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Natural Science Division

Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)

Learning is intimately connected with living well.  Our Nutritional Science program prepares students for a vocation to serve others by providing adequate nutrition.  The overall objective of our DPD is to prepare students to integrate and apply scientific principles of food, nutrition, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, physiology, management, and behavioral and social sciences to achieve and maintain the health of the public. 

Program Goals of the Nutritional Science DPD are designed to:

  1. provide student with Foundation Knowledge and Skills required of didactic education in dietetics for successful participation in dietetic internships and/or post-baccalaureate programs; passing the registration examination for entry-level dietitians; continued lifelong learning; and productive future careers in nutrition, public health and dietetics.
  2. prepare students to integrate research using current technology in the advancement and dissemination of knowledge related to nutrition as an applied science.
  3. prepare students to assume roles in leadership, management, and policy development.

Measurable Program Outcomes for each Program Goal are:

To provide student with Foundation Knowledge and Skills required of didactic education in dietetics for successful participation in dietetic internships and/or post-baccalaureate programs; passing the registration examination for entry-level dietitians; continued lifelong learning; and productive future careers in nutrition, public health and dietetics.

1.1  Alumni will achieve over a 5-year period a pass rate of at least 90% on the Registered Dietitian (RD) exam.

1.2  Within 12 months of completing the program, at least 80% of graduates will have passed the RD exam, obtained employment related to their major, or enrolled in an accredited continuing education program.

1.3  Students applying to post-graduate supervised practice programs will have at least a 90% placement rate.

1.4  100% of graduates will have been examined and passed by a mock registration exam.

1.5  by middle of senior year in the program, 100% of students will have received instruction specifically about graduate school choices in nutrition, dietetics, or foodservice.

1.6  DPD will comply with the Standards of Education as outlined by CADE of the American Dietetic Association (ADA).

1.7  90% of the DPD students will be accepted into a CADE accredited dietetic internship (DI).

1.8  100% of DPD students will create and maintain a student and academic portfolio.

1.9  70% of DPD graduates will rate their preparation for their dietetic internship experiences are satisfactory.

1.10  80% of employers of DPD graduates will rate the student's preparation as satisfactory.

To prepare students to integrate research using current technology in the advancement and dissemination of knowledge related to nutrition as an applied science.

2.1  100% of students can analyze results and draw reasonable conclusions from them.

2.2  100% of students can locate appropriate sources by searching both electronic and print databases.

2.3  100% of students can distinguish between science and pseudoscience.

2.4  100% of students will prepare a grant proposal and present research about the ADA defined current public health concerns and international nutrition issues.

2.5  100% of DPD courses will integrate nutrition research principles, evidence based medicine and evidence based practice into the course content and evaluations.

To prepare students to assume roles in leadership, management, and policy development.

3.1  80% of DPD students will be members of the ADA.

3.2 80% of DPD students will continue membership in the ADA during their DI.

3.3  60% of DPD graduates who enter the profession will continue membership through the next five years.

3.4  100% of DPD graduates will participate in self-evaluations on team work and leadership.

3.5  50% of DPD students will identify a mentor in a professional organization, such as California Dietetic Association (CDA), California Dietetic Association Foundation (CDAF), or Los Angeles Dietetic Assoclation (LAD).

3.6  70% of DPD students will attend CDA Annual Meeting.

3.7  50% of DPD students will attend Public Policy Day and/or complete Washington D.C. internship on Nutrition policy with National Institutes of Health.

3.8  90% of DPD students will participate in student organizations, including the Student Dietetic Association (SDA).

DPD Director:  Susan Edgar Helm, PhD, RD
Office:  Rockwell Academic Center (RAC) 108C
24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90263
e-mail: 
Office Phone:  (310) 506-4325
Division Phone:  (310) 506-4231
Fax:  (310) 506-4785

Program Accreditation: Pepperdine University Nutritional Science DPD has been granted initial accreditation at the baccalaureate level until 2015 by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995, 312/899-0040 ext. 5400.