Nutrition: Undergraduate

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Coursework can be completed online or on campus—all students must participate in two required residential institutes.

One degree…35+ professional opportunities.

51��’s undergraduate program currently has a pass rate of 100% for the Registration Examination for Dietitians! This exceeds the ACEND standard of 80% and the national average of 88.66%.

At 51��, we see you laying the groundwork for a variety of rewarding career options. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts who have met the credentialing requirements in accordance with the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

Graduates from our accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics and Dietetic Internship programs are currently employed at some of the area’s most well-respected healthcare facilities and organizations, including St. Luke’s Health Network, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Advantage Nutrition, Aetna, Lehigh University, and the U.S. Veterans Administration.

Preparation for Professional Advancement through 51��

Our accredited undergraduate nutrition (DPD) coursework is designed to prepare students for application to an accredited Dietetic Internship (DI), graduate school, or the job market. Students considering entrance to the profession of dietetics as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) should review the Undergraduate Nutrition/DPD details.

Program Description

The 51�� Nutrition major and DPD is an undergraduate program that is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Students may complete all DPD coursework and the bachelor’s degree in nutrition either onsite or via distance/remotely with the exception of two required residential institutes for all students. Additional information regarding the distance track and the residential institutes is provided in the updated Nutrition and DPD Student Handbook. Graduates of the nutrition program will receive a bachelor of science in nutrition, and those meeting the DPD requirements will also earn a verification statement demonstrating that they have attained the knowledge and met the competencies found in the most current ACEND Accreditation Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Didactic Programs. Verification statement eligibility requirements are detailed in the Nutrition and DPD Student Handbook.

Other important details about the distance program include the following:

The majority of DPD courses in the distance track include synchronous components (scheduled, live class meetings on specific days and at specific times). Nutrition is an evening program with all class meetings (onsite or distance) scheduled for 4 p.m. or later Eastern Time (ET).

Online course availability is based on current course offerings. Student registration outside of the standard registration period may impact the student’s ability to progress in the curriculum.

Prospective students interested in the distance track should consult Student Financial Services to determine if distance education will impact their financial aid package.

How to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Students without prior degrees: The bachelor’s degree in nutrition at Cedar Crest prepares students for the next step in becoming an RDN— a dietetic internship. After a student earns their nutrition degree with a verification statement at 51��, they may be eligible to apply to dietetic internships which provide the supervised practice experience that in addition to a Master’s degree, qualifies them for the RDN credential.

Students with prior bachelor’s degrees: The Didactic Program in Dietetics is designed to prepare students to earn their verification statement before being able to apply to their dietetic internship.

View our policy on transfer credit here.

Coursework from other institutions is evaluated based on recency, grade earned, course content, prerequisites, and alignment with the ACEND competencies to determine if it meets program requirements. Please see the Nutrition and DPD Student Handbook for details.

Process to Become a RDN through 51��

Students considering entrance to the profession of dietetics as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) through 51�� through the Dietetic Internship Pathway must complete these three components:

A bachelor’s degree* (it does not have to be in nutrition) and successful completion of academic coursework (DPD) at an ACEND-approved/accredited institution with a minimum cumulative and didactic GPA of 3.0;
Admission and successful completion of an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship Program;
A passing score on the National Registration Examination for Dietitians administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In addition to RDN credentialing, many states have regulatory laws for dietitians and nutrition practitioners. Frequently these state requirements are met through the same education and training required to become an RDN. Information on licensure statutes and information by state can be found here:

In Pennsylvania, the licensure statute is a Title Protection Act. Licensure is not required in our state to practice and is therefore voluntary. Some employers may require an RDN to apply for licensure, and the requirement for this is the RDN credential. Any student who successfully pursues the RDN credential can apply through the PA State Board of Nursing for the license.

For more information about educational pathways to become an RDN please visit

The verification statement issued through the DPD at 51�� is designed to prepare students for a career in Nutrition and Dietetics and affords students the opportunity to:

Apply to the ACEND-accredited DI at 51�� through the Preselect Process
Apply to an ACEND-accredited DI during the National DI Match (biannual)
Apply to graduate school
Sit for the Nutrition and Dietetics Technician Registered (NDTR) exam through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
Work in the field of nutrition in positions not requiring credentialing

Please note that completion of the bachelor’s degree with verification statement through 51��’s DPD may lead to, but does not guarantee, admission into a DI.

