Program Options
The only difference between the program options is where the supervised practice experience (SPE) will take place. All coursework for the program will be completed online regardless of the location of the SPE.
University-designed SPE
All rotations for the SPE are completed in Vermont and scheduled by the Program Director. Students completing the university-designed SPE are not required to locate or arrange their preceptors or rotations.
To participate in the university-designed SPE option, students must reside within the state of Vermont for the duration of their SPE. There will be up to 6 seats available annually for university-designed SPE students.
Self-designed SPE
Students applying to the self-designed SPE option will be required to locate and schedule their preceptors and rotation sites for their SPE. These rotation sites can be anywhere in the United States, so long as they comply with the criteria outlined in the application materials. Students are encouraged, but note required, to have their entire SPE arranged prior to submitting the program application. In lieu of a complete SPE schedule students can submit a statement outlining their plans for identifying and securing placements.
Students residing in, or close to, Vermont may still apply for the self-desiged SPE option but should not expect to complete rotations with preceptors at locations already serving the Vermont-based program. The number of seats in the self-desiged SPE option is variable, with a minimum of 4 seats available per year. Total number of self-desiged SPE seats depends on the number of students accepted into the university-designed SPE program option. The program accepts up to 10 students total per cohort.
Note: 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 order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023.
For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Coordinated Graduate Program in Dietetics at the University of Vermont are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.