Department of Nutrition 
           Didactic Program in Dietetics     
                      (DPD) Handbook 
                          2020 – 2021 
                          Texas A&M University 
                  College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 
                         Department of Nutrition 
                          http://nutrition.tamu.edu 
     Didactic Program in Dietetics Director       Program Coordinator 
      Karen Beathard, MS, RDN, LD, FAND            Tami Overby, MBA 
           kbeathard@tamu.edu                      toverby@tamu.edu 
                                2253 TAMU  
                             Cater-Mattil Building 
                              College Station, TX 
                                979-845-2142
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      Contents 
      USE OF THIS HANDBOOK                                                                                      5 
      WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY DPD PROGRAM?                                         5 
      BENEFICIAL WEBSITES                                                                                       6 
      TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY DPD PHILOSOPHY AND MISSION                                                           7 
      DPD PROGRAM GOALS AND MEASURABLE OUTCOMES                                                                 7 
      ACEND ACCREDITATION COMPLAINT PROCEDURE & CONTACT INFORMATION                                             9 
      ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE DIDACTIC PROGRAM IN DIETETICS (DPD) PROGRAM *          10 
      DPD PROGRAM POLICIES AND PROCEDURES                                                                      12 
           Texas A&M University and DPD Student Policies and Procedures                                        12 
           Tuition and Fees (For the DPD Program)                                                              12 
           DPD Program Participation Policies                                                                  12 
           Probation and Dismissal from the DPD Program                                                        13 
           DPD Transfer Course and Experiential Learning Equivalency Policies                                  14 
           Program Completion Requirements                                                                     14 
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           Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Program Schedule by Semester                                    15 
           DPD Courses by Catalog                                                                              16 
      OPPORTUNITIES FOR DPD GRADUATES                                                                          17 
           Becoming A Nutrition Dietetic Technician, Registered (NDTR)                                         17 
           NDTR Career Opportunities                                                                           17 
           Becoming A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)                                                  18 
           RDN Career Opportunities                                                                            18 
      PREPARING EARLY TO MATCH A SUPERVISED PRACTICE PROGRAMS                                                  20 
           Purpose of ACEND Accredited DI Programs                                                             20 
           2019-2020 DI Match Outcomes of Texas A&M DPD Students Based on GPR                                  20 
           Preparing to be the Most Qualified Applicant                                                        21 
           Start early                                                                                         21 
           Academic performance                                                                                21 
           Employment Experience                                                                               21 
           Undergraduate Research Experience                                                                   22 
           Volunteer Experience                                                                                22 
           Internship Experience (Note: These experiences do not replace the ACEND-accredited DI)              23 
           Organizational Involvement Experience*                                                              24 
           Letters of Recommendation                                                                           25 
           E-Portfolios                                                                                        25 
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            Linked In                                                                                                      25 
            Professional Skills                                                                                            26 
            Advisement Timeline for Success in Competing for a DI Match                                                    27 
            Freshman                                                                                                       27 
            Sophomore                                                                                                      28 
            Junior                                                                                                         29 
            Senior                                                                                                         30 
            Post-Baccalaureate Students Completing DPD Coursework 
                                                                                                                             31 
      CRITERIA TO CONSIDER IN DI PROGRAM SELECTION                                                                         32 
            DI Program Types                                                                                               32 
            Program Emphasis                                                                                               32 
            A Day in the Life of A Dietetic Intern                                                                         33 
            Financial Constraints/Costs                                                                                    33 
            Considerations to Help Narrow Programs of Your Interest                                                        34 
      RESOURCES TO ASSIST IN RESEARCHING DI PROGRAMS                                                                       34 
            Specific DI Program Websites                                                                                   34 
            Texas A&M University DPD E-campus Website                                                                      34 
            Texas A&M University Linked In                                                                                 34 
            Texas A&M University DI Preparation Workshop and Fair                                                          34 
            Applicant Guide to Supervised Practice Experience                                                              35 
            DI Program information on the ACEND website (http://www.eatright.org/acend)                                    35 
            Open Houses or Site Visits                                                                                     35 
            Current and/or Former Interns                                                                                  35 
            The Academy Annual DI Fair                                                                                     35 
      CONSIDERATIONS IN DECIDING THE NUMBER OF DI APPLICATIONS TO COMPLETE                                                 35 
            Risk Associated with Applying to Too Few or Too Many Programs                                                  35 
            Competitiveness of the DI Program                                                                              36 
            Qualifications as a Candidate (GPR, experience, etc.)                                                          36 
            Financial Requirements                                                                                         36 
            The GRE® General Test Information                                                                              36 
      APPLYING TO THE DI MATCH                                                                                             38 
            Preparing the DI Program Application Using the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS)      38 
            Transcripts                                                                                                    39 
            Personal Statement (Letter of Application)                                                                     39 
            Resume                                                                                                         40 
            Letters of Recommendation                                                                                      40 
            Declaration of Intent/Verification Statements                                                                  41 
                                                                                                                            3 
             Supplemental Application Forms                                                                                      41 
             Computer Matching Procedures                                                                                        42 
             DI Match Application Timelines                                                                                      43 
             DI Match Application Checklist (Prior to the Match)                                                                 44 
             Sophomores / Juniors                                                                                                44 
             Academic Year Student is Actually applying to a DI Program - DPD Senior and Post-Baccalaureate Students             44 
       DI INTERVIEW PREPARATION                                                                                                  45 
       NOTIFICATION AND APPOINTMENT OF DI MATCH                                                                                  46 
             Failure to Match in First Round Match                                                                               46 
             Second Round Match                                                                                                  46 
             Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways (ISPPs)                                                                 47 
             Failed to Match - Become a Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR)                                    47 
             Seek Experience and Reapply in the Future                                                                           47 
             Post DI Match Application Checklist (After the Match) For Students Who Matched a DI                                 48 
             Post DI Match Application Checklist (After the Match) For Students Who Did Not Match a DI                           48 
       FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS                                                                                            49 
             Financial Aid                                                                                                       49 
             Scholarships                                                                                                        49 
       PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT                                                                            49 
       ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED REFERENCE                                                                                          49 
       APPENDIX                                                                                                                  50 
             DPD Program Nutrition Course Descriptions                                                                           51 
             DPD Program Post-Baccalaureate Course Substitutions                                                                 53 
             DICAS DPD Course List (Required Supplemental Form)                                                                  54 
             Dietetic Internship (DI) Intent to Apply Form                                                                       55 
             DI Reference Form                                                                                                   56 
             Sample Page from the Applicant Guide to Supervised Practice Experience – Texas A&M University DI Program  58 
             Sample Page from the Applicant Guide to Supervised Practice Experience - University of Houston DI Program           60 
             ACEND’s List of Dietetic Internship Programs from Website – Sample Pages                                            62 
             Letter of Recommendation Request Form                                                                               65 
             Request for a Declaration of Intent                                                                                 67 
             Request for a Verification Statement                                                                                69 
             E-Portfolio Guidelines                                                                                              71 
             Sample Resume I                                                                                                     73 
             Sample Resume II                                                                                                    75 
             Texas A&M DPD Off-Campus Labs or Observational Experience Policy                                                    77 
             Code of Ethics for the Nutrition and Dietetic Profession                                                            79 
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