Advisory committee
Margie Carson

Dorothy Chen-Maynard

Rachel Flores

Robin Hernandez

Celine Heskey

Kellene Isom

Craig Jackson, ex officio

Kayla Knight

Jean Sellars

Khongmany Wells

Overview

Registered dietitians/registered dietitian nutritionists (RD/RDN) are essential members of the healthcare team, specializing in health promotion and medical nutrition therapy. Medical nutrition therapy integrates the science of nutrition, the art of food presentation, and effective management to provide nutrition care and guidance on healthy food choices across the lifespan. Through their work, RDs/RDNs help individuals and groups achieve better health and potentially longer lives.

Dietetic practice applies principles from food and nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, business and management, journalism, and the behavioral and social sciences, combined with the artistic presentation of food, to promote health, prevent disease, and support recovery from illness.

The coordinated program in dietetics, offered jointly by the School of Allied Health Professions and the School of Public Health, allows students to pursue either:

• An M.S. degree in nutrition and dietetics, or

• An M.P.H. degree in nutrition.

This program combines didactic coursework with 1,000 hours of supervised professional practice experiences, enabling students to develop professional competencies alongside cognitive and technical skills. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the registration examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Successful candidates earn the RD/RDN credential.

Opportunities
Dietitians work in diverse environments, including hospitals, healthcare facilities, schools, universities, government and community agencies, businesses, and industry. An increasing number are employed in physician offices, clinics, home health agencies, media, and entrepreneurial ventures. As the role of nutrition in medicine, dentistry, and health promotion gains recognition, the scope of practice for dietitians continues to expand, providing a wide range of opportunities in this growing field.

Program learning outcomes

By the end of this program, the graduate should be able to:

1. Integrate scientific information and translation of research into practice.
2. Demonstrate beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors consistent with the professional dietitian nutritionist level of practice.
3. Develop and deliver information, products, and services to individuals, groups, and populations.
4. Apply principles of strategic management and systems in the provision of services to individuals and organizations.
5. Plan, process, and perform nutrition-related research while protecting the public.
6. Demonstrate an ability to translate evidence-based literature into formats that the lay public can understand, including use of videos, writing articles, and counseling.
7. Evaluate emerging trends in nutrition and give competent, evidence-based answers to the public.
8. Use metabolic pathways to determine patient and client nutritional needs.

Professional registration

Upon satisfactory completion of the program and upon recommendation of the faculty, the graduate will receive a verification statement and be eligible to take the registration examination for dietitians in order to become a registered dietitian.

Professional association

Students and graduates are eligible for membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The association grants student membership at a discounted rate to students in accredited programs.

The national office of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is located at 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995. Along with membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, students become members of the California Dietetic Association. 

Goals of the coordinated program

PROGRAM GOAL 1

The program will prepare students to be competent graduates who are eligible to write the registration examination for dietitians to become entry-level practitioners.

Program Objectives for Goal 1

1. Eighty percent (80%) of graduates who write the registration examination for dietitians will pass within the first year.
2. Eighty percent (80%) of students who enter the M.S. or M.P.H. degree programs will complete program/degree requirements within 150 percent of the program length.

PROGRAM GOAL 2

Provide professionally trained registered dietitians with either an emphasis in medical nutrition therapy or public health nutrition who may be employed by or contribute to the healthcare and educational systems of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, or local, national, or international entities.

Program Objectives for Goal 2

1.  Seventy percent (70%) or more of coordinated program graduates who seek employment in dietetics will be employed within twelve months of program completion.
2.  Sixty percent (60%) of coordinated program graduates will contribute to the community and/or provide professional leadership in the field of dietetics within five years of graduation.

The coordinated program in dietetics is currently granted continuing accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995; telephone, 800/877-1600, ext. 5400; email, ACEND@eatright.org; ACEND website.

 B.S. AND M.S. TRACK

• A 3.0 G.P.A. (on a 4.0 scale) or above (science and non-science)
• An interview
• Track prerequisites
• A 3.0 cumulative G.P.A. at completion of undergraduate courses in order to progress to the graduate level

Listed below are the admission and prerequisite requirements to obtain a bachelor's degree from Loma Linda University. These are listed in general education domain order.

