OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Open search box
The DPD (dietetics option) application for fall 2023 is now open.
Students meeting the pre-dietetics criteria by the end of summer 2023 will be able to start the dietetics option in fall 2023.
Applications are due to the student’s CPHHS academic advisor by May 1, 2023.
Students admitting to the dietetics cohort in fall 2021 or later years are required to get a graduate degree to sit for the RD exam.
In the dietetics degree option, you’ll play an important role in helping people make nourishing choices about what they eat and understand how nutrition impacts their health and well-being.
Dietitians work on the spectrum of health, from prevention of chronic disease to medical treatment. As a practicing Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD or RDN), you can choose one area of practice or try them all. The dietetics curriculum trains students to be versatile, enabling them to change their career later without any additional education.
Dietitians can work in a variety of areas upon obtaining the RDN credential. Some examples include:
How much do dietitians make and what is the job outlook?
Check out the current Bureau of Labor Statistics data for Dietitians and Nutritionists. The mean salary for dietitians in Oregon was $73,000 as of May 2021.
If you’re interested in becoming a RDN or NDTR, you’re in the right place. Oregon State University offers the only accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics in Oregon.
After finishing the dietetics option at OSU, you’ll be eligible to enter an accredited master's dietetic internship program which leads to eligibility to take the exam to become a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RD/RDN).
Graduates of the dietetics option are also eligible to sit for the exam to become a Nutrition and Dietetic Technician, Registered (NDTR).
In order to become a Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN), students must complete the following education and supervised practice before being eligible to sit for the national RDN exam:
*Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics program at Oregon State University are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.
In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements click here.
For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN click here.
Oregon State graduates consistently exceed the national average on passing the RDN exam on the first attempt.
At Oregon State, your instructors and advisors are dedicated to preparing you for your dietetic internship and registration exam. Learn how to become a registered dietitian.
Lisa Perret, ‘21
Lisa Perret, ‘21 is passionate about the science behind nutrition and hopes to inspire athletes to live a healthy lifestyle void of fad diets.
The dietetics option helped her regained balance in her own eating habits after she fell for claims made by lifestyle bloggers.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 70,900 people worked as dietitians and nutritionists in 2018. Jobs are projected to grow at a rate of 11 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Start with the dietetics option to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
Common work settings:
Jenny Randall
Dietetics student
"The dietetics option comes with quite a heavy course load. Everything from anatomy and physiology to the science of foods to lots of chemistry."
“I personally really struggle with chemistry, but there’s also many amazing free tutoring options available on campus. That’s how I got through it.”
If you have questions after reviewing and using the above resources, you may contact:
Michelle Bump, MS, RD, LD
Director, Didactic Program in Dietetics
michelle.bump@oregonstate.edu
The OSU Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is fully accredited by: The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
ACEND® can be contacted by:
If you have questions regarding classes, student clubs or campus, our peer advisors would love to chat. Call or email them for advice.
For questions about the program, application process or requirements, contact our director of student recruitment and admissions, David Cortez, MEd.
