Kinesiology

Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics

Nourish your body, nourish your mind

Mission of Nutrition Dietetics Program

The mission of the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics at Western Illinois University is to prepare graduates with the knowledge and competencies expected of those entering a supervised practice program or entering a nutrition- related health career including becoming a registered dietitian.

Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics

All students seeking the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics must complete I, II, and III below, and the foreign language/global issues requirement for the major#. The minimum semester hour requirement for the baccalaureate degree is 120 s.h. Students with a career objective of becoming a registered dietitian must complete a program of study which meets the accredited Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics at WIU. (These program competencies must be met prior to the application to an accredited supervised practice program.)

Note : Students enrolled in this major may not minor in Nutrition.

  1. University General Education Curriculum: 43 s.h.
  2. Core Courses: 54 s.h.
    NUTR 109**, 209, 220, 300**, 301, 305, 306, 308, 320, 404, 405, 406, 409, 410, 420, 438; NUTR/HS 407, 408†, 411
  3. Other: 44 s.h.
    1. CHEM 101**, 102**, 221**#: 12 s.h.
    2. ECON 100** or 231** or 232**: 3 s.h.
    3. HRM 353: 3 s.h.
    4. HS 410: 3 s.h.
    5. KIN 290, 291: 6 s.h.
    6. MGT 349: 3 s.h.
    7. MICR 200**: 4 s.h.
    8. PSY 100**: 3 s.h.
    9. STAT 171** or equivalent: 3 s.h.
    10. ZOOL 200**: 4 s.h.
    11. FR/GER/SPAN 224** (recommended)

* Students with a career objective of becoming a registered dietitian must complete a program of study which meets the accredited Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics at WIU. (These program competencies must be met prior to the application to an accredited dietetic internship.)

** May count toward the University General Education Curriculum requirement.

**# Does not count toward the University General Education Curriculum requirement.

# The foreign language/global issues graduation requirement may be fulfilled by successfully completing one of the following: 1) a designated foreign language requirement [see Foreign Language/Global Issues Requirement]; 2) a General Education global issues course; or 3) NUTR 300.

† NUTR/HS 408 fulfills the Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) graduation requirement.

DPD Admission and Retention Requirements
  1. To be accepted into the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics program, a student must have a minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA.
  2. After admission into the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics program, each student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4.00 scale to be retained in the Nutrition and Dietetics program. Students with less than a 2.75 GPA after admission to the Nutrition and Dietetics program will be dismissed from the program.
  3. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4.00 scale in addition to required competency achievement in all Knowledge for Registered Dietitian Nutrionists (KRDNs) in order to receive a verification statement from the WIU Nutrition and Dietetics program.
Prior Learning Experience

Undergraduate transfer students may earn transfer credit at Western Illinois University for classes taken at appropriately recognized institutions. Courses taken at schools outside the U.S. will be evaluated on a course by course basis. Transfer Credits - Western Illinois University (wiu.edu)

Additionally, students taking NUTR 320 who have worked a minimum of 90 hours in quantity foodservice within the past 5 years can request a meeting with the program director to prove requirements for prior learning credit for the lab hours portion of the course. However, the student will still be responsible for completing the individual lab session with the instructor.

 Requirements:
  • Facility type: school, hospital, or nursing home. Facility must prepare food for at least 100 people. Lab component can be paid or volunteer.
  • Students must be able to help in the preparation of meat/meat alternatives, starchy sides, cooked vegetables, salads, fruit, bread, dessert, and a mixed dish/casserole.
  • Define different types of menus and/or meal plans that promote health and disease management to meet student’s/patient’s/resident’s needs.
  • Take temperatures of food prior to serving the public.
  • Check temperatures of coolers and freezers.
  • Practice resolving differences or dealing with conflict with supervisors, coworkers, or students/patients/residents.
Goals and Objective Measures of the Dietetics Program

Program Goal #1: Program graduates will be competent entry-level nutrition professionals.

Objective Measures
  • At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 3 years (150% of planned program length).*
  • At least 50% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.*
  • Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 80% are admitted within 12 months of graduation.*
  • The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.*
  • Within 12 months of graduation, at least 85% of supervised practice program directors who respond to survey will indicate the graduate was adequately prepared.*

(* Required program objectives.)

