Welcome to Nutrition by Distance
The University of Alabama has been educating dietitians on the University campus for over seventy-five years and has offered a distance learning degree program for more than ten years!
Succeed with Nutrition Online
Listen to a Previously Recorded Information Session
See the Campus and Hear From Dr. Crowe-White
Which program is right for me?
We serve a wide variety of students from all different academic backgrounds and with varying academic goals. Whether you are an undergraduate student just starting your college career, a post-graduate student seeking a verification statement to become a Registered Dietitian, or a graduate student working toward a master’s degree, we have a program for you! You can use the chart below to find what program fits best for your personal situation.
The chart below is effective Fall 2023.
| B.S. in Food & Nutrition | B.S. in Food and Nutrition + Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) | Accelerated Master of Science in Human Nutrition (AMP) | Masters of Science in Human Nutrition | Master of Science in Human Nutrition + DPD (MS + DPD) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program intended for | Undergraduate students | Undergraduate or post-graduate students seeking a DPD Verification Statement | Undergraduate students on a fast track for the M.S. in Human Nutrition | Graduate students not seeking the RDN credential | Graduate students seeking M.S. and a DPD Verification Statement |
| Admission Requirements | Admittance to UA | Admittance to UA | Students with current 3.7+ overall institutional (UA) GPA and 90+ credit hours.
Students must also meet the prerequisite courses before applying. |
Admission to UA graduate school.
Students without the RDN credential must also meet the prerequisite courses before applying. |
Students with overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Students must also meet the prerequisite courses before applying. |
| GPA requirement to complete program | 2.0 to graduate | Must maintain a combined GPA of 3.0 or higher in the DPD Science Courses and DPD Professional Courses for the DPD Verification Statement | Must maintain a combined GPA of 3.0 or higher in the DPD Science Courses and DPD Professional Courses for the DPD Verification Statement | 3.0 Average GPA | Must maintain a combined GPA of 3.0 or higher in the DPD Science Courses and DPD Professional Courses for the DPD Verification Statement |
| Number of hours to complete program | 120 credit hours to earn degree | Undergraduate Students: 120 credit hours Postgraduate Students: 79 credit hours of DPD required courses |
120 hours for bachelor’s degree. Select graduate courses may be taken to count towards both degree programs. | 30 credit hours | 30 to complete M.S. + required DPD courses |
| Do I get a Verification Statement to apply for an accredited Dietetic Internship? | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Download a printable version of this chart.
Accreditation
The DPD program at UA is accredited by The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2,000, Chicago, IL 60606-0995. This program prepares graduates to enter dietetic internships where they can apply the theories they learn as undergraduates in health care settings under the supervision of health professionals. Upon successful completion of the DPD and DI students are eligible to take the national examination and become Registered Dietitians.