If you have a desire to promote optimal wellness and quality of life for people of all ages through better nutrition, and if you have an interest in and capacity for science, the MS/Didactic Program in Dietetics option may be of interest to you.  This degree is one of the steps to becoming a Registered Dietitian.  The MS/DPD at Drexel is a full- or part-time program with courses offered in the evening.  The program is 45 credits with a written comprehensive exam and may be completed in 2 years with full-time study.

Applying to the MS/DPD program requires special planning.  Students are admitted during the Fall and Winter quarters only, however, all students must enroll in the prerequisite courses offered online at Drexel in the summer prior to their start term. If you start in the winter quarter, the program will require at least 2-1/2 years to complete (sample Plans of Study can be viewed under Curriculum).  The first consideration before submitting an application is whether all prerequisites have been met.  

            Prerequisites                                              Curriculum

What is a DPD?  A Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) provides the coursework that is required to become a Registered Dietitian® (RD).  Students who want to become a Registered Dietitian must successfully complete coursework approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetics Association (ADA).  Drexel University is one of the first universities in the country to offer the DPD program on the graduate level, which is particularly attractive to students with a bachelor’s in another field.  By completing the MS degree, you will also receive a Verification Statement which shows successful completion of the DPD. A college degree (Bachelors or Masters) and your Verification Statement are your “tickets” to apply to Dietetic Internships, the next step to become a Registered Dietitian.

What is a Dietetic Internship?  After a student completes their MS/DPD program, they must apply for a Dietetic Internship.  While the Didactic Program provides mostly classroom training, the dietetic internship provides hands-on training.  Dietetic internships provide at least 900 hours of supervised practice (unpaid) and are usually completed in 8 – 12 months depending on the availability of a part-time schedule.  Entry to a dietetic internship is competitive.  You will likely need at least a 3.0 GPA and relevant work experience, such as in healthcare, in order to be a viable candidate.  After completion of the internship, you are eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians. 

What does it mean to be a Registered Dietitian?  Registered Dietitians are food and nutrition experts employed in a wide variety of settings.  RD’s find exciting jobs working as:

• Clinical dietitians, who provide medical nutritional therapy for patients in hospitals, physician offices, and other locations.
• Sports dietitians, who work in corporate wellness programs and for sports teams.
• Community dietitians, who counsel individuals and groups on nutritional practices designed to prevent disease and promote good health.
• Management dietitians, who oversee large-scale meal planning and preparation in health care facilities, business and industry, colleges and universities.
• Consultant dietitians, who often work under contract with health care facilities.
• Private practice dietitians, who counsel individuals and groups on good nutrition to improve health.
• Education dietitians, who teach nurses, dietetics students, and others about nutrition in higher education.

The Drexel University Didactic Program in Nutrition is currently granted accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association,  120 S Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606, 800-877-1600 (x5400).