planned for completion), this would equal a period of three years once a student is accepted into the two year (includes two summers) Coordinated Program.

Program Delay/Interruption

If progress in the CP is interrupted for health or other reasons, the student must meet with the program director to discuss the circumstances and options for program completion. This situation may take the student outside of the benchmark window.

If the student withdraws from the university, he/she must apply for readmission to the program. Readmission status will be dependent upon space available. See the undergraduate bulletin for additional information.

Verification Requirements

Verification of completion of the CP at Arkansas State University will be given to all students who successfully complete the academic coursework and supervised practice components of the program and who meet the ethical requirements of the dietetics profession.

Download a checklist for the Dietetics program.