Department of Nutrition

The mission of the Department of Nutrition is to prepare diverse students from the Denver metropolitan area for successful careers in food, nutrition and dietetics by providing quality education that is culturally sensitive and instills a desire for life-long learning.

Academic Programs

Requirements

Students who attain a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Human Nutrition - Dietetics will be prepared for traditional, non-traditional, and entrepreneurial positions in health care that utilize knowledge of food, nutrition and dietetics. Professionals trained in nutrition have diverse career options due to the growing emphasis on nutrition, health and wellness.

Students must earn a grade of “C-” or better in all courses required for the major in order to progress through the program. Courses with grades less than “C-” will need to be repeated in order for the student to take any other courses for which the first course is a prerequisite. All general requirements of the University for a Bachelor of Science degree must be met prior to graduation.

In addition, students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and major GPA of 3.0. If either GPA falls below the minimum, one of the following will occur:

The student will be placed on academic probation and have one semester to bring the GPA(s) up to acceptable levels, while remaining in the course sequence.
If the student fails to bring the GPA(s) up to acceptable levels after one semester, the student will be suspended from the major until the minimum GPA(s) is/are achieved. Resumption in the Human Nutrition - Dietetics major will commence in the appropriate sequential semester.
If, after two semesters, the student does not bring the GPA(s) to acceptable levels, the student will be dismissed from the Human Nutrition - Dietetics major and advised to decide if they want to improve their GPA and re-apply for the Human Nutrition - Dietetics major or choose another major with different GPA expectations.
If the GPA(s) is/are raised to the minimum, the dismissal may be appealed.

Third- and fourth-year students will be notified of their status by June 1st of each year.

Accreditation

The Human Nutrition - Dietetics Major includes a didactic program in dietetics (DPD) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312-899-0040 ext. 5400, acend@eatright.org. Students must apply to the DPD prior to enrolling in NUT 3140 Human Nutrition. Once accepted into the DPD, students are considered enrolled in an ACEND accredited program. Completion of a DPD program is one step required in becoming a registered dietitian (RD). To become a registered dietitian, students must also have a bachelor’s degree, apply for and complete an accredited internship program and pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Accredited internships are completed after graduation and obtained through a competitive, national selection process in which approximately 50% of students who apply are actually placed. Colorado-based internships are limited and students should be prepared to complete their internship out of state.