Nutrition and Dietetics Program Mission Statement
The mission of the Louisiana Tech Didactic Program (Undergraduate) is to prepare graduates
for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the credentialing exam to become
registered dietitian nutritionists who enhance the lives of individuals and families
through education, research, and service.
The program has two program goals. They are:
1. The program will prepare program graduates for successful performance in a supervised-practice
program
- At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 3 years (150% of planned
program length).
- At least 60 % of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program
prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
- Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 50% are
admitted within 12 months of graduation.
- The program’s one-year pass rate (pass the registration exam within one year of first
attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
- The program must develop an objective for evaluation of graduates’ performance in
supervised practice, graduate program, or employment within 12 months of graduation.
- The program will provide at least two informational sessions regarding development
of dietetic internship applications for each graduating cohort.
2. Program graduates will be prepared by the program for research and service to the
profession and community.
Measureable Objectives:
- For the accreditation period, at least 35% of upper-division nutrition and dietetics
students will present original research projects at the ANS Annual Research Symposium,
the Louisiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics FNCE, or other professional meeting.
- 80% of graduates will complete a minimum of 25 service hours to the profession and/or
community as measured by service activities/hours recorded in the FNU 463 portfolios.
Additional information and requirements to become a registered dietitian nutritionist
or a registered nutrition dietetics technician can be found at the following links:
Both have career opportunities for you!
Nutrition and Dietetic students must apply for and be accepted into Upper Division
prior to enrolling in professional courses (300- and 400-level Food and Nutrition
courses). Minimum requirements for admission into upper division include: completion
of at least 54 hours of credit, with no grade less than a “C” in curriculum courses.
The RD concentration has the requirement of a minimum curriculum GPA of 2.85 or higher,
and the non-RD concentration has the requirement of a minimum curriculum GPA of 2.3.
The curriculum GPA is not the same as the cumulative GPA posted on the student’s transcript.
The curriculum GPA is calculated at the end of each quarter and is posted in the student’s
academic folder. Students can contact their advisors at any time to check their curriculum
GPA. (Note: Students can repeat classes in which they earn grades less than a “C”
to earn a higher grade. However, both grades will be factored into the calculation
of curriculum GPA.)
Typically, application to upper division is made after winter quarter of the sophomore
year, although students are able to apply during any quarter in which they meet the
eligibility requirements. Once admitted into Upper Division, students in the RD concentration
must maintain a minimum curriculum GPA of 2.85 to continue enrolling in 300- and 400-level
Food and Nutrition courses. Students in the RD concentration whose curriculum GPA
falls below 2.85 will be placed on probation for one quarter. They will be allowed
one quarter to raise the curriculum GPA to 2.85 or above. If, by the end of the one
quarter of probation, the curriculum GPA is not a 2.85 or above, the student will
be dropped from Upper Division and will not be allowed to enroll in additional upper
division Food and Nutrition courses. At this time, students should work with their
advisors to plan remediation or transfer to the non-RD concentration. While on probation,
students may enroll in non-Food and Nutrition courses and they can repeat lower level
courses to raise their curriculum GPA. Students will need to reapply and be readmitted
to Upper Division prior to enrolling in additional Upper Division courses.
Graduation requirements include completion of the all courses in the Nutrition and
Dietetics curriculum, with a grade of “C” or better. The RDN concentration requires
a curriculum GPA of 2.85 or above to be awarded the ACEND verification statement of
completion. The curriculum is 120 hours and is designed to be completed in four years.
The University does not set a time limit on completion. However, students who are
not continually enrolled (except summer) will be required to enter the curriculum
that is in place when they return. This may mean that some of the courses already
completed will not count toward graduation requirements or that the student may be
required to complete additional courses not in the original curriculum. All upper
division courses must be completed within five years of graduation.
- Students completing the non-RDN concentration are required to earn a grade of “C”
or better in all courses, but will not be awarded the ACEND verification statement.
The non-RD concentration requires a GPA of 2.0 or above to be awarded the degree (note:
a GPA of at least 2.3 is required for acceptance into upper division classes for non-RDN
concentration).
- Students completing the RD concentration are required to submit a professional portfolio
as part of their graduation requirements. The portfolio assignment is introduced in
FNU 210: Introduction to the Nutrition Professions and the completed portfolio is
submitted in FNU 4801 Senior Seminar.
State Licensure
Academic credits earned through this program may provide some requirements leading
to state licensure. Following receiving a verification statement from this program,
individuals completing an ACEND accredited dietetic internship and a Master’s degree
are eligible to sit for the Commission on Dietetics Registration’s Registered Dietitian
exam. Each state board, agency and or department has the ultimate authority and discretion
to determine whether professional licensure or certification will be issued in that
state.
Prospective and current students should keep in mind that licensing and authorization
requirements vary by state and that relocating during the course of a program to another
state could impact whether that student will meet the eligibility requirements of
that state. If students are considering relocating, they should contact their program
to check for authorization and licensure eligibility requirements.
Each student enrolling in Nutrition and Dietetics will be assigned an Academic Advisor.
Nutrition and Dietetics advisors are all faculty teaching in the Nutrition and Dietetics
programs. Typically, students will be assigned two different advisors during their
undergraduate studies, one person who will guide them through Phase 1 of the program
(lower division), and one who will advise them while they are in Upper Division. The
DPD Director advises all students once they have been admitted into Upper Division.
Louisiana Tech University values academic advising, noting that advising will occur
at least quarterly and will include more than scheduling courses for the quarter.
The University charges the advisor with: helping students to learn university policies
and procedures; helping students to learn about their major, including degree requirements,
post-baccalaureate education and career opportunities; helping students plan their
schedules to allow them to meet personal career goals; helping students with transfer
courses and substitutions; and advising students about minors, practicum experiences,
student organizations, part-time jobs, scholarships, etc. The overall goal is to help
each student to be as successful as possible in the program.
Course Equivalency Policy
Nutrition and Dietetics courses sought to meet program curriculum requirements will
be evaluated on an individual basis and a syllabus from the course must be provided
by the student for review by the program director. Credit may be given for prior courses
if the course is similar in nature and meets the current ACEND accreditation standards.
Non-nutrition curriculum courses must be approved following the College of Applied
and Natural Sciences policy for transfer courses.
Distance Education
To protect sensitive information from unauthorized access, multi-factor authentication
(MFA) is required to access the Workday portal and the Canvas Learning system. Canvas
is utilized to delivery online courses. Students must use the MFA system to access
exams and assignments which verifies their identification and protects their privacy
and confidentiality of academic records. The Nutrition and Dietetics program abides
by all university policies that address the FERPA regulations.
Student Progress and Remediation
Program faculty advisors will meet with students each quarter to discuss progress
in the program. The application to enter the upper-division of the BS degree program
serves as a formal review of progress. To ensure students have obtained the required
competencies for earning a verification statement, courses with designated measurable
KRDNs listed on the course syllabus, students must earn a “C” or better is required
on these assignments or remediation will be required until competence has been demonstrated.
Students will retain the initial grade on the assignments, or exams, regardless of
remediation attempts. All assignments must be completed and turned in for grading
in order to pass the class.”
