Didactic Program in Dietetics Graduate Certificate Online

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Take a direct path toward pursuing DPD verification and becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist with dedicated, one-on-one support from engaged faculty.

Apply by: 12/26/24
Start class: 1/16/25
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Program Overview

Focus on your future with an online graduate DPD Certificate

Learn how to address today’s health and nutritional challenges with the 100% online Certificate in Didactic Program in Dietetics. Complete the online courses on your schedule while exploring social and dietary sciences, and gaining the knowledge and tools that can help you build a rewarding career in nutrition.

Master's-level coursework provides an in-depth study of macronutrients, medical nutrition therapies, menu planning, key vitamins and minerals related to optimal health, and social methodologies to better understand group behavior and service industry dynamics.

This online didactic program in dietetics bridges the gap between a bachelor’s degree and advanced qualifications in nutrition. It is designed to accommodate any background and does not require experience—professional or academic—in the nutrition field.

This online Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Graduate Certificate will:

  • Provide you with the academic foundation as a first step to become a registered dietitian
  • Confirm the successful completion of the didactic portion of the credentialing process for dietetics practitioners when paired with a Verification Statement and a previously earned bachelor’s degree
  • Qualify you to apply for ACEND-accredited supervised practice program which is a required step to take the registration examination for dietitians provided by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
This online Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Graduate Certificate will:+
  • Provide you with the academic foundation as a first step to become a registered dietitian
  • Confirm the successful completion of the didactic portion of the credentialing process for dietetics practitioners when paired with a Verification Statement and a previously earned bachelor’s degree
  • Qualify you to apply for ACEND-accredited supervised practice program which is a required step to take the registration examination for dietitians provided by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)

The online DPD Certificate prepares you for roles in a wide variety of settings, such as:

  • Clinical dietetics
  • Community nutrition
  • Food service management
  • Sales and promotion
  • Nutrition education and research
  • Public policy
  • Sports nutrition
  • Wellness programs
The online DPD Certificate prepares you for roles in a wide variety of settings, such as:+
  • Clinical dietetics
  • Community nutrition
  • Food service management
  • Sales and promotion
  • Nutrition education and research
  • Public policy
  • Sports nutrition
  • Wellness programs
+
Total Tuition $6,804*
Duration As few as 12 months
Credit Hours 21

Accreditation

The Dietetic Program in Dietetics Graduate Certificate is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

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Need More Information?

Call 866-223-7675

Call 866-223-7675

Tuition

Our online didactic program in dietetics is pay-by-the-course

The following is the tuition breakdown for pursuing the Certificate in Didactic Program in Dietetics online. Our tuition is affordable and can be paid by the course.

View additional tuition information+

Program Per Credit Hour Per Program*
DPD Certificate $324 $6,804

*University fees are included in the tuition listed. University fees are able to be covered by Financial Aid if you choose to apply and are qualified. Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice due to action by the Board of Regents or the Texas State Legislature.

Total program cost depends upon transfer hours and program advisement relevant to program requirements. For more information, contact a Lamar University enrollment specialist.

Financial Aid

Ready to get started on your degree program online but need help finding ways to fund your education? We can help you discover student financing sources that include grants, loans and other payment options. Learn more about financial aid here.

Tuition breakdown:

Total Tuition $6,804*
Per Credit Hour $324

Calendar

Check your program’s timeline here

Our didactic program in dietetics online certificate features multiple start dates to accommodate your busy schedule. Find the start date that works best for you and apply before the application deadline associated with it.

View full calendar +

8 week coursesProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Spring I1/16/2512/26/241/2/251/7/253/7/25
Summer I5/29/255/8/255/15/255/20/257/31/25
Fall 18/21/258/7/258/7/258/15/25

Now enrolling:

Apply Date 12/26/24
Class Starts 1/16/25

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

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Ready to take the rewarding path toward completing your certificate online?

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Admissions

What you’ll need to apply to the online DPD program

The online Certificate in Didactic Program in Dietetics has specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.

Admission Requirements:

  • Online Application
  • Official Transcripts*
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • 2.5 GPA
View all admission requirements +

  • Submit official transcripts* from all colleges and universities attended
  • Undergraduate degree from an accredited university
  • 2.5 GPA that is cumulative of last 60 hours
    • No GRE/GMAT
    • No letters of recommendation
    • No work requirements

Submit application and one-time $25 application fee online

Send transcripts to:

Lamar University Online Admissions
PO Box 10017
Beaumont, TX 77710

OR

Submit electronically to [email protected]

Check to see if the program is offered to residents in your state before applying by clicking here.

*All applicants must submit official transcript(s) indicating: 1) The conferred bachelor's or master's degree as required for the program of application from a regionally accredited US institution or its equivalent. 2) The transcript of the most recent attendance if it differs from the institution of the conferred degree. This requirement applies regardless of the length of time in attendance and regardless of whether credit was earned or is desired. However, if a department or program wishes to review additional transcripts from prior attendance for decision purposes, the department or program may directly request the applicant to submit the official transcript(s) to the Office of Admissions for processing. Students must be eligible to re-enter all colleges and universities previously attended. Failure to disclose previous college attendance is justification for revocation of acceptance and dismissal from Lamar University.

Courses

Preview the online courses

The online DPD program consists of seven courses for a total of 21 credit hours.