Specialty Careers in Nutrition

Qualified registered dietitian nutritionists are very much in demand in specialized areas of practice including but not limited to:

Public health
Community Nutrition
Clinical Nutrition
Behavioral Health Nutrition
Environmental Nutrition
Private Practice
Sports nutrition and corporate wellness programs
Governmental and private sector organizations

The 51�� Advantage

A college committed to health and wellness

“Health and wellness” is one of the six guiding principles of the College, as outlined in our strategic plan. This means more opportunities for you to put your nutrition knowledge into action at wellness-focused campus events.

Valuable real-world experiences

Our Allen Center for Nutrition offers outreach programs throughout the Lehigh Valley and provides students with a variety of civic engagement opportunities. As part of these programs, our experiential educational design students gain valuable experiences in community, food service, and healthcare settings with local nutrition professionals.

51�� Department of Nutrition Mission Statement

In concert with the philosophy of 51�� and the Standards of Practice of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the nutrition program is committed to developing competent dietetic professionals who serve the public through the promotion of optimal nutrition and act with integrity and respect for differences.

Mission and Goals

51�� Didactic Program in Dietetics Mission Statement

In accordance with the Mission and Values of 51��, the mission of the Cedar Crest DPD is to prepare students for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam and to develop competent entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). With a foundation in the liberal arts, our Program is committed to provide high-quality education in accordance with the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Knowledge Requirements for Dietitians with emphasis on scholarship, leadership, civic engagement, health and wellness, and global connectivity.

Program Goals and Objectives

I. The program will prepare graduates to be competent entry-level dietitians.

Outcome Measures:

a. 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%.
b. b.1. (Full-time students): At least 80% of program students complete program/degree requirements within 3.75 years (150% of the program length).
b.2. (Part-time students): At least 80% of program students complete program/degree requirements within 5.25 years (150% of the program length).
Note: This measure reflects program completion from declaration of major.
c. At least 60% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
d. Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 60% percent are admitted within 12 months of graduation.
e. Of the DPD graduates who did not apply to or were not accepted into a dietetic internship, 80% will attend graduate school or successfully pursue other career opportunities.
f. When surveyed, 80% of internship directors, graduate program directors, or employers rate CCC graduate preparation with an overall knowledge/ability of ACEND Knowledge and Skills for Didactic Programs as competent or higher.
g. When surveyed upon graduation, at least 80% of all graduates rate their overall knowledge/ability of ACEND Foundation Knowledge Requirements and Learning Outcomes as competent or higher.

II. The program will prepare graduates who demonstrate a commitment to community service and service to the profession of dietetics.

Outcome Measures:

a. Sixty-five percent of DPD graduates will report an ongoing commitment to serving their community through participation in one or more activities which would include volunteering to provide nutrition education and support to community residents, organizations, or health professionals.
b. Thirty-five percent of DPD graduates who hold the RD or DTR credential will report an ongoing commitment to serving the profession of dietetics through participation in activities which would include engagement in a professional association, attendance at professional meetings, presenting at a professional conference, or serving on a professional committee.

Program outcomes data are available upon request.

How To Apply

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Dive A Little Deeper

Additional Academic Resources

Academic Calendar

College Graduation Requirements

Tuition and Fees

Upcoming Admissions Events

Apr 22

Wed
6:00PM – 7:00PM

Adult Undergraduate & Graduate Virtual Info Session Learn More

Apr 25

Sat
10:00AM – 2:30PM

Accepted Students Day Learn More

Aug 20

Thu
All Day

August Orientation Learn More

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Cooperative Agreements

51�� collaborates with several academic institutions to provide our students with innovative pathways that help them succeed in their chosen fields.

Cedar Crest Accounting Students in the Classroom

ACEND Accreditation

The 51�� undergraduate Nutrition degree program and the Dietetic Internship Program are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. ACEND is the specialized accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as registered dietitian nutritionists. ACEND protects students and the public by assuring the quality and continued improvement of dietetics programs as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

The contact information for ACEND is:

Mail: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995 Phone: 800/877-1600 ext.5400
Email:
Website: