Nutrition Didactic Program in Dietetics
Health & Human Performance Department

The Fort Lewis College Didactic Program in Dietetics fosters an inclusive, experiential, and student-focused environment. It equips students with the knowledge and skills for graduate studies and/or supervised practice, leading to eligibility for the Commission on Dietetic Registration exam to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.

Goals and objectives

Program Goal #1: The program will prepare graduates with the requisite knowledge and skills for entry into a graduate program and/or supervised practice or employment.

Objectives:

• Program completion
  • At least 80% of students complete the program requirement within 3 years (150% of the planned program length)
• Graduate Application and Acceptance into Supervised Practice
  • At least 50% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program before or within 12 months of graduation.
  • Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 50 percent are admitted within 12 months of graduation.
  • Of program graduates who apply to a graduate program, at least 50 percent are admitted within 12 months of graduation.
• Graduate performance on Registration Exam
  • 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%.
• Satisfaction with Graduate Performance
  • At least 80% of graduates who respond to the alumni survey will report “agree” or “strongly agree” to questions about their knowledge and skill preparation for supervised practice, graduate program, or employment within 12 months of graduation.
  • At least 80% of graduates who respond to the alumni survey will report “agree” or “strongly agree” to questions about DEI, learning environment, and experience in our DPD program within 12 months of graduation.
  • At least 80% of supervised practice program directors and/or graduate program directors who return the Director survey will rate the graduates’ skill level as “good” or “excellent” in response to questions about graduates’ knowledge and skill preparation within 12 months of graduation.

Program Goal #2: The program will prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills to work with individuals and/or groups from diverse backgrounds and across the lifespan. Graduates will apply these skills in various practice settings during a graduate program and/or supervised practice or employment.

Objectives:

• At least 80% of DPD graduates who respond to the alumni survey will report “agree” or “strongly agree” to questions about program preparation in skill development and knowledge to work with individuals and/or groups from diverse backgrounds and across the lifespan in supervised practice, a graduate program, or employment within 12 months of graduation.
• At least 80% of supervised practice program directors and/or graduate program directors who return the Director survey will rate the graduates' skill level as “good” or “excellent” in response to questions about preparation to work with individuals and/or groups from diverse backgrounds and across the lifespan within 12 months of graduation.

Program outcomes data are available upon request.

Upon completing all FLC Nutrition DPD program requirements, students will earn a verification statement, resulting in eligibility to apply for a supervised practice and/or graduate studies in the pathway to becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

Pathway to becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

• Earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
• Completed required dietetics coursework from an ACEND-accredited program as evidenced by receiving a Verification Statement (this can be completed at the bachelor’s or master’s level)
• Complete an ACEND–accredited supervised practice program (Dietetic Internship or ACEND-accredited Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (GP))
• Earn a master’s degree in Nutrition or a related field (this can be combined with the supervised practice program.
• Complete and pass the national registration examination given by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)

Pathways to becoming an RDN can be explored through the ACEND Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist information page.

Individual states may have additional requirements for dietetics licensure and certification. For more information, please visit the CDR State Licensure webpage.

The tuition and fees for the FLC Nutrition DPD program follow the rates set by the College. Please visit Affording FLC for the most up-to-date information on the cost of attendance for in-state and out-of-state students.

The FLC Nutrition DPD does not have a program-specific fee; however, students should anticipate some additional course and lab fees associated with nutrition, biology, and chemistry courses. DPD students will also be required to be student members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Applying and being accepted into Fort Lewis College allows students to pursue a major in Nutrition and participate in the FLC Nutrition DPD. There is no additional application for the DPD.

For more information on FLC admission requirements and the FLC application process, please visit Fort Lewis College Admission.

The FLC DPD program follows the FLC Academic Calendar. Students are encouraged to meet regularly with their academic advisor to ensure they are on track for program completion.

The FLC Catalog outlines the requirements for earning a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition. For a degree to be conferred:

• Complete the required coursework for a Nutrition Major
• Complete a minimum of 120 credits, of which 36 are upper division
• Complete a minimum of 30 credits at FLC
• Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 and a minimum GPA of 2.00 for major courses

The Nutrition Major courses that are specific to DPD program completion are the Interdisciplinary/Preparatory courses and DPD Core, listed below:

Interdisciplinary and Preparatory Courses

DPD Nutrition Core

A Verification Statement will be issued upon conferral of the Bachelor of Science, Nutrition degree (Nutrition, Dietetics Option prior to catalog year 2025) and satisfactory completion of DPD-specific coursework and RDN Core Knowledge Competencies (KRDN). Non-degree seeking students with satisfactory completion of the DPD-specific coursework are eligible to earn the Verification Statement. All students must meet all KRDN criteria to demonstrate core knowledge attainment. KRDN knowledge attainment is demonstrated via course assessments. An assessment will be considered meeting a KRDN standard when scoring on that assessment earns at least 70% of the total points. Examples of summative assessments include project-based learning, case studies, research papers, presentations, portfolios, and other assignments. Refer to your course syllabus, schedule, and assignments for more information on how individual courses meet KRDN criteria. 

