llinois State's ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD program) is a 2-year program that includes extensive coursework in the sciences, social sciences, management, and specialized courses covering the broad field of food, nutrition, and dietetics. All DPD students will need to complete an undergraduate professional practice experience as a program requirement.

The Didactic Program in Dietetics provides the first step for students planning to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) by preparing graduates for the required ACEND accredited dietetic internship. Find out more about the steps to becoming an RDN.

The program culminates with students receiving a B.S. degree in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics and an ACEND Verification Statement of DPD Program Completion, which verifies that graduates have met the required Standards of Education established by ACEND, the accrediting agency of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This official statement is required for graduates to begin an ACEND-accredited dietetic internship after acceptance, and for other professional applications requiring verification of DPD Program completion.

Effective 1/1/2024, a master's degree will be required to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration RDN credentialing exam.

Illinois State University offers multiple master’s program pathways that will enable qualified students to meet the master’s requirement while continuing their educational path to becoming an RDN at ISU. Qualified juniors can apply to the accelerated master’s program which allows students to complete an undergraduate and master’s degree in 5 years. Accelerated dietetics master’s students have the option of being preselected to our distance internship.

Additionally, Illinois State has a traditional graduate program that cumulates in a M.S. in Nutrition. We offer two tracks of an accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) program, including a combined Master’s-Dietetic Internship and a Distance Dietetic Internship Graduate Certificate Program.