Expand All
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Emphasis on the specific micronutrients, vitamins and minerals, as related to health. Sources, classification, functions, digestion, absorption, metabolism, and excretion. Vitamin/mineral deficiency and toxicity. Assessment of micronutrient status.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Clarify the physiological roles and interrelationships of a specific micronutrient.
  • Explain the clinical and public health concerns, given a specific micronutrient.
  • Apply evidence-based research to a case involving a specific micronutrient.
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
In-depth study of the macronutrients, the major building blocks of life. Sources, classification, functions, digestion, absorption, metabolism, and excretion of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. Coverage of the major energy-generating pathways. Emphasis on various categories of macronutrients as related to health. Metabolism and health effects of alcohol.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Explain how the body processes carbohydrate, fat, protein, and alcohol.
  • Interpret how the body utilizes the energy nutrients under different conditions.
  • Explain the health effects of the energy nutrients.
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Integration of student’s knowledge on a variety of disease conditions and the intervention of medical nutrition therapies. Emphasis is placed on understanding energy expenditure, body composition, and changes during physiological stress, illness, and chronic disease. Core elements are applied in the study of various disease states and medical nutrition therapy.  Prerequisites: BIOL 2401, BIOL 2402.
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a continuation of NUTR 5311 and will continue to explore the integration of student’s knowledge on a variety of conditions and the medical nutrition therapy interventions. Emphasis is placed on understanding energy expenditure, body composition, and changes during the acute and chronic disease states. Core elements are applied in the study of various disease states and medical nutrition therapy.
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Principles of food science including food evaluation, food laboratory experiments, research methods, food sanitation and safety, and government food regulations. Physical and chemical properties of food including food preparation, processing, packaging, and food biotechnology.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Explain hazards to the food supply and describe methods of preventing foodborne illness.
  • Describe the composition of food products.
  • Apply the research process to conduct food science experiments.
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Institutional menu planning and quantity food production principles. Quality assurance, layout and product flow, food procurement, human and financial resources in the institutional setting.  Prerequisites: NUTR 5317 with a minimum grade of C.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Identify quality assurance areas related to menu and production management.
  • Explain forecasting personnel and food production as it relates to the menu and equipment specifications.
  • Plan and evaluate cycle menus for noncommercial institutions.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Study of organizational processes using social methodologies such as motivation and others to better understand group behavior and improve operational dynamics in the service industry with an emphasis on the Systems Model, TQM, and Transactional Leadership to direct all managerial functions. Concepts will be applied to human management and service delivery. Must be a graduate student to participate in this course.
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Structure and function of cells, tissues, and muscle, skeletal and nervous systems. Prerequisite: Passing scores on all sections of TASP test or be TASP exempt. May not be used as a Biology major course.
Duration: 15 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Structure and function of the circulatory, digestive, excretory and reproductive systems. Prerequisite: BIOL 2401 with a grade of at least a "C" or better.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Students in this course will learn specific information on the fundamentals of microbiology including cell types, cell structure, microbial growth and control, microbial metabolism, microbial genetics and biotechnology, microbes and human interactions, microbial pathogenesis and applied and industrial microbiology. Cause and effect relationships between microbial growth and human disease, interpretation of symptomatic and laboratory information in diagnosis of disease, prevention of disease and treatment of diseases are stressed. Laboratory activities will reinforce principles of microbiology, including metabolism, structure, function, genetics and phylogeny of microbes. Prerequisites: BIOL 1406 and 1407 or BIOL 2401 and 2402 with a minimum grade of C in each
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Survey of elementary inorganic/organic chemistry and gas laws for allied health science majors. Prerequisites: (High school chemistry or CHEM 1375 with a grade of "C" or better) and (Mathematics Readiness Score>= 700 or MATH 1314 or higher with a "C" or better).
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
Laboratory to accompany a survey of elementary inorganic/organic chemistry and gas laws for allied health science majors. Designed for students majoring in health sciences. Corequisite: Mathematics Readiness Score>= 700 or MATH 1314 or higher with a minimum grade of C. Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Elementary survey of structure, function and metabolic processes of molecules in organisms. Designed for students majoring in health sciences. Prerequisites: CHEM 1306, CHEM 1106. Offered: Summer
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
Laboratory to accompany an elementary survey of structure, function and metabolic processes of molecules in organisms. Designed for students majoring in health sciences. Corequisite: CHEM 1308. Prerequisites: CHEM 1306, CHEM 1106. Offered: Summer.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Non-calculus based introduction to statistics, statistical measures of data, statistical description of data, elementary probability, random variables, binomial and normal distributions, estimation, testing hypotheses.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to nutrition including functions, sources, characteristics and recommended intake of nutrients; digestion; absorption and metabolism; special needs during various phases of the life cycle; diet therapy and patient assessment, education, and counseling.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Activities and responsibilities of the community nutritionist including needs assessment, program development, communication, identifying public policy issues and working with the media. Students apply principles of nutrition education in a variety of community settings. Prerequisite: NUTR 1322 with a minimum grade of D
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Physiological, biochemical and sociological factors that affect nutrient requirements and recommendations over the life cycle.
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Study nutrition guidelines for social disease prevention, and practice nutrition assessment techniques such as anthropometry, biochemical assessment, clinical signs and symptoms, and dietary analysis. Knowledge of nutrition guidelines, assessment, and disease prevention will be applied through basic nutrition counseling at end of semester. Prerequisites: NUTR 1322 with a minimum grade of D

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