Nutrition and Dietetics

 Community Medical Dietetics Program

The community medical dietetics (CMD) program is currently granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 800-877-1600.

The program allows for the mastery of the foundation knowledge and skills and the practitioner competencies for entry-level dietitians, as set forth by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The curriculum customarily consists of eight semesters and one summer session; a five-year plan is available. The final two years of study, called the professional phase, coordinate classroom learning with 1200 hours of supervised practice experience in cooperating area health care facilities, including Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, Hillview Care Center, and the La Crosse County Health Department. To become eligible to write the Registration Exam for Dietitians, both classroom and supervised practice components must be complete.

Admission

Applicants with an Enhanced ACT (or equivalent) score below 20 cannot be admitted as a major. High school chemistry is a prerequisite for freshman chemistry. A working knowledge of basic math operations and high school algebra is essential. All of the following are prerequisites for eligibility to enter the professional phase of the Coordinated Program:

• completion of all freshman and sophomore level courses set forth on the Suggested Course Sequence form
• minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75
• minimum grades of B in each of the following courses, CHEM 106; NUTR 273, 340, 341; a minimum grade of BC in BIOL 305.

Students must apply to enter the professional phase during May of the spring semester (traditionally the sophomore year) which immediately precedes their anticipated entry.

The number of eligible students accepted into the coordinated phase is limited by the number of opportunities for placement in supervised practice facilities. In the event applications from eligible students outnumber placement opportunities, all eligible applicants cannot be accepted. In this situation, eligible students will be accepted according to the number of course credits previously taken at Viterbo University, e.g., a student who has taken all course work at Viterbo University since the first semester of the freshman year is given priority over the student who has transferred the freshman year of credits from another institution. If the number of previous credits taken at Viterbo University by two eligible students is very similar, the cumulative grade point average (GPA) may also be used in the admission decision.

Students receive written verification (postmarked by June 15) of their acceptance status into the professional phase of the Coordinated Program.

Students must also complete required immunizations and successfully complete a Background Information Disclosure form and a criminal history check that is in compliance with the Wisconsin Caregiver Law. Those whose criminal history check identifies bars to clinical placement or places restrictions on client contact may not be allowed to progress in the program.

Policy

To remain in the program, junior- and senior-level students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75, and a minimum grade of BC in each of the following courses, NUTR 351, 352, 370, 372, 400, 472, 476. Students who do not meet these grade requirements will be placed on academic probation within the program for a maximum of two semesters.

Dietetics Major (Bachelor of Science in Community Medical Dietetics)

• core curriculum and mission seminars – see the degree requirements section of this catalog
• dietetics requirements – NUTR 273, 340, 341, 351, 352, 355, 356, 368, 370, 371, 372, 373, 400, 401, 470, 471,472, 473, 476  
• support courses – BIOL 104, 114, 296, 305, CHEM 106 or 120, 140 or 240, MATH 130 or 230, PSYC 100 or 171,270, 424, SOCL 320 or 330  
• final degree requirements – see the degree requirements section of this catalog

The total credits of the major and support course requirements are 102-107. The core curriculum and mission seminars require 38-52 credits. A total of 128 credits, 43 of which need to be at the 300/400 level, are required to graduate. Transfer course and waivers and/or substitutions could modify these credit totals.