Program Goal #2: The program will encourage graduates to become active professionals.

Objective Measures
  • At least 85% of graduates who respond to alums survey indicate membership in at least one professional organization or professional activity including precepting students/interns.
  • At least 95% of graduates who respond to alums survey indicate that the program prepared them adequately in professionalism.
  • At least 90% of supervised practice program directors will respond that students performed satisfactorily as professionals.

(* Outcome data measuring achievement of program objectives is available upon request.)

Accreditation/Approval Status of the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics

The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) last accredited the current dietetics program at Western Illinois University as a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) in 2016. The Council is located at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics headquarters at 120 S. Riverside Plaza #2190, Chicago, IL 60606; 800-877-1600 extension #5400. After receiving the degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and meeting the competencies for the DPD, students are eligible for a verification statement which is required to apply for an accredited Supervised Practice Program. After completion of the Supervised Practice Program and graduate degree, students are verified to take the Registration Examination to earn the credential RD (Registered Dietitian).

* Please note that students/interns will need to have a master’s degree in order to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist after January 1, 2024.

Applying for a Dietetic Supervised Practice Program

 In order to become a registered dietitian, students must complete the following:

  • Complete an ACEND accredited dietetics undergraduate program such as the WIU Didactic Program in Dietetics
  • Receive a verification form from the Dietetics Program Director
  • Apply and receive acceptance into an accredited Dietetic Supervised Practice Program
  • Complete the Supervised Practice Program
  • Complete a graduate degree program (included in most Supervised Practice Programs)
  • Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam
  • Some states, including Illinois have regulatory laws that require licensure for nutrition and dietetic practitioners, including registered dietitians (http://www.idfpr.com/profs/dietNutrition.asp) for licensure information in Illinois.

      The Nutrition and Dietetics program at Western Illinois University meets the first of these requirements. The Supervised Practice Program is a minimum of 1000 supervised practice hours designed to put the theoretical knowledge from the undergraduate degree into practice in a variety of settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, outpatient counseling, public nutrition programs, school lunch programs, and dietetic management experiences. The length of time in each rotation will vary with the program. In addition, graduates will be completing a master’s degree while completing the supervised practice hours unless they have previously earned a graduate degree.

      The supervised practice program selection process is extremely competitive. Therefore, it is important that students begin early to build resumes to help increase the chances of acceptance into a program. Several factors are taken into account when programs accept students. One of the most important factors is a student’s grade point average. Students should strive to achieve and maintain above a 3.0 grade point average. If students are having trouble with a class, they should see the instructor immediately to get help. In addition, they need to contact Dr. Kanauss and let her know about the difficulty. In some cases, upperclassmen are willing to tutor students with chemistry or other course requirements.

      Students can also increase their chances of being selected into a supervised practice program by gaining work experience in the profession of dietetics. Students achieve this in a variety of ways. Some use summer work hours in a hospital dietary department to gain this experience. Nursing homes in Macomb often hire dietetics students as part-time workers in the dietary department. Some students volunteer at local WIC offices. In addition, students will be required to take a dietetics practicum course through WIU, which can be completed at local facilities in the student’s hometown. For students having difficulty finding appropriate experiences, again see Dr. Kanauss or another dietetics faculty. They are happy to help students find a way to get experience.

      Supervised practice programs also seek students who have demonstrated leadership skills. Try to become involved in student organizations. Being involved with student organizations can help students demonstrate leadership skills. The Kinesiology Department has several student organizations that offer many opportunities for experience. Becoming active in the dietetics profession early is also desirable. Students can become an associate member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for a reasonable amount and can join anytime at  www.eatright.org . During the Junior or Senior year, try to attend the national Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and/or Illinois Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Spring Assembly. Faculty may assist students in setting up transportation and housing; however, students will need to plan their budget so that they can afford to take advantage of this opportunity to hear the latest developments in dietetics, meet potential supervised practice program directors, and network with students and dietitians.

 

Program Completion and Verification

Graduates who have achieved all of the ACEND 2022 Standards/Knowledge for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (KRDNs) and required GPA minimum will receive verification forms whether or not they have applied for or been accepted into a dietetic supervised practice program. Upon verification from the Program Director that all 2022 KRDNs have been achieved and from the Registrar’s office that all program courses have been successfully completed, graduates will receive three originally signed copies of the verification form. Please keep these forms in a secure place. Graduates will need one copy for entrance into a dietetic supervised practice program and another to sit for the registration exam. Graduates may need other copies for other professional certifications at later times in their professional development.

