Verification Statement

The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) verification statement verifies completion of educational requirements and is required for application to: accredited dietetic internship/graduate programs, active membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and state licensure/certification.

All students who graduate from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics or concurrent Bachelor of Science/Master of Science degrees in diet and exercise receive a verification statement. Non-degree seeking students who desire a verification statement must notify the DPD Director of planned DPD completion date and provide official transcripts for review.

To receive a verification statement for completion of requirements through the Didactic Program, a student must have done both of the following:

  • Taken a minimum of 15 credits at the 3000 or above level to include FSHN 4610 and 4640 (Medical Nutrition and Disease I and II) and FSHN 4660 (Nutrition Counseling and Education Methods) through Iowa State University.
  • Earned academic credit for coursework listed on the Completion Checklist of DPD Courses shown below.

Fee. There is a $30.00 fee for a statement of verification of completion of the DPD. This fee is applied to the university bill during the academic term of program completion.

International Students

International students must complete a degree from an American regionally accredited university or present documentation of the equivalence of their foreign degree(s).

To receive a verification statement for completion of requirements through the Didactic Program, a student must have done the following:

  • Taken a minimum of 15 credits at the 3000 or above level to include FSHN 4610 and 4640 (Medical Nutrition and Disease I and II) and FSHN 4660 (Nutrition Counseling and Education Methods) through Iowa State University.
  •  Completed the equivalent course to FSHN 4630 (Community Nutrition) through an approved/accredited U.S. or Canadian program.
  • Earned academic credit for coursework listed on the Completion Checklist of DPD Courses shown below.

Fee. There is a $30.00 fee for a statement of verification of completion of the DPD. This fee is applied to the university bill during the academic term of program completion.

Individuals with foreign degrees are encouraged to view the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website for additional information about becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

Completion Checklist of DPD Courses

Course Number Course Title
FSHN 2140 Scientific Study of Food
FSHN 1150 or 2150 Food Preparation Laboratory or Advanced Food Preparation Laboratory
FSHN 3400 Foundations of Dietetic Practice
FSHN 3600 Advanced Nutrition and the Regulation of Metabolism in Health and Disease
FSHN 3610 Nutrition and Health Assessment
FSHN 3620 Nutrition and Health Throughout the Lifecycle
FSHN 3670 Medical Terminology for Health Professionals
FSHN 3920 Food and Nutrition Services Management
FSHN 4110 Food Ingredient Interactions and Formulations
FSHN 4300 U.S. Health Systems and Policy
FSHN 4610 or NUTRS 5610 Medical Nutrition and Disease I
FSHN 4630 or NUTRS 5630 Community Nutrition and Health
FSHN 4640 or NUTRS 5640 Medical Nutrition and Disease II
FSHN 4660 Nutrition Counseling and Education Methods
HSPM 1330 Food Safety Certification
HSPM 3800 Food Production Management
HSPM 3800L Food Production Management Experience
BBMB 3010 or 3160 Survey of Biochemistry or Principles of Biochemistry
CHEM 2310 or 3310 Elementary Organic Chemistry or Organic Chemistry I
MICRO 2010 or 3020 Introduction to Microbiology or Biology of Microorganisms
PSYCH 1010 Introduction to Psychology
SPCM 2120 Fundamentals of Public Speaking
STAT 1010 or 1040 Principles of Statistics or Introduction to Statistics
BIOL 2550 Fundamentals of Human Anatomy
BIOL 2560 or 3350 Fundamentals of Human Physiology or Principles of Human and Other Animal Physiology

This checklist is provided for advising purposes, updated 2024. The DPD Director reviews academic coursework and issues a verification statement from Iowa State University when the student has completed the academic requirements.