Program Mission
The specific mission of the nutritional sciences program and the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is to provide high quality learning opportunities to educate nutrition and dietetics professionals for placement in the national market, and to assist the UWSP community in understanding the role of nutrition in health promotion.
It is our intent to provide a high quality knowledge base for students to successfully pursue their career goals. The DPD is a professional degree program, approved by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and subject to ongoing review, which provides the academic component required of students in the professional track to become a registered dietitian (RD).
An (RD) is a highly qualified health professional recognized as the food and nutrition expert. This mission will be accomplished by:
- Maintaining ongoing approval by the (ADA) for all dietetics education programs.
- Attracting and mentoring academically capable and responsible students who are committed to becoming competent and contributing members of the dietetics profession.
- Maintaining high quality, current, research-based learning opportunities in nutrition and dietetics for the UWSP community.
- Enhancing interdisciplinary learning between health promotion and dietetics.
- Marketing the expertise offered by the nutrition and dietetics programs to the UWSP community.
Program Description
The Didactic Program in Dietetics at UWSP is currently granted Developmental Accreditation by the 
Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association, 216 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312/899-4876. This Association is the professional organization for dietetics practitioners.
The Association is the advocate of the dietetics profession, serving the public through the promotion of optimal nutrition, health and well being. Completion of an approved Didactic Program in Dietetics meets minimum academic requirements for American Dietetic Association membership and application to a dietetic internship program.
Upon completion of an accredited dietetic internship, graduates are eligible to write the registration examination to become a registered dietitian. Dietetics students exemplify academic excellence, as acceptance to a dietetic internship program is highly competitive, often requiring a grade point average of at least 3.0.
Dietetics major, academic standards:
- You must maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA through graduation. Transfer students must have a 2.75 cumulative GPA to enter.
- You must earn a C- or better in Chemistry 260 to continue in the dietetics major.