The Didactic Program in Dietetics at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore is housed within the Department of Human Ecology, which is located in the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences. Students who satisfy and successfully complete the prescribed course requirements for the dietetics program will be awarded the Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Ecology with a concentration in dietetics.
The mission of the dietetics program is to provide educational opportunities for students to develop mastery of food and nutrition principles, acquire skills for effective dietetic practice, enhance leadership qualities, and foster career development. Its philosophical tenets remain central to the mission of the 1890 Land-Grant Institution.
The Didactic program in Dietetics is currently granted accreditation status through spring 2025 by the Accreditation Council for Nutrition and Dietetics Education (ACEND), an agency of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 1.800/877.1600.
Becoming a Registered Dietician (RDN) is a three-step process. Successful completion of the Didactic Program is the first step toward dietetic credentialing. The second step consists of completing a supervised practice experience through an ACEND accredited Dietetic Internship. The final step is successfully passing the national Registration Examination for Dietitians administered through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Effective January 1, 2024, CDR will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing examination to become a RDN. Additionally, as of June 1, 2009, graduates of an accredited didactic program are eligible to take the Dietetic Technician Registration exam through the DTR pathway III provision approved by CDR.
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