Course Plan

While completing the Dietetics program curriculum, students will be instructed on :

• The scientific aspects of foods,
• The relationship of food and its components to health,
• Food systems management,
• Accounting and personnel administration,
• How people make health and dietary decisions,
• How the nutrition care process and medical nutrition therapy may assist them.

Students pursuing a Nutrition and Dietetics degree at College of the Ozarks have the advantage of a low student/faculty ratio. This enables students to receive more individualized assistance with course work and program requirements. The faculty also provide personalized assistance in achieving  specific career goals. At College of the Ozarks, opportunities are available for Nutrition and Dietetics majors to complete practicum work for course credit at local area institutions and programs, such as a community hospital or the Woman, Infants, Children (WIC) clinic.

Graduation requirements for the Nutrition and Dietetics Degree Program are identical with the requirements for a baccalaureate degree which includes the completion of a minimum of 125 semester hours of credit, of which 36 hours are upper division credit, with a 2.00 or higher cumulative grade point average. Students shall satisfy the general education requirements and the degree requirements in effect at the time of admission.

In order to receive a Verification Statement, which is required for application to Dietetic Internships and Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) registration exam eligibility, the student must earn at least a 3.0 overall GPA in courses required for the major. Students wishing to receive Verification Statements are required to complete a Verification Statement Request Form and complete a Program Assessment Exit Survey.  Both of these documents are available from the DPD director.  Verification Statements will be completed after a B.S. in Dietetics or program completion is recorded on the final transcript. For those students participating in the Dietetic Internship Central Application Service (DICAS), the Verification Statement will be completed electronically.

A Verification Statement which includes the original signature of the DPD director should be submitted with applications to dietetic internships, to the AND as a part of the active membership status application and may be requested by employers or graduate schools.

A Declaration of Intent form will be provided to students by the program director for those who apply to a dietetic internship before required coursework is completed.  This form substitutes for the Verification Statement and lists coursework in progress which fulfills didactic program requirements.  Upon completion of the DPD course requirements, a final Verification Statement will be awarded upon written request by the student.  For those students participating in the Dietetic Internship Central Application Service (DICAS), the intent form will be completed electronically.

DPD graduates who receive Verification Statements are eligible to sit for the Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) Exam.  See REGISTRATION EXAMINATION FOR DIETETIC TECHNICIANS for more information on the option.