Mission

The University of Illinois Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) will provide high quality, innovative food, and nutrition education along with the necessary communication skills to prepare program graduates for supervised practice, leading to eligibility for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam, which will enable them to become registered dietitian nutritionists, and become leaders in the field promoting healthy food and nutrition practices across the United States and globally.

This DPD mission is compatible with the overall goal of the department's mission: to implement education, research, and outreach programs designed to provide a safe, nutritious, and affordable food supply that enhances human health; and the mission of the College of ACES: to enhance the quality of life for people and communities through teaching, research and outreach programs focused on human activity, food, fiber, and natural resource systems.



Goal One

To prepare program graduates to be competent future entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists.

Objectives to Achieve Goal One

  • At least 80% of program graduates complete program requirements within 6 years for undergraduates and 3 years for graduate students (150% of planned program length)
  • At least 50% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation
  • Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 40% are admitted within 12 months of graduation
  • The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%
  • 90% of program graduates will have an overall GPA of 3.0/4.0.
  • 90% of program graduates will have dietetics work experience.
  • 80% of program graduates have obtained the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential within 48 months of graduation

Goal Two

To provide program graduates with a strong foundation in the basic sciences, research and application of nutrition, food science and management areas to prepare them for supervised practice and graduate school.

Objectives to Achieve Goal Two

  • 90% of Dietetics Work Experience Supervisors will rate program graduates as satisfactory or more than satisfactory.
  • 90% of Supervised Practice Program Directors will rate program graduates as satisfactory or more than satisfactory with graduate’s preparation for supervised practice.
  • 80% of program graduates will demonstrate the ability to integrate course material and apply it in a practice setting.
  • 80% of program graduates feel well-prepared for supervised practice.
  • 80% of program graduates feel well-prepared for graduate school. 

Goal Three

To prepare program graduates to become future registered dietitian nutritionists and leaders in the field with a high level of professionalism.

Objectives to Achieve Goal Three

  • 90% of Dietetics Work Experience Supervisors will rate program graduates’ leadership abilities as satisfactory or more than satisfactory.
  • 90% of Supervised Practice Program Directors will rate program graduates’ leadership abilities as satisfactory or more than satisfactory.
  • 90% of Dietetics Work Experience Supervisors will rate program graduates’ professionalism as satisfactory or more than satisfactory.
  • 90% of Supervised Practice Program Directors will rate program graduates’ professionalism as satisfactory or more than satisfactory. 
  • 50% of program graduates will have obtained or be in the process of obtaining a graduate degree.
  • 20% of program graduates will have obtained or be in the process of obtaining a board-certified specialist credential.
  • 50% of program graduates will currently hold or have previously held a leadership position within their place of employment or within a professional organization related to dietetics, food, management or nutritional sciences.

Further outcome data for the Didactic Program in Dietetics are available upon request. To request data, please send a request to Dr. Justine Karduck at karduck@illinois.edu.

Updated July 2022