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Nutrition: The UDC Edge
The dietetics option in the bachelor’s degree program in nutrition at UDC is the first step in becoming a registered dietitian. As the only accredited nutrition program in Washington, D.C., with a curriculum rich in urban experiential learning opportunities, UDC offers you a unique path to begin your career.
As part of our land-grant mission of service to the community, the University of the District of Columbia has long been at the forefront of educating the next generation of nutrition specialists to combat nutrition-related diseases (e.g. obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart and kidney disease) and reduce health disparities among an urban and often underserved population.
Bachelor's Degree (BS) in Nutrition
Nutrition is not an issue we can avoid. It is a community issue that impacts our lives everyday. And for those who have lost a loved one to diseases caused by obesity, hypertension or other conditions influenced by nutrition, we understand how deep that impact can be.
Whether your motivation for studying nutrition comes from personal experience or simply a desire to change your community for the better, the University of the District of Columbia has a place for you.
Our bachelor's degree program in nutrition—housed in the University's College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES)—prepares you to take on the challenge of improving nutrition awareness and quality throughout our community. Bring a love of science, a sense of purpose and a good work ethic, and we will empower you to tackle the health care disparities that affect our community.
The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.
Related:
- Master's Degree in Nutrition
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science
- Learn more about applying for admissions to the nutrition program
- Find out about scholarship opportunities for nutrition students
Curriculum and Requirements in the UDC Nutrition Program
The bachelor's degree program in nutrition and dietetics fulfills the requirements of the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
You will develop an understanding and competency in the following areas:
- Food science
- Nutrition
- Dietetics
- Management
- Clinical nutritional care
- Nutrition education
- Community nutrition
You will also take supportive courses in the physical and biological sciences.
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Anatomy & physiology
- Microbiology
- Mathematics
There are three required components in the education and training of dietetics professionals.
- Complete the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). Once the program is completed, students will receive a Verification Statement signed by the DPD Program Director.
- Complete a Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) approved dietetic internship or CADE-approved program with a supervised practice component.
- Pass the National Registration Examination for dietitians in order to become a registered dietitian (RD)
UDC students boasted a 100 percent passing rate on the national examination for six consecutive years prior to 2011, far above the national average.
Student Organizations and Activities in the UDC Nutrition Program
The dietetics program has active chapters of the Student Dietetic Association and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANNRS), which participate in outreach activities such as local community health fairs and provide mentorship opportunities for students. In 2008 and 2010, UDC hosted the regional meetings for MANNRS.
Students also sponsor conferences through the local District of Columbia Metropolitan Area Dietetic Association and regional and national offices of MANNRS.
Internship opportunities are available at local community agencies, health care facilities like the Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley Campus and D.C. public schools. While the national acceptance rate for acceptance into the dietetics internship program is 53 percent, UDC nutrition students have more than an 80 percent chance of acceptance.
Faculty Spotlight: Nutrition Program
Dr. Prema Ganganna, PhD., RD., LD., is chair of the Department of Nutrition, with more than a quarter-century of experience in nutrition from the clinical, management, research and academic perspectives. In 2006, Ganganna visited China as a delegate dietitian and nutritionist. She was also a member of the technical advisory panel on dietary modifications charged with recommending strategies for dietary modifications published by the Department of Health and Human Services, Commission of Public Health, Bureau of Cancer Control.
Dr. B Michelle Harris, PhD., RD., LD., is the principal investigator for a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services scholarship grant for disadvantaged students and chaired the first Agricultural Career Fair at the University of the District of Columbia.
