Program Completion Requirements
Program completion includes earning a Bachelor of Science in HNFE, 120 credit hours.
Courses such as Evidence-based Practice in Health Science, Exercise and Health, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Metabolic Nutrition account for some of the required 39 departmental credits.
Required courses for the 35-credits in the NAD major include Community Nutrition, Health Counseling, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Science of Food Preparation Lab, among others. To ensure knowledge in preparation for the RDN credential, there are required elements in NAD courses that students must complete at a passing level to pass the course. These learning activities are identified on course syllabi.
The following requirements must be met for students who have graduated from the HNFE NAD major to be issued a DPD verification statement:
- Overall GPA ≥ 3.0
- Grade of C or better in HNFE 1004 and C- or better in, CHEM 1035, CHEM 1036 and CHEM 2535 or 2514.
- Earn a minimum of a 70% score, unless specified at a higher percentage on the syllabus, on all required KRDN tracked assessments throughout the entire curriculum as stated on course syllabi. If students do not meet the required assessment score, remediation will be managed by the course instructor. Remediation will include the student reattempting the KRN assessment until the required score is achieved to demonstrate core knowledge attainment, but the first attempt grade will be used for the course grade. Remediation is required for the student to successfully complete the class.
The DPD curriculum is designed to ensure the breadth and depth of requisite knowledge needed for entry to supervised practice to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. To ensure program quality outcomes and preparation of students in the core knowledge (KRDN) areas, the following courses must be taken at Virginia Tech. (22 total credits)
- HNFE 2004 Professional Dietetics (1 credit)
- HNFE 3034 Methods of Human Health Assessment (2 credits)
- HNFE 3114 Foodservice and Meal Management (4 credits)
- HNFE 4025 Metabolic Nutrition (3 credits)
- HNFE 4026 Metabolic Nutrition (3 credits)
- HNFE 4125 Medical Nutrition Therapy I (3 credits)
- HNFE 4126 Medical Nutrition Therapy II (3 credits)
- HNFE 4624 Community Nutrition (3 credits)
Students wishing to transfer other courses into Virginia Tech must follow the university course transfer protocol. The DPD Director will review any courses to ensure core knowledge equivilency if needed.
Due to the dynamic nature with which dietetics knowledge evolves and practice transforms and the expectation of life-long learning for dietetics professionals, the following college-level courses (or equivalent courses) must have been completed within a 10-year period before Verification Statement is earned:
- HNFE 1004 Foods, Nutrition and Exercise (3 credits)
- HNFE 2004 Professional Dietetics (1 credit)
- HNFE 2014 Nutrition Across the Life Span (3 credits)
- FST 2014 Introduction to Food Science (2 credits)
- HNFE 3024 Science of Food Preparation Lab (2 credits)
- HNFE 3034 Methods of Human Health Assessment (2 credits)
- HNFE 3114 Foodservice and Meal Management (4 credits)
- HNFE 3224 Communicating with Food (3 credits)
- HNFE 4025 Metabolic Nutrition (3 credits)
- HNFE 4026 Metabolic Nutrition (3 credits)
- HNFE 4644 Health Counseling (3 credits)
The following courses must have been completed within a 5-year period before a Verification Statement is earned:
- HNFE 4125 Medical Nutrition Therapy I (3 credits)
- HNFE 4126 Medical Nutrition Therapy II (3 credits)
Substitutions for required DPD courses will be processed and approved or denied following the Virginia Tech, CALS, and HNFE course substitution policies. See www.registrar.vt.edufor Virginia Tech policies.
Technology Requirements:
- Students in the program are expected to follow the Virginia Tech computing, software and technology requirements.
- Students planning to take online courses should visit the Home Internet Tips page and are required to have a webcam for completing online coursework.