B.S. Degree in Health and Nutrition Sciences—Foods and Nutrition Concentration
Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)
For complete program information, including course listing and program policies, refer to the Brooklyn College Undergraduate Nutrition handbook (pdf).
The Brooklyn College Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the accrediting body of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the "Academy"), 120 S Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, P: 312.899.4874.
The DPD is designed for those who wish to enter the dietetics profession. ALL DPDs must meet quality standards set by ACEND, including providing the knowledge requirements and skills necessary for pre-professional practice. The program provides a foundation in the physical, biological, and social sciences, plus principles of education and management that will serve as a basis for knowledge of nutrition science; and to provide a strong curriculum in metabolism, normal, clinical and community nutrition, nutrition education, healthcare policy and management. The DPD at Brooklyn College consists of 24 required courses for a total of 77 credits.
The Brooklyn College DPD follows the Brooklyn College academic calendar.
Application and Admission Requirements
Students can apply to the Brooklyn College DPD via the general online application. Students interested in declaring the nutrition major must attend an information session. Contact the HNSC main office, 718.951.5026, for the date of the next session. Note that a minimum GPA of 2.80 is required in order to declare the major.
How to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in nutrition from an ACEND-accredited program or a bachelor's degree in another field, plus complete required DPD course work.*
- Complete ACEND Accredited Nutrition and Dietetic Internship program.
- Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam for registered dietitians.
- RDN's are required to complete 75 continuing education credits per five-year cycle.
- Certified Dietitian Nutritionist (CDN) license in the state of New York is optional. See the New York State Education Department, Office of Professions for license requirements.
*Note: Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). 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 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited DPD program at Brookyln College are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.
(Brooklyn College offers an M.S. degree in nutrition).
If you are pursuing your first bachelor's degree, then the DPD is completed along with Brooklyn College's required courses for a minimum of 120 credits to graduate. If you are getting a second bachelor's degree, you complete the courses that comprise the DPD, two upper-tier Brooklyn College Core courses, and any other foundation courses (e.g., English, Math) not taken at your prior college. Contact the Center for Academic Advisement and Student Success (CAASS), 3207 Boylan Hall, 718.951.5471, for more information on the required Core courses and foundation courses.
Program Completion Requirements
- Attendance of all courses as required for the didactic program in dietetics unless altered as per policy by the program director.
- Meet Brooklyn College B.S. degree requirements or if you have a prior bachelor’s degree, completion of DPD course work.
- Achievement of a minimum of a grade of C in all DPD courses.
- Achievement of minimum of a grade of B in the course HNSC 2210 Human Nutrition.
Note: Achievement of minimum of 3.00 GPA is optimum for dietetic internship acceptance.
Nutrition and Dietetic Internship (DI)
An ACEND-accredited program consisting of a minimum of 1,200 hours of supervised work experience. A DI is the next step in becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) after completion of the DPD. Entry into DI is competitive, which means that you must maintain a competitive GPA (according to the Academy, a competitive GPA is 3.00). However, you should strive to achieve a GPA higher than 3.00. Guidelines for applying to DIs are reviewed via information sessions held by the Brooklyn College DI director and DPD director in the fall semester of each academic year. Brooklyn College offers an accredited DI.
Detailed information is available for all Dietetic Internships offered in the United States on the website of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
