Didactic Program in Dietetics Certificate

ACEND requires the completion of specific courses and competencies to fulfill the didactic requirements to apply for a Dietetic Internship program. Simmons students, who successfully complete the following courses (see below under DPD curriculum) in the DPD program meet ACEND requirements.

Research, internships and clinical experience are essential to nutrition and dietetics education You’ll have opportunities to explore your interests, build your skills, and develop mentoring relationships with leaders in the field. We take full advantage of our location in the heart of Boston, and more specifically the Longwood Medical Area.

Program Mission

The mission of the Simmons University DPD is to educate students and foster an appreciation of lifelong learning in preparation for supervised practice, and success in the nutrition and dietetics profession. We aim to prepare students to be effective in a profession that improves the eating behaviors and subsequent health and quality of life of a multicultural and diverse population, a profession that adds to the scientific investigation about food and health, and one that fosters an appreciation of nutrition and dietetics' relationship to other sciences.

The Didactic Program in Dietetics' goals and corresponding program outcomes are shown below:

Goal 1: Simmons University DPD graduates will be prepared to become competent entry-level dietetics professionals.

Goal 2: Program graduates will be well prepared to succeed in one or more of the following: a nutrition-related graduate program or nutrition-related employment.

Corresponding Program Objectives

• At least 80% of students will complete program requirements within 3 years (150% of planned program length).
• At least 70% of DPD program graduates will apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior within 12 months of graduation.
• Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 55% of BS/ 80% of DPD students will be admitted within 12 months of graduation.
• The program’s one-year pass rate on the CDR credentialing exam for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists will be at least 80%.
• At least 75% of DPD graduates will agree to being prepared for practice based on post-graduation survey.
• At least 75% of supervised practice directors will rate DPD graduates as adequately prepared for practice.
• Of DPD graduates who apply to nutrition/public health related graduate programs, 70% will be admitted within 12 months of application.
• Of graduates who sought nutrition/public health related employment, 50% will be employed within 12 months of application.

This program is designed to be completed in 1-2 years depending on previous science and nutrition coursework. The Simmons academic calendar can be found here.

Graduate tuition is calculated on a per credit basis. The DPD program consists of 32 credits of science requirements and 43 credits of nutrition requirements. Additional student fees are mandatory and not included in the per credit tuition rate. More information regarding program cost and financial aid can be found here.  

Additional information regarding program information, cost, and policies can be found in the Nutrition Student Guide.

For more information about graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and post-enrollment earnings about this institution and other postsecondary institutions please visit collegescorecard.ed.gov.

Additional Program Costs

• Laboratory coat ($35).
• Individual course materials (e.g. books, access to professional electronic resources) should be expected.
• Membership fees recommended for the program may include the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics ($58, OPTIONAL but strongly recommended).
• Transportation to clinical and fieldwork sites ($30/semester).
• Transportation, meal costs, and registration fees to attend professional meetings and practical experiences should be expected.
  Most internships charge an application fee between $50 and $100. Additionally, there is a fee to register with the Centralized Application System (]~$50 for the first application and $25 for each application after) and $55 to apply to the computer matching process used to determine intern placement (through D & D Digital). Note that these fees are subject to change.