The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) will be voluntarily closing effective May 31, 2020. The last class of students that will be admitted to the DPD will be students who apply in the Spring Term of 2018 to begin the program as juniors in Fall 2018. No students will be admitted after this time. The DPD will maintain its ACEND accreditation status through May 31, 2020. Students who do not complete all DPD course requirements by May 31, 2020 will not be considered graduates of an ACEND-accredited DPD. For more information about the closure of the DPD, please contact Lori Cherok at lcherok@pitt.edu.
The Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition is committed to providing education and training to prepare students seeking to become Registered Dietitian/Nutritionists (RDNs) and will continue to provide programming that meets ACEND and Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requirements. Beginning in Fall 2019, the department will offer an entry-level graduate program, the Coordinated Master in Nutrition and Dietetics (Coordinated MS) (pending approval by ACEND), which will provide both the didactic and the experiential practice competencies to meet eligibility requirements for the National Registration Examination for Registered Dietitians/Nutritionists. Interested students will apply in the Spring Term of 2019 to begin the Coordinated MS as juniors in Fall 2019. For incoming Pitt freshmen, a guaranteed admit will be available to enable students to complete the BS/MS degree in 5 years by following the recommended course schedule.
- University of Pittsburgh main and regional campus students admitted to the Coordinated MS with the prerequisite coursework will be able to graduate in 5 years with both a BS and MS degree.
- A post-baccalaureate entry will be available for individuals with a BS from any accredited University to complete the Coordinated MS in 3 years to meet RDN eligibility requirements.
- Undergraduate transfer students must first apply for general admission to the University of Pittsburgh.
For information about this program, please contact Dr. Deborah Hutcheson at dhutches@pitt.edu.
Beginning in Fall 2019, the Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition will offer an undergraduate Bachelor of Science program in Nutrition Science. Nutrition Science is an important discipline and course of study amid the changing healthcare landscape. Students who pursue this program will be prepared to work in many capacities to help further nutrition knowledge. Graduates of the Nutrition Science program will be able to implement the knowledge and skills learned in industry, government, academia and NGOs. Graduates will be able to apply the science of food and nutrition to the well-being and health of people. This may include working on food and nutrition labeling laws, creating better food products and supplements and helping to educate others about the importance of nutrition. In addition, graduates of the BS in Nutrition Science program will be prepared to further their education in the health professions including professional graduate programs in nutrition, medicine, and dentistry among others. Students interested in this program will apply in the Spring Term of 2019 to begin as juniors in the Fall Term of 2019. For information about this program, please contact Dr. Samara Joy Nielsen at snielsen@pitt.edu.