Dietetics Option

Mission

The Dietetics Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato promotes growth among students who want to be competent dietetics professionals by providing the "highest practicable quality" advisory, academic, real-life and interactive opportunities while at MSU, and by developing confidence and competence to advance upon graduation to supervised practice (dietetic internship), graduate studies or related employment (DPD, Mission Statement).

Philosophy

The philosophy of the Dietetics Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato is to provide opportunities for personal growth today and professional success tomorrow. Faculty, curriculum, extracurricular, part-time employment, volunteer, and professional activities foster growth of well-rounded and grounded students with solid academic and experience backgrounds, and with realistic and flexible attitudes in a rapidly changing world. Students are guided to develop appreciation for the difference in peoples globally and to respect the dignity and integrity of each person they encounter.

Opportunities to interact with faculty, peers, Registered Dietitians (RD) and the community are abundant, including (a) advising sessions throughout the undergraduate career, (b) attending at least two local, state, and/or national dietetics meetings, (c) participating in MSU's Foods and Nutrition Club and/or other extracurricular opportunities, (d) working part-time in a related field for at least 18 months prior to applying to supervised practice, (e) serving others by volunteering in a related capacity, (f) completing an undergraduate internship with a Registered Dietitian when possible, and (g) receiving assistance as seniors when applying to supervised practice programs (dietetic internship), thus improving the potential for acceptance and a smooth transition toward becoming an RD after graduation from MSU.

The undergraduate Dietetics major is as demanding as it is rewarding. Approximately 100 majors are currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree. Those who also successfully compete for and complete a dietetic internship nationally become eligible to take the national Registration Examination, ultimately becoming RDs.

MSU provides the first of four steps toward becoming a RD. Faculty are committed to positioning majors in leading dietetic internships (DI) and as leading RDs in the nation by constantly reminding and supporting MSU students who will pursue all four steps, as follows:

1. Graduating from MSU with a BS degree in Dietetics.
2. Receiving a Verification Statement from the Director that requirements were met.
3. Successfully competing for and completing a dietetic internship nationally.
4. Passing the national Registration Examination.

Since 1997-1998, 94 percent of MSU's graduates have been accepted to supervised practice (Dietetic Internship), and 90% have passed the national Registration Examination to become Registered Dietitians. This compares favorably to the 49% of graduates nationally who were accepted to supervised practice in the same period, and a national goal of 80% who pass the Registration Examination. Other options chosen by Dietetics majors after graduation are graduate studies or entry into the workforce as a non-RD nutritionist in community, public health, and corporate fitness settings or as members of foodservice management teams.

The Dietetics Program, a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) of the American Dietetic Association ( ADA ), is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the ADA.

Goals

1. To maintain continual accreditation of the "highest practicable quality" dietetics program, evidenced by meeting or exceeding the Foundation Knowledge and Skills of the Standards of Education of the American Dietetic Association, and confirmed by quality assessment measures.
2. To effectively and efficiently acquire and utilize the necessary resources (money, manpower, materials, machinery) to support, enhance and encourage academic (classroom/laboratory), real-life (work experience, volunteer, extracurricular and undergraduate internships), and life-long learning.
3. To ensure that all students receive supportive, non-curricular communications in a timely and consistent manner, and in formats that are comprehensive, fair, and equitable toward graduation and successful transition from MSU, such that 80 percent of graduates advance to dietetic internship, graduate studies, and/or related employment settings.
4. To support and continue motivating majors for successful transition from MSU to supervised practice by (a) maintaining academic excellence, and (b) accessing interactive opportunities on campus, in the region and globally as evidenced by exceeding the 50 percent national placement rate for graduates of Didactic Programs in Dietetics who apply to dietetic internship.
5. To continue meeting or exceeding the 80 percent national passage rate for graduates who are first time takers of the national Registration Examination.
6. To expand the Dietetics Program by increasing enrollments, allowing more students to access established strengths in food science and clinical dietetics areas, and by enhancing the foodservice management area to equivalent strength.