Certificate in the Didactic Program in Dietetics
Description
The Certificate in the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) fulfills the didactic portion of the requirement to become Registered Dietitians. The Simmons DPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and is the first step in preparing to become a Registered Dietitian.
You'll combine biology and chemistry with advanced food science, clinical dietetics and medical nutrition therapy. Our students improve the eating behaviors, health and quality of life of our culturally diverse population. You'll investigate the theories and best practices of food and health — and develop an appreciation of nutrition and dietetics' relationship to other disciplines. Our students are prepared for entry level dietetic positions, graduate school and accredited supervised practice programs.
This Certificate, along with a Verification Statement signed by the DPD Director at Simmons and a previous bachelor’s degree, will confirm the successful completion of the didactic portion of the credentialing process for dietetics practitioners, as long as the supervised practice is completed by 2023. Please be aware that ACEND has specified that individuals who fulfilled all eligibility requirements (DPD and supervised practice) for the RD exam on and after January 1st, 2024 will require a Master’s degree (in any area) to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam.
Program Mission, Goals and Outcomes
The mission of the Simmons University Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is to educate students and foster an appreciation of lifelong learning in preparation for their success in the nutrition and dietetics profession. We aim to prepare students to be effective in a profession that improves the eating behaviors and subsequent health and quality of life of a multicultural and diverse population, a profession that adds to the scientific investigation about food and health, and one that fosters an appreciation of nutrition and dietetics' relationship to other sciences.
DPD Goals and Program Outcomes
The Didactic Program in Dietetics’ goals and corresponding program outcomes (updated June, 2018) are shown below:
Goal # 1-The Simmons University DPD will prepare graduates to become competent entry level dietetics professionals.
Corresponding program outcomes:
- At least 80% of program students complete program/degree requirement within 6 years (150% of program length).
- 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%. At least 75 % of graduates will assign a 4 (i.e., “agree”) or a 5 (i.e., “strongly agree”) to being prepared on 75% of the items (that pertain to content they learned at Simmons) on the graduate survey.
- At least 75% of Directors of Supervised Practice will rate Simmons University DPD graduates as acceptable or higher on 75% of items listed on the survey.
Goal # 2- The DPD will prepare graduates to succeed in one or more of the following: a graduate program, an accredited dietetic internship program, or employment.
Corresponding program outcomes:
- 50% of BS/DPD, and 70% of DPD graduates apply to supervised practice programs prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
- 55% of BS/DPD and 80% of DPD graduates are admitted to supervised practice programs prior to or within 12 months of graduation*.
*Among those who applied for supervised practice programs.
Program outcome results for the Simmons University DPD are available upon request.
Application Requirements
An applicant must hold an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. post-secondary institution or university abroad which is recognized by the Ministry of Education in the home country. GREs are not needed, but an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. Applicants to all Simmons programs represent a varied range of academic and experiential backgrounds. Prerequisites are not required to apply to the DPD program.
Review of courses completed prior to matriculation at Simmons
Review of courses and potential course waivers based on previous coursework at other institutions will be done by the academic department and communicated in academic advising.
All science courses (see section on Program Requirement), with the exception of Biochemistry, must include labs and must have been completed at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, see below for recency requirements. These courses must be graded and may not be completed on a pass/fail basis or audited. CLEP or IB scores are not accepted for such required courses. The labs must be hands on labs on the campus of the college or university (not online). The following nutrition courses must be taken at Simmons: Medical Nutrition Therapy, The Practice of Clinical Dietetics, and Dietetics Profession. A minimum of 6 courses must be taken at Simmons.
For the DPD program, (BS or DPD Certificate) there is a recency requirement for courses (see below). If the student has been working in a field that uses the skills and knowledge taught in a specific course that was taken more than the recency limit prior to beginning the program, the DPD director may waive this recency requirement for that specific course.
Recency limits for courses:
- 5 years: All nutrition courses, Anatomy and Physiology I & II, and Biochemistry. However, if a student took Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Biochemistry, or NUTR 111/112 greater than 5 years but less than 10 years prior to beginning the DPD program, the student may choose to take a competency examination to place out of those courses.
- 10 years: All other courses
Delivery Modes Available
The Simmons University DPD can be completed either full or part time. All courses are offered on-campus at Simmons.
