Overview

Fresno State enrolls more than 22,000 students and offers 62 baccalaureate degree programs and 49 graduate degree programs (5 currently suspended). The Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (JCAST) is one of eight colleges / schools at Fresno State.

The Department of Food Science and Nutrition is one of seven departments in JCAST. The University has offered a Didactic Program in Dietetics since 1940, beginning with the undergraduate degree program. The University has offered a dietetics curriculum since 1940, beginning with the undergraduate degree program.

The program served as a pilot for the Plan IV requirements in 1973. In 1984, the program was again approved as a Plan IV program. In 1989, the program was approved as a Plan V program. In December, 1997, the University submitted an application for a dietetic internship with a general emphasis.

In May, 1998, the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) granted the program developmental accreditation.

The first class of ten students was admitted in August, 1998. The fifth internship class graduated in May, 2003. The internship was simultaneously approved on campus as the Certificate of Advanced Study – Dietetics, a post-baccalaureate, non-degree, and certificate program.

In 1999, the program was granted developmental accreditation status by the American Dietetic Association (now known as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) as a didactic program in dietetics (DPD).

Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

In order to become a RDN, each student will be required to complete the following steps:

1. Complete a baccalaureate degree at an accredited institution.
2. Complete all required DPD coursework. The RDN career specialty option at Fresno State requires that each student successfully complete all of the courses (C or better) to be verified by the DPD director before enrolling in a dietetic internship program.
3. Apply, become accepted, and complete an ACEND accredited internship program. The usual time period to complete and internship can run from 6 months to 1 year full-time, and longer if pursuing a masters/internship program.
4. Successfully complete the RDN examination.
5. All RDNs and DTRs must complete continuing education in order to maintain their credential. RDNs need 75 credits and DTRs need 50 credits in their 5 year cycle (1 credit must be in ethics). Practitioners must submit a Learning Plan and Activity Log. More information can be located on the CDR website: https://www.cdrnet.org/maintain

Pathway to Complete the Bachelor of Science Human Nutritional Sciences – Dietetics and Food Administration – Certificate in Dietetics Option There is one pathway offered for students to complete the DPD course requirements and to receive a Verification Statement upon completing a BS degree at Fresno State University: Bachelor of Science Major Requirements – Human Nutritional Sciences Major - Certificate in Dietetics Option

Courses Major Requirements: 35 units

Information

CULG 50	CULG 152	FSC 1	FSM 60	FSM 131	FSM133
NUTR 53	NUTR 61	NUTR 149	NUTR 153/154	NUTR 156	NUTR 157
NUTR 160	NUTR 165	NUTR 166S	NUTR 170	NUTR 175

Additional Requirements: 22 units CHEM 3A CHEM 8 CHEM 150 BIO 67A BIO 67B BIO 20 PSYCH 10 COUN 174 MATH 11 or approved statistics course.

General Education Requirements: 51 units Includes 12 upper division units to be taken no sooner than the term in which 60 units of coursework are completed. General Education http://www.fresnostate.edu/catoffice/current/gened.html Total units: 120

 

Click here to view the Academic Catalog

 

New CDR requirements beginning 2024

As of 2024, The Commission on Dietetic Registration new requirements state that in order to be eligible to take the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist examination, you must have a masters degree awarded.

Beginning January 1, 2024, a graduate degree will be the minimum degree requirement for those seeking to become eligible for the registration examination for dietitians. In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR’s Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight CT, December 31, 2023.

- Those seeking to become eligible for the registration examination for dietitians for the first time, on or after January 1, 2024, are required to have completed the minimum of a graduate degree granted by a US regionally accredited college/university or foreign equivalent.
- Those who let their registered status lapse or voluntarily dropped their registration and wish to become re-registered on or after January 1, 2024, will need a graduate degree before they can re-test.

- Individuals who established eligibility for the registration examination for dietitians on or before December 31, 2023 or those who are already registered will not be required by CDR to obtain a graduate degree. Individuals eligible before the graduate degree requirement takes effect will not be required to take the examination before January 1, 2024.

For more information can me foud using this link. https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree

RDNs are required to ne licensed/certificated in some state. RDNs are required to be licensed/certified in some states. It is important to note that in 47 states, RDNs are required to be licensed or certified. However, currently, in California, there is no licensure or certification required. https://www.cdrnet.org/state-licensure