Nutrition and Hospitality Management

The Nutrition and Hospitality Management Program at AAMU is designed for students who possess a strong interest in the sociological, psychological, and economical aspects of food as it relates to nutritional status and world hunger. The program provides a broad education in the science of nutrition and preparation of food as related to an individual’s lifestyle, culture, and health.

The two concentrations within the Nutrition and Hospitality Management program are Hospitality Management and General Dietetics or the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).

 

THE DPD MISSION

The mission of the Didactic Program at Alabama A&M University is to produce graduates who have the academic preparation necessary for success in a supervised practice program leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become registered dietitian nutritionists who are active professionals and are engaged in lifelong learning.

 

DPD PROGRAM GOALS

Goal 1: Program graduates will successfully apply to accredited supervised practice programs, graduate school, or a career in food/nutrition. 

  • Objective 1.1: At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 6 years
    (150% of planned program length). [ACEND required]
  • Objective 1.2:  At least 40% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation. [ACEND required]
  • Objective 1.3:  Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 60 % are admitted within 12 months of graduation. [ACEND required]

Goal 2: Program graduates will add to the cadre of historically under-represented individuals who are successful professionals in delivering food and nutrition services to the people of Alabama and beyond.

  • Objective 2.1:  The program's one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of the first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.  [ACEND required]
  • Objective 2.2:  At least 80% of supervised practice program directors will rate satisfaction with the preparation of DPD graduates at 3.0 or above on a five-point scale. [ACEND required]

Program-Specific Objectives

  • Objective 2.3: At least 80% of program graduates will rate overall satisfaction with the program at 3.0 or higher on a five-point scale.
  • Objective 2.4: At least 80% of graduates who did not begin a supervised practice program within 12 months of graduation will obtain employment in dietetics or a related field or plan to apply to supervised practice in the future.

Program outcomes dates are available upon request.

  • Professional Association

    Becoming a Student Member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

    Students interested in pursuing a career in dietetics are encouraged to become student members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (https://www.eatright.org) during their junior and/or senior years. Membership applications are available from the Dietetics faculty and the NHM Bulletin Board. The membership year is June 1 - May 31, and dues are not prorated if you elect to become a member after June 1. Currently, the dues for associate (student) membership are $58 per year. Becoming a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics automatically makes you a member of our local affiliate with the North District of the Alabama Dietetic Association (https://www.eatrightalabama.org ).

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  • Becoming a Registered Dietitian

    Requirements to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

    Complete a minimum of a bachelor's* degree at a U.S. regionally accredited university or college and coursework accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and complete the requirements for a Verification Statement.

    Complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program, which includes experience in clinical nutrition, food service management, and community nutrition.

    Pass a national board examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the Registration Examination for Dietitians, refer to www.cdrnet.org.

    Completing the B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics) DPD does not guarantee admission into a supervised dietetic practice program. The most common supervised practice program is a dietetic internship. Some supervised practice programs are combined with undergraduate or graduate studies. Admission to supervised practice programs is very competitive. Therefore, students are encouraged to apply to various programs to increase their chances of being accepted. Supervised practice programs vary by cost, length, location, specialty, and required application fees. Typically, a supervised practice program will run 6 to 12 months in length. Currently, acceptance into a supervised practice program is a competitive match process that occurs twice per year in the Spring (main) and in the Fall (limited).

    *Beginning in 2024, a minimum of a master's degree will be an eligibility requirement to take the CDR dietetic registration exam.


     

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  • Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)

    The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at AAMU is offered in the undergraduate program in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and the Area of Nutrition and Hospitality Management as the General Dietetics option. Upon completion of the program, the student is qualified to apply for admission to an accredited dietetic internship. Upon successful completion of the dietetic internship, the student is eligible to write the registration examination to become a registered dietitian.

    The dietetics concentration is appropriate for students who would like to become recognized nutritionists or registered dietitians. There are three steps to becoming a registered dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) including:

    • Completion of an ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)
    • Successfully obtaining and completing an accredited supervised work experience (dietetic internship)
    • Taking and passing a national registration examination
    • For details see: DPD Handbook
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  • ACEND ACCREDITATION

    The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at AAMU is currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

    120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190,
    Chicago, IL 60606-6995
    800-877-1600 Ext 5400
    ACEND@eatright.org

    For additional program information, please contact:

    Nahid A. Sistani, Ph.D., RD, LD
    Professor, Coordinator and DPD Director
    Nutrition and Hospitality Management
    Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
    Carver Complex South-Bonner Wing Room 108D
    Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University
    Normal, AL 35762
    Phone: 256-372-4105
    Email: Nahid.sistani@aamu.edu

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Nahid A. Sistani, Ph.D., RDN

Professor, Coordinator and DPD Director
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Carver Complex South-Bonner Wing RM 110D
Phone: 256-372-4105
Email: nahid.sistani@aamu.edu

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