Nutrition | SEMO – Southeast Missouri State University News
Fueling the body and mind. That’s what we do.
A nutrition program prepares you to apply knowledge of food and nutrition to health. Nutrition students can choose one of three tracks:
Nutrition majors learn their field and receive hands-on experience in a variety of clinical, community, and food service settings. You’ll
Successful Outcomes Rate
98% of students in the Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Recreation report being employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation.
Dietitian
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a dietitian is $64,150.
Dietetic Technician
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a dietetic technician is $32,920.
Food Scientist
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a food scientist is $80,190.
The four-year ACEND-accredited program is a major component in the process to obtain the educational background and experiences required to become a registered dietitian. After graduation, a supervised practice and successful completion of a national credentialing exam are required. You’ll complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete this degree, including the general education requirements and at least 39 senior division hours.
Nutrition students must be admitted to the Didactic Program in Dietetics prior to enrolling in upper division (300 level or above major courses) dietetics courses.
“Critical Courses” are italicized and bolded. These courses are indicators of potential for success in the degree program.
Amy Moore PhD, MPH, RD, LD
Director Dietetics Program/Assistant Professor
Southeast Missouri State University
1 University Plaza
Scully 7650
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
573-651-2059
armoore@semo.edu
Some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in major program.
Milestone: Apply for and gain admission to Dietetics program.
(Summer courses are encouraged to avoid 18 hour semesters)
Milestone: Maintain 3.0 gpa in major courses.
Milestone: Maintain 3.0 gpa in major courses.
A “Milestone” signifies a significant stage for a student in the completion of a degree.
The nutrition program prepares students to apply knowledge of food and nutrition to health. Students can choose one of three tracks within the nutrition program, depending on their career and professional goals. The available tracks are as follow…: 1) the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is an ACEND-accredited program that prepares students for entry into a post-undergraduate internship program to become a Registered Dietitian (RD), 2) the Nutrition and Wellness track prepares students to work in communities as health educators, focusing on health promotion and disease prevention, and 3) the Nutrition Science track is a science-based program that prepares students for medical school and/or graduate school. Nutrition students receive hands-on experience in a variety of clinical, community, and foodservice settings. Some examples include provision of nutrition education to senior citizens, participation in University health fairs, clinical exposure in local hospitals, and meal preparation and management for both small and large groups of people.
The program will provide graduates with the intellectual skills, knowledge base, and interpersonal skills that will support them for acceptance into supervised practice/experiential learning leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.
Program graduates will be satisfied with dietetics as their chosen field of study.
Graduates of Southeast’s Dietetics Program obtain the knowledge and skills required for acceptance into dietetic internships/supervised practice, graduate education, or related entry-level positions. Entering the profession of dietetics as a Registered Dietitian (RD)/ Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) consists of successful completion of the following:
Steps to Obtaining the RDN Credential to be a Nutrition Expert and Credential Health Care Provider:
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. 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 DPD program at Southeast Missouri 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.
More information about state licensure requirements.
More information about educational pathways to become a RDN.
The Declaration of Major does not constitute admission to the program. Students may complete the Declaration of Major form and be assigned an advisor in the department of Human Environmental Studies anytime after they have been admitted to the University and have begun attending classes.
Students wishing to be formally admitted into the Dietetics Option must meet the following admission criteria:
Students will be retained as dietetic majors providing the following retention criteria are met:
In order to receive a verification statement for completion of the required didactic curriculum, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, the accrediting agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, students must meet all requirements put forth for both admission and retention and be approved for graduation by the Registrar at Southeast Missouri State University. The student who completes this degree must additionally complete a minimum of 1200 supervised practice hours of preprofessional experience accredited by The Commission on Dietetic Registration of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and successfully complete the Registration Examination for Dietitians.
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. 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 DPD program at Southeast Missouri 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.
More information about state licensure requirements.
More information about educational pathways to become a RDN.
Any student denied admission or retention to the dietetics program will be notified in writing by the Program Director. Students are given the opportunity to discuss the rationale of the decision with the Program Director. If a student is not satisfied with the explanation, he/she may request a review of the decision by the Chair of the Department of Human Environmental Studies. An official request for review must be received by the Department Chair in writing within 10 business days from the mailing date of the denial letter.
The Southeast Missouri State University Dietetic Internship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
Email: ACEND@eatright.org
Phone: 800.877.1600, ext. 5400
Mail: 120 South Riverside Plaza / Suite 2190 / Chicago,IL 60606-6995
eatrightpro.org/acend/accredited-programs/didactic-programs-in-dietetics
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