DPD Application & Admission Process

Admissions Requirements

Admission to Virginia State University as:

1. Full-time student admitted into Option 1 (Family and Consumer Sciences Major: Dietetics Concentration)
   1. Incoming Freshman – complete the freshman application
   2. Transfer Students – complete the transfer application
2. Full-time student admitted into Option 2 (Certificate in Nutrition and Dietetics)
   1. This option must complete application for undergraduate admission. Please complete the transfer application.

Admission to Didactic Program in Dietetics (You must complete an additional application.) Please consult DPD Program Director for timeline.

1. Completion of the following courses (or transferred equivalent) with a grade of “C” or better:
   1. CHEM 151/153: General Chemistry I
   2. CHEM 152/154: General Chemistry II
   3. CHEM 305/307: Organic Chemistry I
   4. BIOL 120: General Biology I/Lab
   5. BIOL 318: Anatomy & Physiology I
   6. MATH 120: College Algebra I
2. Minimum GPA of 2.85, conditional
3. Nutrition related work and/or volunteer experience
4. Completion of DPD Application Form
5. Expected graduation date is within two years of program application.
6. The DPD program is capped at 30 students. Selection is determined by the VSU Dietetics Program *Advisory Council and is based on:
   1. Meeting the above requirements,
   2. ≥3.0 GPA,
   3. Depth and breadth of nutrition-related experience

An application for the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) must be completed for students interested in becoming a Registered Dietitian.  All students (freshmen and transfers) who have been admitted to the university must apply and be accepted into the DPD and have the DPD major listed on their record in order to receive a Verification Statement upon graduation, which is needed to enter into a Dietetic Internship.

DPD Applications are required to be submitted either by October 15 or by March 15 after students have met the DPD admissions criteria above. These dates may flex depending upon the administration of midterm grades.

Fall Application:

Students who meet the criteria above for DPD entrance requirements will be notified of the results of their application prior to registration for the following semester. Those who are still completing a required course and/or have a GPA less than 3.0 will receive final notification of their application status in early January, after review of fall semester grades to ensure that the student has met the above criteria. A student can only apply to the program two times. When applying, review the criteria checklist prior to submission.

Spring Application:

Students who meet the criteria above for DPD entrance requirements will be notified of the results of their application prior to registration.  Those who are still completing a required course and/or have a GPA less than 3.0 will receive final notification of their application status in early June, after review of spring semester grades to ensure that the student has met the above criteria. If a student is taking a required course during the summer, they will also be initially notified before registration and will receive final acceptance after the grade is posted and reviewed in July or August.

Students are allowed to apply to the DPD only 2 times; therefore, applications should not be submitted until DPD admission criteria are met by the end of the semester in which they apply. Those who are not eligible will be required to sign a non-eligibility form.

Admitted DPD students must obtain a student membership to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) after receiving acceptance into the program. Academy membership begins June 1, is one-year long, and is $50 for students. See www.eatright.org/membershipinfo/ for more information. Students are strongly encouraged to maintain professional memberships to access scholarships and resources for travel to the AND Conference.

Please contact Dr. Patricia Lynch at 804-524-5729 or plynch@vsu.edu if you have questions about applying to the DPD.