PREREQUISITES

Domain 1: Religion (8 quarter units)

(completed during enrollment at LLU)

Domain 2: Arts and humanities (minimum 16 quarter units)

Units must be selected from at least three of the following content areas: civilization/history, art, literature, language, philosophy, religion, or general humanities electives. A minimum of 3 quarter units in an area are required to meet a "content area."

Domain 3: Scientific inquiry and quantitative reasoning (minimum 12 quarter units)

• College algebra, pre-calculus, or calculus
• Human anatomy with laboratory and human physiology with laboratory, complete sequence (two terms)
• General chemistry with laboratory, 3 quarters/2 semesters
• Microbiology with laboratory

Domain 4: Social sciences (minimum 12 quarter units)

• Psychology elective (one course minimum)
• Sociology elective (one course minimum)
• One course (or components integrated into several courses) dealing specifically with issues of human diversity is required.
• Select additional units, as needed, from: anthropology, economics, geography, political science, psychology, and sociology

Domain 5: Written and oral communication (minimum 9 quarter units)

• English composition, complete sequence that meets the baccalaureate degree requirements of a four-year college or university.
• Additional courses may include information systems, critical thinking, and public speaking

Domain 6: Health and wellness

• DTCS 301 Human Nutrition or equivalent
• Physical education. Must include at least two separate physical activity courses totaling a minimum of one quarter units or military discharge papers (DD214).

For total unit requirements for graduation, see LLU General Education Requirements.

Electives

As necessary, to meet the minimum total requirement of 82 transferable quarter units. These units added to the 110 undergraduate units required in the program fulfill the 192 total units required for the bachelor's degree.

PRIOR B.S./B.A. TRACK (NO Verification Statement)

• An earned baccalaureate degree from a U.S. accredited institution of higher education or an international institution having appropriate government recognition as a degree-granting institution
• complete track prerequisites
• have a 3.0 G.P.A. or above (science and non-science prerequisites)
• complete an interview

PREREQUISITES

• College algebra, pre-calculus, or calculus
• Human anatomy with laboratory and human physiology with laboratory, complete sequence (two terms)
• General chemistry with laboratory (3 quarters/2 semesters)
• Microbiology with laboratory
• Human nutrition
• Medical terminology certificate or course

POST DIDACTIC PROGRAM IN DIETETICS (DPD) TRACK

• Bachelor's degree from an ACEND-accredited didactic program in dietetics
• complete track prerequisites
• have a 3.0 G.P.A. or above (science and non-science)
• complete an interview
• provide a DPD verification statement (or equivalent if international)

PREREQUISITES

• College algebra, pre-calculus, or calculus
• Human anatomy with laboratory and human physiology with laboratory, complete sequence (two terms)
• General chemistry with laboratory (3 quarters/2 semesters)
• Microbiology with laboratory

For total unit requirements for graduation for the B.S. degree, see Division of General Studies, LLU General Education Requirements.

Affiliation and practicum units are required in addition to the didactic units listed above.

¹

Register three times to fulfill unit requirement

²

Fulfills service learning requirement

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

The written comprehensive examination assesses the student’s broad understanding of nutrition and dietetics, statistics, and basic research methods. It is typically administered during the Spring Quarter of the graduate year, after the student has successfully completed most of the required coursework.

NORMAL TIME TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM

Three (3) years— one and three quarters (1.75) years (seven [7] academic quarters) of undergraduate work for the B.S. plus one and a quarter (1.25) years (five [5] academic quarters) of graduate-level courses at LLU — based on full-time enrollment; part time permitted.

The Master of Science degree for graduates of a bachelor-level Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is designed for individuals who prefer not to pursue a traditional dietetic internship but wish to complete a coordinated master’s program that includes supervised practice. This pathway enables graduates to meet eligibility requirements to sit for the registration examination for dietitians. The curriculum builds upon prior didactic coursework in nutrition and dietetics and culminates in the awarding of an M.S. degree along with a verification statement confirming completion of both didactic and supervised practice requirements.

Affiliation and practicum units are required in addition to the didactic units listed above.

Comprehensive Examination

The written comprehensive examination assesses the student’s broad understanding of nutrition and dietetics, statistics, and basic research methods. It is typically administered during the Spring Quarter of the graduate year, after the student has successfully completed most of the required coursework.

NORMAL TIME TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM

Two (2) years (eight [8] academic quarters) at LLU — based on full-time enrollment.