Grand Valley State University's Bachelor of Science in Applied Food and Nutrition (AFN) program is an innovative Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) incorporating elements of competency-based education. The bachelor’s program is part of Grand Valley's School of Interdisciplinary Health, which sits within the College of Health Professions.

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Mission & Goals

Becoming an RDN

Admissions Criteria

Curriculum

Cost: Tuition & Fees

Information Dashboard for Prospective & Current Students

FAQs

Why Study Applied Food and Nutrition at Grand Valley?

• Accredited. The Applied Food and Nutrition Program at Grand Valley State University has been granted candidacy accreditation status as a Didactic Program in Dietetics by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
• Experiential Learning. Hands-on work in state-of-the-art facilities, including simulation laboratories, culinary laboratories, and the GVSU Sustainable Agriculture Project farm.  
• In-Demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates employment opportunities are expected to increase by 15% by 2026.
• Future-focused. The Applied Food and Nutrition program incorporates practicum courses, which provide students with opportunities to make connections in the field and demonstrate competence in real-world settings during their undergraduate years. These experiences prepare AFN graduates to succeed in future supervised practice and graduate work.

Source: EMSI, 2021

Admissions Timeline

Priority Admissions Deadline: February 15 – Applications will continue to be accepted until the program fills for Fall semester  
Notifications of admission are continuous until all seats are filled.

Successful applicants will be asked to set up an advising appointment with a faculty member upon notification of admission.

Visit the College of Health Professions Student Services Office website for more information on applying to this program.

Applied Food & Nutrition Admission and 4-Year Curriculum Guide

AFN Admissions/Application Requirements

Academic Advising for AFN

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Policy for Prior Learning and Experience Credit

Degree and Program Completion Requirements

The program will award a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Food and Nutrition to individuals who enter with an associate’s degree or less and complete the requirements of the degree, including a minimum of 120 credits, with 58 of those credits being from a senior-level institution and the final 30 of the 120 credits completed at GVSU, per university policy. Additionally, for students with transfer credit, at least 12 credits of coursework from the School of Interdisciplinary Health must be completed.
Please also see the Academic Catalog for degree and program completion requirements at: https://www.gvsu.edu/catalog/program/bachelor-of-science-in-applied-food-and-nutrition-2.htm

Requirements for the issuance of the DPD verification statement

Students with a prior Bachelor’s degree or higher must have completed the required courses of the DPD professional program as well as prerequisite requirements for those courses to receive a verification statement. These courses total the 78 credits of AFN program courses required for a verification statement. A verification statement may only be awarded to students who have completed the B.S. in Applied Food and Nutrition degree OR another B.S. or B.A. degree and the 78 required credits of the AFN major or equivalent transfer credits. In addition, students must complete an identified assessment of each knowledge requirement (KRDN) with at least a 70% to successfully complete the DPD program and receive a verification statement. Required KRDN assessments are identified in the syllabi of courses containing them throughout the program and by request from the program director.

Related Programs:

Graduate Program: Master of Science in Clinical Dietetics

Combined Degree Program: Applied Food & Nutrition B.S. + Clinical Dietetics M.S.