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Nutrition Programs - Steps to Becoming a Registered Dietitian

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Eligibility for Dietitian Registration as established by the American Dietetic Association
(ADA) requires completion of three steps, in the order listed:

1. Didactic Program in Dietetics

Didactic Programs in Dietetics (DPD) are bachelor's degrees with specific courses to meet the didactic (knowledge) guidelines set by ADA. Upon completion of this step, you will receive a Verification Statement signed by the DPD Director. Note: Each educational institution defines the specific courses, which constitute their DPD program.

The DPD Director at ASU's Polytechnic campus is Kathy Dixon, MEd, RD, (480) 727-1069 or (480) 727-1728.

At Arizona State University, the DPD courses are: (NOTE: SOC 101 is no
longer a DPD requirement at ASU)

  • Technical or Professional Writing (ENG 301 or equivalent)
  • Statistics
  • PGS 101 or equivalent - Intro Psychology
  • CHM 113 or equivalent - General Chemistry I with lab
  • CHM 116 or equivalent - General Chemistry II with lab
  • CHM 231 and 235 or equivalent - Organic Chemistry with lab
  • BCH 361 and 367 or equivalent - Biochemistry with lab
  • MIC 205 and 206 or equivalent - Microbiology with lab
  • BIO 201 or equivalent - Human Anatomy / Physiology I with lab
  • BIO 202 or equivalent - Human Anatomy / Physiology II with lab
  • NTR 142 - Applied Food Principles
  • NTR 241 - Human Nutrition
  • NTR 340 - Applications in Human Nutrition
  • NTR 341 - Introduction to Planning Therapeutic Diets
  • NTR 343 - Food Service Purchasing
  • NTR 344 - Nutrition Services Management
  • NTR 350 - Nutrition Counseling
  • NTR 440 - Advanced Human Nutrition I (Micronutrients)
  • NTR 441 - Advanced Human Nutrition II (Macronutrients)
  • NTR 444 - Medical Nutrition Therapy
  • NTR 445 - Management of Food Service Systems
  • NTR 450 - Nutrition in the Life Cycle (required for new students as
    of Fall, 2008)
  • NTR 446 - Human Nutrition Assessment Lecture/Lab
  • NTR 448 - Community Nutrition

Note: All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or above in order to meet the DPD standards. This requirement may exceed university graduation requirements, which may define a grade of "D" or above as passing. Students coming to ASU from other programs must complete a minimum of 15 semester hours of upper-division NTR courses at ASU, including nine semester hours from the following:

  • NTR 440 - Advanced Human Nutrition I (Micronutrients)
  • NTR 441 - Advanced Human Nutrition II (Macronutrients)
  • NTR 444 - Medical Nutrition Therapy
  • NTR 446 - Human Nutrition Assessment Lecture/Lab

2. Practicum/Internship

Step two is the completion of a professional practicum (internship) program. This step is independent of the undergraduate degree program. Students wishing to complete this step generally apply to internships during their last semester of DPD coursework.

More information about internship programs are available at:

3. National Registration Examination

Passing the ADA national registration examination is the final step in the process to become a registered dietitian. Students are not eligible to sit for the registration examination until they have completed both steps 1 and 2 above.

All questions regarding ASU's Didactic Program in Dietetics should be directed to Kathy Dixon, DPD Director, (480) 727-1069 or (480) 727-1728.