Degree requirements
ACEND requires the completion of specific courses and competencies to fulfill the didactic requirements to apply for a Dietetic Internship program. Simmons students in the DPD program meet ACEND requirements with successful completion of the following courses.
Science Requirements
Nutrition Requirements:
| NUTR 112 | Introduction to Nutrition Science | 4 |
| OR | |
| NUTR 111 | Fundamentals of Nutrition Science | 4 |
| | |
| NUTR 201 | Advanced Food Science | 4 |
| NUTR 331 | The Practice of Clinical Dietetics | 4 |
| NUTR 237 | The Practice of Community Nutrition | 4 |
| NUTR 248 | Food Production and Service Systems | 4 |
| NUTR 249 | Leadership in Food Service Management | 4 |
| NUTR 301 | Dietetics Profession | 1 |
| NUTR 311 | Nutrient Metabolism | 4 |
| NUTR 334 | Medical Nutrition Therapy | 6 |
| NUTR 381 | Advanced Practice in Community Nutrition | 4 |
| NUTR 390 | Seminar: Selected Topics in Nutrition | 4 |
In addition, there are two required social science courses; at least one of these should be in sociology or psychology.
Affiliation between Simmons University DPD and Tufts University
The Simmons DPD program has a joint arrangement with two programs at Tufts University: the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and the Master's of Public Health program. The Simmons administered DPD program allows master's students in those two programs to meet DPD requirements through a combination of courses at Simmons and Tufts. Many students are able to finish both programs within two years which is typical for the Tufts' master's program and most within a total of three years. Tufts students interested in this arrangement should contact Dr. Lynne Ausman at lynne.ausman@tufts.edu.
Capstone, placement, internship, practicum, etc.
Research, internships and clinical experience are essential to nutrition students. You’ll have opportunities to explore your interests, build your skills and develop mentoring relationships with leaders in the field. We take full advantage of our location in the heart of Boston, and more specifically the Longwood Medical Area. Our students have been placed at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Tufts Medical Center, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, ABCD/Head Start, Women’s Lunch Place, Community Servings, Greater Boston Food Bank, a variety of local WIC programs, and a variety of local hospitals.
Dual (and other) degree options:
MS/DPD
Students can complete both the MS in Nutrition and Health Promotion (either concentration) and the DPD together. In this combination, specific courses in the MS program can replace these two DPD courses: Nutrition 390 (Seminar Topics in Nutrition) and Nutrition 381 (Advanced Applications in Community Nutrition). This not only provides students with the opportunity to meet the upcoming requirement (in 2024) of a Masters degree in order to become a Registered Dietitian, but it also reduces the total number of courses that would be required if the student did these separately.
Licensure, certification, etc. / Other program information
Completing an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics is only one of the required steps in becoming a Registered Dietitian. The next step, dietetic internship, is a separate and competitive national application process. Our students are successful in internship programs nationwide – we have an excellent placement rate. See below for a description of the Simmons dietetic internship options.
Capstone, placement, internship, practicum, etc.
Research, internships and clinical experience are essential to nutrition students. You’ll have opportunities to explore your interests, build your skills and develop mentoring relationships with leaders in the field. We take full advantage of our location in the heart of Boston, and more specifically the Longwood Medical Area. Our students have been placed at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Tufts Medical Center, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, ABCD/Head Start, Women’s Lunch Place, Community Servings, Greater Boston Food Bank, a variety of local WIC programs, and a variety of local hospitals.
Dual (and other) degree options: MS/DPD
Students can complete both the MS in Nutrition and Health Promotion (either concentration) and the DPD together. In this case, some of the courses in the MS program will count for two DPD courses, that being Nutrition 390 (Seminar Topics in Nutrition) and Nutrition 381 (Advanced Applications in Community Nutrition). This not only provides students with the opportunity to meet the upcoming requirement (in 2024) of a Masters degree in order to become a Registered Dietitian, but it also reduces the total number of courses that would be required if the student did these separately.
Licensure, certification, etc. / Other program information
Upon graduation, completing an accredited Dietetic Internship Program is a crucial step in becoming a Registered Dietitian. This is a separate and competitive national application process. Our students are successful in internship programs nationwide – we have an excellent placement rate. See below for a description of the Simmons dietetic internship options.