* Please note that students/interns will need to have a master’s degree in order to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist after January 1, 2024.

Distance Education

After modifying teaching techniques during the COVID public health emergency with available technologies, the dietetics faculty made the decision to continue offering online courses to students. Western Illinois University’s vision is to strive to be a leader in educational quality, opportunity, and affordability among regional public universities. Living on campus is expensive, and allowing students to attend while living at home can save a significant amount of money, thus fulfilling WIU’s vision. WIU is committed to a diverse student body. Offering online courses has increased the dietetics program’s diversity with international students and students from areas outside of Macomb, IL.

With proper advising, students can complete their first two years at a community college or WIU and then complete the last two years of the Nutrition and Dietetics program online at home or in Macomb, IL. All NUTR courses are offered online. Several courses are offered in multiple modalities (face-to-face, livestreaming, and online) each semester. The courses that are offered via face-to-face and livestreaming are typically on Tuesdays/Thursdays so students who need to work more than weekends have that option. There are no additional costs for online courses. The Nutrition and Dietetics faculty also offer weekly optional Zoom reviews for all online courses. WIU provides significant technical assistance for online students.

All students enrolled in the Nutrition and Dietetics program need the same technology requirements as all exams are taken online. To gain access to class exams, students must login to WesternOnline with their usernames and passwords. WIU employs Respondus LockDown Browser, Monitor, and Live proctoring via videoconference. Instructors require a student ID and photo to be taken to validate identity. For those students on campus, there are several computer labs available throughout the campus. WIU requires authentication to WesternOnline by requiring a username and ID. It also requires a separate ID and password to access student records including financial aid, grades, registration, STARS, etc.

Distance Education Technology Requirements

Western Online Technical Requirements:

All Nutrition and Dietetics courses requires exam proctoring using Respondus LockDown Browser and a webcam for online exams.

  • The webcam can be built into the computer or can be the type that plugs in with a USB cable. Watch this short video to get a basic understanding of LockDown Browser and the webcam feature. A student Quick Start Guide is also available. I also recommend reviewing the WIU tutorial for students.
  • Then download and install LockDown Browser from this link: https://download.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=836614457
  • Within the Getting Started section of the course students will find the WIU student tutorial and a practice exam for both LockDown Browser and LockDown Monitor. It is essential that students complete both of these to ensure that their computer and webcam are working properly with Respondus LockDown Browser proctoring prior to their first exam.

Additional Program Costs

In addition to University tuition, room and board, etc., certain costs will be incurred in the dietetics degree program at Western Illinois University. The following items are estimated costs offered to assist students in planning for their financial responsibilities while at Western.

  • Student organization membership fee(s) (varies)…………………...$10.00 – 40.00/year
  • ServSafe Managers Certification....…………………………………$180.00
  • 2 Foods Classes……………………………………………………   $250.00/each

Learn more about Financial Assistance

Application Apply - Western Illinois University (wiu.edu)

Scheduling and program calendar, including vacation and holidays ( Academic Calendar 2023-2024 - Western Illinois University (wiu.edu)

Graduation and program completion requirements (University Graduation Requirements - Undergraduate Catalog - Western Illinois University (wiu.edu)

Career Opportunities

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that the employment of dietitians and nutritionists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations because of increased importance placed on disease prevention, increasing population, aging population, and the interest in nutrition by the public.  The projected percent change in employment from 2022 to 2032. The average growth rate for all occupations is 3 percent.   About 5,600 openings for dietitians and nutritionists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

Dietitians provide nutrition services, manage food service operations, and conduct research or sales with the public and private sectors in the United States and abroad. For more information on a career in dietetics, visit

Job settings include:

  • Clinics
  • Hospitals (inpatient/acute care)
  • Health maintenance organizations
  • Sports facilities
  • Private practice
  • School food service (K-12)
  • Colleges and universities
  • Extended care facilities
  • Government programs
  • Distributors/retailers
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Food service industries
  • Food manufacturers
  • Food industry catering service
  • Food equipment companies