Summary conditions for Verification Statement

The FLC Nutrition DPD has established the following criteria to be eligible to obtain a Verification Statement:

• Conferral of the Fort Lewis College Bachelor of Science, Nutrition (Nutrition, Dietetics Option prior to 2025) Degree
• AND a minimum of a C- earned for DPD coursework
• AND demonstrated that all KRDN competencies have been satisfied/met

Alternative Pathway (non-degree seeking students)

• Completion of all FLC DPD courses or equivalent courses accepted for transfer from an accredited university
• AND overall GPA of 2.0 cumulative; an overall GPA of 2.0 for all FLC DPD or equivalent courses
• AND a minimum of a C- earned for DPD coursework
• AND demonstrated that all KRDN competencies have been satisfied/met
• AND completion of at least 50% of the DPD Nutrition Core coursework at FLC

There are numerous resources available to help make education more accessible. Please visit Affording FLC to learn more about:

• College Opportunity Fund for Colorado Residents
• FLC Tuition Promise
• Native American Tuition Waiver
• Federal financial aid and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA
• Scholarships

Scholarships are also available to dietetic students through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation.

Credit for prior learning will be considered for students wishing to complete the DPD requirements to earn a Verification Statement. The DPD program will follow the FLC policy credit for prior learning. Fort Lewis College defines prior learning as academic knowledge gained through work experience, military service, community involvement, or independent study. Fort Lewis College allows demonstration of prior learning for military service and independent study and demonstrated college-level equivalencies gained through work experiences outside of the college classroom, including experience that may lead to an industry credential, technical certificate, or industry license.

Transfer students

Transfer students wishing to complete the proposed DPD can receive the DPD Verification Statement. The DPD Director will evaluate prior coursework and transcripts from an accredited institution of higher education to determine course equivalencies and additional coursework needed.

• For a math, science, or nutrition course to be considered for transfer towards the Nutrition Major and DPD program requirements, it must have a minimum grade of a C-.
• Math and science courses completed in the last 10 years are accepted for transfer, as are nutrition courses.
• Transfer students must complete at least 50% of FLC’s DPD Nutrition Core coursework.

Post-baccalaureate

Post-baccalaureate students without a prior degree in dietetics who wish to complete the proposed DPD program must first apply as post-baccalaureate transfer students and be admitted to FLC with a declared major in Nutrition. The DPD director will evaluate previous coursework from an accredited institution of higher education to determine course equivalencies and additional coursework needed.

• Prior coursework determined to meet the DPD program requirements must have a minimum of a C- grade.
• To be considered, math and science courses and nutrition coursework must be completed within the last 10 years.
• Post-baccalaureate students must complete at least 50% of Nutrition DPD Core coursework at FLC.
• Assessment of prior learning (work experience) will be considered when determining additional coursework needed. No more than 25% of the DPD Core coursework can be credit for prior learning.

Non-degree seeking students

Non-degree-seeking students are eligible for a DPD Verification Statement. The DPD Director will evaluate previous coursework from an accredited institution of higher education to determine course equivalencies and the additional coursework needed.

• Prior coursework determined to meet the DPD program requirements must have a minimum of a C- grade.
• To be considered, math and science courses and nutrition coursework must have been completed within the last 10 years.
• Non-degree seeking students must complete at least 50% of Nutrition DPD Core coursework at FLC.
• Assessment of prior learning (work experience) will be considered when determining additional coursework needed. No more than 25% of DPD coursework can be credit for prior learning.

The following documents contain information on student expectations, policies, and procedures.

• Fort Lewis College Nutrition DPD Student Handbook 
• Fort Lewis College Nutrition DPD Student Performance Monitoring, Remediation, and Retention

We will use a variety of technologies in DPD courses. DPD students must adhere to the College’s Acceptable Use of Information Technology Policy . Every FLC student can access computer labs, laptop bundles, printers, Microsoft Office, Zoom, and Canvas (Learning Management System). The FLC DPD program expects students to use their FLC account for email communication related to the DPD program or coursework. The FLC DPD recommends the following technologies:

• Consistent access to a working computer and Wi-Fi
• Speakers, a microphone, or a headset, if applicable
• Access to a printer to print out readings, etc., if so choosing
• Canvas mobile app, if so choosing
• Microsoft Office software via Office 365, or download from Skysoft Downloads
• Competency software account to track progress in satisfying KRDN standards (login instructions provided by the DPD Director)

You will also need the following computer and digital literacy skills:

• Using Canvas to upload assignments, complete discussion posts, and take quizzes
• Using email with attachments
• Creating and submitting files in formats like Word and PDF
• Using the Reed Library and other research databases such as PubMed

Zoom will be utilized as a backup instructional method. Students can learn more by visiting these Zoom tutorials . Every FLC student has a basic Zoom account at fortlewis.zoom.us.

For distance instruction and/or online testing, the FLC Learning Management System, Canvas, will be used. Identity is verified through the FLC Central Authentication System (CAS) as stated in the Learning Management System policy .