Health Sciences at Keene State College – Information for the Nutrition and Dietetics Program

The Health Sciences Nutrition and Dietetics undergraduate program is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist preparation curriculum, also referred to as the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). The curriculum combines courses in health promotion, community health, management, natural and social sciences with courses in food and nutrition.

Our major includes students that aspire to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, after additional post-baccalaureate education, as well as those who would like a degree in Health Sciences Nutrition and Dietetics but are unsure of their career goals.

Becoming a Health Sciences Nutrition and Dietetic option major

If you are a prospective students identify your program of choice for Health Sciences Nutrition and Dietetics when you apply to Keene State College
If you are an current KSC student and interested in declaring as a Nutrition and Dietetics major contact Lisa Prospert MS RD LD at lprosper@keene.edu to declare your major and be assigned an academic advisor

Our Mission, Goals and Objectives can be found here: Mission, Goals and Objectives of the Program

More information on the Health Sciences Nutrition and Dietetics program specific policies can be found in the Student Handbook. 2023-24 DPD Student Handbook and include policies on:

Admission/application requirements
Additional program costs
Nutrition specific scholarships
Granting credit for prior learning
Technology/online course requirements
Graduation/program completion requirements
Remediation and Retention

For additional Keene State College information please visit these links:

Also visit our Frequently Asked Questions for additional information

Dietetics Accreditation

The Health Sciences Nutrition and Dietetics option is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). To learn more about ACEND go to www.eatright.org/ACEND. To file a complaint with ACEND go to https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/public-notices-and-announcements/filing-a-complaint.

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics Contact information

120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago IL 60606-6995
Phone 800-877-1600, ext. 5400

Email: ACEND@eatright.org

What is Nutrition?

Nutrition is the study of food and how it impacts the health and wellness of the human body.

More specifically it is the science of nutrients: how the body uses them, how they influence disease, and how they can be utilized to promote health and wellness.

Along with the scientific foundation the study of how food and eating are also influenced by psychology, sociology, culture, the lived environment and economics are explored.

Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Students wanting to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) must continue their education after completing the KSC Health Sciences Nutrition and Dietetics option.

The KSC Nutrition and Dietetics option provides the undergraduate knowledge, skills and competencies students need to successfully move on to the next phase of their education. Students must apply and be accepted into a dietetic internship/master’s degree program and successfully complete the Registration Exam for Dietitians administered by the Commission on Dietetics Registration Commission on Dietetics Registration a credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. If a student has a previous master’s degree there are some dietetic internship programs that provide the internship experience only.

In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility without a master’s degree, an individual must complete a dietetic internship with eligibility submitted into CDR’s Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023.

After successfully completing the Registration Exam for Dietitians you will be a credentialed Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Salary Trends for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists

Licensure

Many states also require that Registered Dietitians Nutritionist be licensed to work in their State. To practice in the State of New Hampshire you must be licensed. You can find out more about licensing requirements in NH here https://www.oplc.nh.gov/board-licensed-dietitians. To learn more about the licensing requirements for other state go to https://www.cdrnet.org/state-licensure and your State’s licensing website.

Becoming a Nutrition Dietetic Technician Registered

Graduates of the Health Sciences Nutrition and Dietetics option program have the opportunity to become credentialed by the Commission on Dietetics Registration as a Nutrition Dietetic Technician Registered (NDTR). Learn more about the NDTR credential and employment here: NDTR Information

The NDTR requires a bachelor’s degree, a DPD Verification Statement and successful completion of the Nutrition Dietetic Technician Registered Exam. Your academic advisor will guide you through the process if you are interested

What if I don’t want to be a Dietitian or a Diet Technician?

You can still major in Health Sciences Nutrition and Dietetics option. Many of our graduates, that do not wish to become RDN’s or NDTR’s, pursue employment that does not require the NDTR or RDN credential. These jobs included government programs such as nutrition counseling in the Women, Infants and Children program, diet offices in healthcare facilities, community health, gyms, weight loss centers, food banks, schools, food service management, insurance companies etc.

Some choose to complete their education in another medical professional career such as nursing, chiropractic, physician assistants, and naturopathic physicians.

Others simply opt to work for a few years prior to completing the internship/master’s degree and becoming an RDN. Internship/Master’s degree programs may have recency of education requirements for some undergraduate course work, don’t wait too long before choosing this route.

Nutrition Minor

The nutrition minor is also available to students not interested in become a dietitian or a diet technician. The minor includes foundational knowledge on the food and nutrition needs for all lifespan age groups. This minor would complement the following majors: nursing, biology, exercise science, psychology, population health, preprofessional health, addictions, and environmental studies