BS in Nutritional Science & Dietetics (NSCD)

Admissions

How to Apply

Goals and Objectives

Goal 1: The DPD program will prepare competent graduates capable of succeeding in an accredited supervised-practice program (dietetic internship or individualized supervised practice pathway).   The DPD and ISPP Programs will prepare graduates capable of succeeding as entry-level practitioners as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). 

• Objective 1.1a:  At least 80% of program students complete program/degree requirements within 3 years (150% of program length) for full-time students and within 6 years (150% of program length) for part-time students.  (DPD)
• Objective 1.1b:  At least 80% of program interns complete program/degree requirements within 16.5 months (150% of program length) for full-time interns and 33 months (150% of program length) for part-time interns. (ISPP)
• Objective 1.2.a.a:  At least 40% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised-practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation. (DPD)
• Objective 1.2.a.b:  At least 25% of program graduates are admitted to a supervised-practice program within 12 months of graduation. (DPD)
• Objective 1.2.b:  Of graduates who seek employment, 80% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields, within 12 months of graduation. (ISPP)
• Objective 1.3.a:  At least 80% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionist within 12 months of program completion. (ISPP)
• Objective 1.3.b:  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%. (DPD & ISPP)
• Objective 1.4.a: At least 90% of surveys returned by supervised-practice program directors rate the DPD graduates they supervised at least “adequately prepared” on all items that are rated. (DPD)
• Objective 1.4.b.1:  At least 90% of surveys returned by employers of DPD graduates will rate these graduates as “satisfactory” or better, in terms of their preparation for entry-level practice as a dietitian nutritionist (DPD)
• Objectives 1.4.b.2: At least 90% of surveys returned by employers of ISPP graduates will rate these graduates as “satisfactory” or better, in terms of their preparation for entry level practice as a dietitian nutritionist. (ISPP)
• Objective 1.5.a:  At least 80% of DPD graduates who respond to the program survey will indicate that the program “prepared” or “well-prepared” them to be successful in a supervised-practice program, a related graduate program, and/or employment in a nutrition and dietetic related position. (DPD)
• Objective 1.5.b: At least 80% of ISPP graduates who respond to the program survey will indicate that the program “prepared” or “well-prepared” them to be successful in employment in a nutrition and dietetic related position. 
• Objective 1.6.a: At least 80% of DPD graduates who respond to the program survey will rate the education at CSUSB to be “good” or “excellent.” (DPD)
• Objection 1.6.b:  At least 80% of ISPP graduates who respond to the program survey will rate the education at CSUSB to be “good” or “excellent.” (ISPP)

Goal 2:  The DPD/ISPP will prepare graduates competent in a variety of employment opportunities that will address the nutrition and health needs in multicultural communities.

• Objectives 2.1:  At least 90% of surveys returned by supervised-practice program directors will rate the DPD graduates completing their program as “competent” or “extremely competent” in their ability to provide service to culturally diverse communities.  (DPD)
• Objective 2.2:  At least 80% of DPD graduates who respond to the program survey will rate themselves as “competent” or “extremely competent” in their ability to provide service to culturally diverse communities.   (DPD)
• Objective 2.3:  At least 90% of surveys returned by employers will rate ISPP graduates as being “competent” or “extremely competent” to work with clients of various ethnic/cultural backgrounds. (ISPP)
• Objective 2.4:At least 80% of ISPP graduates who respond to the program survey will rate themselves as “competent” or “extremely competent” in their ability to work with clients of various ethnic/cultural backgrounds. (ISPP)

How do I become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist?

Many students/majors in the Program aspire to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and there are 3 steps that individuals must complete to become a RD/RDN.

1. Complete a Bachelor degree and a set of classes in the DPD and obtain the DPD Verification Statement (DPD VS). To receive the Verification Statement for DPD, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.8 and B- or better in all 3000 and 4000 level DPD courses. (Note: students may not repeat any classes with a grade of C or better at CSUSB without an approval from the Dean of the Undergraduate Studies. Therefore, it is pertinent that students should receive a minimum grade of B- in the classes. Note: Students can still graduate with the BS in NTFS/NSCD without the VS if they meet the University and Department requirements for graduation.

Students, who do not have a Bachelor degree in Nutrition and Food Sciences or Nutritional Science and Dietetics, will need to complete all DPD courses to receive the DPD Verification Statement. With the Verification Statement from CSUSB DPD, graduates are eligible to apply for a dietetic internship or individualized supervised- practice pathway (ISPP)* program. CSUSB’s DPD was granted to provide ISSP starting September, 2013 as a second-round program, and the program accepts up to 25interns each year. The Program gives preference to CSUSB graduates so if graduates meet the qualifications for ISPP, they may apply for the ISPP program in the month of April. Graduates may apply during the final year of the DPD courses after they are not matched into the DI program through DICAS (centralized application system).

Information on CSUSB ISPP Program may be obtained at the ACEND-AND Accredited Program under DPD for CSUSB. One may also go to this website for CSUSB ISPP Program. https://cel.csusb.edu/pace/courses-programs/medical-health- care/individualized-supervised-practice-pathwaysdietetics To be successful in the application process for the dietetic internship program, students should have a good grade in the foundation science and DPD courses, have volunteer and/or work experiences in dietetic related area, and an original DPD VS.

1. Completion of Dietetic Internship (DI) or ISPP from an ACEND accredited program and receive the Verification Statement (VS DI or VS ISPP). Note that ISPP (Individualized Supervised-Practice Pathway) is an alternative pathway to dietetic internship and it is offered through the accredited DPD or DI program. DI and ISPP programs require 1,200* hours of supervised experience, which takes about 9 to 12 months to complete. Note that many supervised-practice programs have tuition and fees that need to be paid at the start of the program and some programs provide student loans. Go to www.eatrightPRO.org and review the application and program

information about each DI and ISPP program. CSUSB ISPP program starts in August and ends in June of the following year. Upon successful completion, interns will receive the Verification Statement for ISPP, which allows them to take the CDR eligibility exam.

1. With the Verification Statements from the DPD and DI/ISPP, interns are eligible to take the CDR eligibility exam. The ISPP or DI Program Director will submit the paperwork to CDR in order for the candidate to take the exam. After successful passage of the CDR eligibility exam, the candidate is now an RDN.

NOTE: 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. 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 DPD program at CSU San Bernardino are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program and upon completion of a supervised-practice program be able to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

If anyone has any questions regarding this requirement and DPD/ISPP programs, please do not hesitate to ask Dr. Dorothy Chen-Maynard, DPD Director at CSUSB. Contact email address is: dchen@csusb.edu

What other career paths are available?

The Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science and Dietetics (NSCD) is appropriate for students preparing for careers in foods, nutrition, or dietetics. With the DPD Verification Statement after completion of the BS degree, in addition to eligibility to start and complete a supervised-practice program to become an RDN, graduates are also eligible to take the registration exam to become Nutrition and Dietetic Technician Registered (NDTR). This credential allows some of the graduates to work in a dietetic related job in

order to gain the experience necessary to enhance their DI application and resume. Also with a completion of BS degree (without VS DPD), graduates are eligible to take the Dietary Supervisor Exam to become a Certified Dietary Supervisor/Manager (CDM), the exam information is available through ANFP (Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals), the website for additional information for CDM is https://www.anfponline.org/

The pathway and information about how to become a Registered Dietitian is included in the Letter to Prospective Students 2020.