Assessment of Prior Learning
Some applicants may enter the Graduate Program (GP) in Applied Nutrition and Dietetics with prior education and experience. We especially welcome those with other educational, work, or global experiences and see great value in it!
While we acknowledge the value of prior education, we are also committed to ensuring a fair and comprehensive learning experience for all our students. As such, our accrediting body (ACEND) requires us to assess students actively on a number of learning competencies, which means that prior education cannot exempt students from courses or learning activities.
Here are some commonly asked questions about prior learning and experience:
While students will never be able to waive a course in our program, regardless of prior learning or experience, the GP does participate in the Assessment of Prior Learning (APL) for admitted students.
APL allows GP students to replace up to 280 hours (4 weeks) towards their supervised experiential learning (SEL) hours and assignments and to complete these hours in an alternate setting in consultation with their GP faculty advisor. For example, a student may spend these "converted" hours toward a special emphasis rotation, research, or other agreed-upon supervised practice area.
If an APL is granted, students are expected to complete the same number of SEL hours and units from coursework. However, the student will be excused from having to complete specific assignments expected of certain SEL rotations or classes, or, may have opportunity to subtract hours at one SEL site for an equally added number of hours at another.
When is the Assessment of Prior Learning done?
Those who wish to apply for APL consideration can do so after admission to the program. All applications are due by January 10th, before the start of the spring semester. Credit is granted based on what was learned and applied during the experience rather than solely on the number of hours worked. All applications are reviewed, and approvals are granted on a case-by-case basis.
Who is eligible?
To be considered, students must meet all of the following criteria:
- Worked a minimum of 1,000 hours
- Work experience must have been accrued under the supervision of a professional qualified to work in the field
- The work setting must have revolved around a clinical, public health, food service, or community setting
- The work experience must have been accrued within the previous five years
Examples of potential jobs that could qualify for APL include:
- Public health/WIC nutritionist
- Foodservice directors or manager
- Dietetic Technician, Registered (NDTR) or other clinical role
Does past course credit count as for APL?
No. All previous coursework or experiences required by a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) are excluded from consideration for PAL credit.
No. To be eligible to sit for the RDN exam, you must complete an ACEND-accredited future model Graduate Program (GP) or Dietetic Internship (DI), both of which provide 1,000 hours of supervised practice.
No. Each course measures competencies that must be assessed across the curriculum. Completing our GP is more than completing a graduate degree; it is also the demonstration of ongoing knowledge and practice skills. Since supervised learning hours and experiences are integrated into the courses through the whole program, skipping or waiving courses is not allowed.
Unfortunately, no. Completing a GP is more than completing a degree; it requires demonstrating knowledge and practice skills. Each course measures competencies that must be assessed across the curriculum and documented for each student on a 9-point competency scale, often at multiple time points and in multiple ways. Since our program is designed for career changers, we must provide all the essential core coursework throughout the program so that everyone is on the same foundation and will be ready to tackle that RDN exam with confidence.
Some students may enter our program already at entry-level or even advanced competency in certain areas. That is great! Others will be at different levels, and our cohort-focused model of learning is specifically designed to foster a collaborative environment, encouraging students to work together to grow in their competency in every area of learning.
Is it possible some of the curriculum might be a refresher? Yes! However, the focus of our program will be RDN exam readiness, which may look different than some of the learning done at the Bachelor's degree level. If you are concerned that there will be too much overlap or that you might not be challenged if you have already completed a DPD, you may wish to explore a more specialized MS/DI that offers a dive into topics that you haven't studied yet.
