Important Message for Prospective Students and Graduates:
Fontbonne University will be permanently closing after August 2025. Therefore, the coordinated program in nutrition and dietetics (CP) will no longer be accepting additional students.
If you are a program graduate and need a copy of your verification statement before closing, you may contact the program director, Dena French at dfrench@fontbonne.edu. After August 2025, please contact the Office of the Registrar at Saint Louis University to obtain a copy. Please visit this link for the contact information: https://www.slu.edu/registrar/contact-us.php
Are you passionate about health and nutrition? Does helping others achieve their health and nutrition related goals excite you? If so, the coordinated program in nutrition and dietetics (CP) with a master of arts in health advancement and promotion may be a perfect fit. Whether you are a first-time college student, transfer student, or already have a degree, our program has a pathway for you to complete the requirements to qualify for credentialing as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) through one seamless program.
DPD graduates can join us to complete graduate coursework and supervised practice and finish the program in just 5 semesters (includes summers). Please see the information below specific to the DPD graduates for more information.
We now have a direct graduate admission pathway for second degree students who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree in a closely related nutrition area. Please see more information on the Freshmen, Transfer, and Second–Degree Students page.
The Fontbonne University Coordinated Program in Nutrition and Dietetics is currently granted accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
ACEND can be contacted at:
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 800-877-1600, ext. 5400
Email: ACEND@eatright.org
The requirements to become credentialed as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) involve the following steps:
The coordinated program in nutrition and dietetics at Fontbonne University prepares graduates as registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) through one seamless program. Beginning on January 1, 2024 all candidates will be required to hold a graduate degree in order to be eligible to sit for the credentialing examination for RDNs.
RDNs work in various settings including hospitals and other health-care facilities, community/public health programs, nonprofits, food and nutrition-related business and industries, and research. You can learn more about credentialing and career possibilities here.
*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 program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited CP program at Fontbonne University are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.
In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. Professional licensure for dietitians varies by state.
For more information about state licensure requirements click here.
Licensure information for Missouri can be found here.
It is ACEND’s considered opinion that the program is designed to and does meet all state dietetics licensure and certification laws as some states may interpret their statutes differently.
To graduate from the coordinated program at Fontbonne University, students must complete all required course work for the Bachelor of Science (if applicable) and Master of Arts, as well as a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised practice.
To graduate, each student must also demonstrate achievement of each of the ACEND defined competencies for entry-level dietitian nutritionists (CDRNs).
Upon completion of all the above requirements, graduates will receive a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics (if applicable), a Master of Arts in health advancement and promotion, and a CP verification statement making them eligible to sit for the credentialing examination for registered dietitian nutritionists.
To learn more about our program, policies, and procedures you can review the current version of our Student Handbook.
For more information on the coordinated program, please contact Dena French, program director, at dfrench@fontbonne.edu or fill out this interest form and we will get in touch with you!
Join us for our upcoming virtual Open House & Information Sharing session Thursday January 11th 10 – 11am CST Register here
This session will be recorded so please feel free to RSVP even if unable to attend live to receive the recording & info afterward.
