Bachelor of Science in Dietetics

Catalog Year 2025-2028

Based on VCCS Curriculum for Public Health

Transfer Guidance

Guaranteed Admission Agreement Requirements

• Students must complete an approved transferable associate degree from their Virginia community college with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for guaranteed admission to JMU. Students who do not qualify for guaranteed admission are encouraged to apply to JMU through the regular admission process. For additional details about requirements for guaranteed admission, please see the JMU letter of intent for your community college: www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/transfer-gaa.shtml.

• Students must apply to the Dietetics program by February 15th or within the session prior to enrollment at JMU.

• Students must complete Dietetics prerequisite courses with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.7 and minimum grade of "C-" in each prerequisite course (BIO 270, BIO 270L, CHEM 131, CHEM 131L, CHEM 132, CHEM 132L, HTH 210, NUTR 280, NUTR 295) or equivalents prior to starting the program at JMU. Note NUTR 295 may be taken by students in their first semester at JMU.

Important Links & Dates

• University Transfer Center: www.jmu.edu/transfer

• Register Intent to Transfer: Transfer applicants from a VCCS institution intending to apply through the Guaranteed Admission Agreement (GAA) must review requirements and submit a Letter of Intent prior to applying: www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/transfer-GAA.shtml

• Admission Application: By March 1 for Fall or October 15 for Spring at www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/apply-online.shtml

• Financial Aid: www.jmu.edu/financialaid

• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid: Deadline is March 1. Learn more at studentaid.gov.

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year. For help, see Transfer Steps and Resource Center at www.TransferVirginia.org.

• Connect with an advisor at your community college and schedule an appointment with a JMU Next transfer advisor in your first semester or first year.

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• This degree includes extensive experiential learning including community service learning, clinical skills practice, and food production. Students pursuing the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential are prepared with the degree for graduate education.

What Is The Impact On My Degree Of Work I Have Already Completed?

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: An approved transferable associate degree from a Virginia Community College will waive general education requirements at JMU. The list of approved transferable associate degrees can be found at www.jmu.edu/transfer/vccs-transfer/asdegrees.shtml.

• Dual Enrollment – Completion of Associate Degree in HS: Students who complete a transferable associate degree from a Virginia Community College through Dual Enrollment (DE) will not be eligible for guaranteed admission but will receive the general education waiver at JMU. DE associate degree earners who want to make progress toward their intended major should follow the curriculum in this guide.

• Credit for Prior Learning: Credit for prior learning may be awarded differently at JMU than at your previous institution. JMU accepts and reviews AP, IB CIE, and CLEP examinations for all students with eligible scores. JMU will complete an independent review of the test score to apply credit to your JMU student record. Other credit for prior learning is awarded on a per case basis for the ADP and RN-BSN programs in consultation with the department of expertise. Credit for learning acquired in military service is awarded by the registrar's office using the ACE guide credit recommendation for study/experience listed on the military transcript and in consultation with the department of expertise.

• Catalog Year: Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance at JMU.

Is This College Right For Me?

• JMU is a mid to large size institution that behaves more like a smaller institution. Faculty and staff hold students as the top priority. JMU has a 96% satisfaction rate. 88% of classes have fewer than 50 students. JMU is the #1 most recommended public university in the US by the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education; JMU is the #1 Best College for Employment in Virginia according to U.S. Department of Education statistics compiled by Zippia. JMU has the highest post-graduation job levels of all Virginia colleges. Learn more about our college at www.jmu.edu and www.TransferVirginia.org.

Did You Know That…

• There is no limit to the number of credits you can transfer to JMU, but at least 50% of the credits required for graduation in your major must be taken at a 4-year college or university, and at least 25% must be taken at JMU. (Most JMU majors require 120 credits, so 60 must come from a 4-year and 30 must be taken at JMU.)

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree.

• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at JMU.

• Students who may be eligible for Virginia's Two-Year College Transfer Grant should transfer in the fall or spring immediately following the completion of their associate degree. Learn more about the state transfer grant here: https://www.schev.edu/financial-aid/financial-aid/federal-state-financia...

What Can I Do With This Degree?

• The Dietetics BS degree prepares students for careers in food, nutrition, and dietetics. Graduates pursue jobs in health communications, public health, wellness programming, and food service, among others. The program is especially designed to support students pursuing graduate school to become a Registered Dietitian or other health profession, like physician assistants and athletic training. Explore potential careers, salary ranges, and job outlooks at www.TransferVirginia.org.

Program Successes & Highlights

• Over 90% of Dietetics majors secure employment or admission to a graduate health professions program during their final semester. Recent graduates have attended graduate programs and/or supervised practice at Boston University, James Madison University, Michigan State University, Meredith College, UNC Chapel Hill, Virginia Tech, VCUHealth, University of Virginia, and University of Florida. Based on a recent survey of alumni, all agreed or strongly agreed that they were well-prepared for their post-graduate programs.

What Are My Chances For Getting Accepted?

• Generally, two-thirds of transfer applicants are admitted to JMU. Competitive applicants will have mostly As & Bs and have completed at least one class in each of our four core areas (English, mathematics, lab science, and social science).

• JMU defines a transfer student as a student that has graduated from high school (or holds a GED equivalency) AND has taken courses in college after high school graduation.

• Learn more about applying at https://www.jmu.edu/transfer/ or www.TransferVirginia.org.

Do More With Your Degree!

• Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietetic Technicians to be credentialed as a Nutrition and Dietetic Technician, Registered. Students also earn a verification statement based on the program's accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. The verification statement allows for eligibility to apply to post-graduate dietetic internships for those pursuing the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential.

Other Than Classes, Are There Other Program Requirements?

• Once admitted to the Dietetics program, students are required to earn at least a C- in all NUTR and HTH courses and maintain a minimum major GPA of 2.8.