Major Requirements

Major Requirements

The General Education Requirement

All students must satisfy a general education requirement consisting of ten (10) courses outside of the major department. The General Education Domain II-B (Natural Sciences) and laboratory requirement are satisfied through the completion of the major requirements.

Course Prerequisites

Courses may have specified conditions for enrollment, such as prior completion of less advanced courses, permission of the instructor, or appropriate placement test scores. Students should refer to course descriptions in the department listings for prerequisite requirements.

Major core requirements (7):

  • NUTR 110 Fundamentals of Nutrition Science
  • NUTR 262/262L Food, Culture, and Society with Lab
  • NUTR 364/364L Experimental Study of Food with Lab
  • NUTR 381 Medical Nutrition Therapy I
  • NUTR 384 Foodservice Systems
  • NUTR 478 Community Nutrition
  • NUTR 482 Management of Food and Nutrition Services

All new students, both First-Year or Transfers, admitted into the Food & Nutrition major are placed in this pre-concentration. When students are enrolled in or have completed CHEM 300 Principles of Biochemistry, they must apply to either the Nutrition and Dietetics or Coordinated Program in Dietetics concentration.

General Dietetics Studies Pre-concentration (UFNG)

This pre-concentration begins preparation to become a registered dietitian.

Note: The pre-concentration requirements do not apply to the Nutrition and Food Service Management concentration.

Pre-Concentration Requirements (6 courses):

  • BIOL 130/130L Principles of Biology with Lab
  • BIOL 235/235L Principles of Human Physiology with Lab
  • BIOL 241/241L Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab and
  • BIOL 242/242L Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab
  • CHEM 107/107L Principles of Chemistry with Lab
  • CHEM 108/108L Principles of Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis with Lab
  • CHEM 207/207L Organic Chemistry I with Lab
  • CHEM 300/300L Principles of Biochemistry with Lab or CHEM 280 Principles of Biochemistry

Nutrition and Dietetics Concentration (UFND)

These courses are in addition to the major core requirements (9 courses) and pre-concentration requirements (6 courses).

Nutrition and Dietetics Concentration (7 courses):

  • BIOL 228/228L Microbiology with Lab
  • NUTR 374 Human Nutrition Science
  • NUTR 400 Preparation for Dietetic Internship (non-credit)
  • NUTR 481 Medical Nutrition Therapy II
  • One additional HLTH or NUTR course at or above the 200-level
  • PSYC 101 General Psychology or SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology or ANTH 161 Cultural Anthropology
  • STAT 117 Introduction to Statistics or STAT 208 Biostatistics or ENVS 202 Data Analysis for Scientists

NOTE: Students completing this concentration have met the academic requirements to sit for the Massachusetts licensure exam to be a licensed nutritionist dietitian (LDN). See http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dplboards/nu/.

Nutrition and Dietetics Education Concentration (UFNE)

These courses are in addition to the major core requirements (9 courses) and pre-concentration requirements (6 courses).

Nutrition and Dietetics Education Concentration (8 courses):

  • BIOL 228/228L Microbiology with Lab
  • NUTR 374 Human Nutrition Science
  • NUTR 400 Preparation for Dietetic Internship (non-credit)
  • NUTR 481 Medical Nutrition Therapy II
  • NUTR 495 Internship in Food and Nutrition
  • One additional HLTH or NUTR course at or above the 200-level
  • PSYC 101 General Psychology or SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology or ANTH 161 Cultural Anthropology
  • STAT 117 Introduction to Statistics or STAT 208 Biostatistics or ENVS 202 Data Analysis for Scientists

Graduate courses (3 courses in the undergraduate senior year, which will count for both undergraduate and graduate credit):

  • NUED 914 Contemporary Nutrition Issues for Educators
  • NUED 970 Technology in Nutrition Education
  • EDIL 920 Learning and Human Development

NOTE: Students completing this concentration have met the academic requirements to sit for the Massachusetts licensure exam to be a licensed nutritionist dietitian (LDN). See http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dplboards/nu/.

  1. Complete a minimum of a bachelor's degree at a US regionally accredited university or college including course work accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  2. Complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program and receive a Verification Statement. The accredited supervised practice program can be combined with undergraduate or graduate studies through a Coordinated Program OR through a Post-Baccalaureate Dietetic Internship at a health-care facility, community agency, or a foodservice corporation.
  3. Pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CPD) BS/MS 4+1 at Framingham State University are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.  Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics at Framingham State University are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program to become an RDN.

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND's considered opinion that the FSU CPD program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND-accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state's licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license. More information about state licensure and certification can be found at this link: State Licensure.

For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN click here.

The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has accredited both Nutrition and Dietetics (Didactic Program in Dietetics) and Coordinated Program in Dietetics at Framingham State University.

 

REQUIRED NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY AND PROCEDURE TO FILE COMPLAINTS WITH THE ACCREDITATION COUNCIL

The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) will review complaints that relate to a program's compliance with the accreditation standards.  ACEND is interested in the sustained quality and continued improvement of dietetics education programs but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for individuals in matters of admission, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty, staff, or students. 

Complaints should be submitted directly to ACEND only after all other options with the program and institution have been exhausted.  A copy of the accreditation standards and/or ACEND’s policy and procedure for submission of complaints may be obtained by contacting the Education and Accreditation staff at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chica­go, Illinois 60606-6995 or by calling 312-899-0040, Extension 5400.

Written complaints should be mailed to the Chair, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics at the above address.

Meet Our Director

Photo of Jerusha Nelson, Ph.D., RDN

Jerusha Nelson-Peterman, Ph.D., R.D.

Director of Didactic Program in Dietetics, Professor, Nutrition & Health Studies Department

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