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Program Specific Information

Thank you for your interest in the Nutrition & Dietetics Program. The following links provide additional information about the program.

 Requirements for entry into limited enrollment courses

  • The DIT curriculum consists of “open” and “limited-enrollment” courses.  DIT “limited- enrollment” courses are those with designated directed practice and laboratory hours. 
  • Requirements for “limited-enrollment” DIT courses are as follows:  Completion of all pre-college level courses, if any, resulting from Placement Test Scores; DIT 1105, Introduction to Dietetics; DIT 1525, Human Nutrition; and cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better.
  • Due to the limited number of directed practice sites, students that meet the requirements are assigned to a cohort on a space-available basis.

Background Check Requirement

Students must participate in a state and federal background check for criminal convictions prior to attending supervised practice rotations during the fourth semester within the DIT curriculum. Additional costs will be incurred by the student to cover these expenses. Depending on the outcome of the background check, it is possible that the student will be denied access to the clinical/management environment and therefore be unable to complete the program.

Students are required to follow the college-wide student background check policy and procedure. You can find the college-wide student background check policy here.

Immunization and Vaccination Requirements

Examinations:

General physical examination by your medical doctor. Must be completed preceding your first day of starting DIT limited-enrollment courses with clinical/management rotations (2nd year-4th semester).

Immunizations: Mandatory
  • Influenza: recommend one dose of influenza vaccine annually
  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR): vaccination or positive antibody titers
  • PPD Skin Test: A two-step PPD skin test should be completed within one to two months prior to starting DIT limited-enrollment courses with clinical & management rotations. Once initiated, the two- step process is to be completed within a 14-21 day time frame A positive reaction requires documentation of physician evaluation. Please send proof, if you have already completed the initial 2-step process and currently receive annual PPD skin tests.
  • Tetanus: within the past 10 years
Immunizations: Optional
  • Hepatitis B: vaccination or positive antibody titer (Anti-HBs)
    • The first injection should be completed prior to the first day of starting DIT limited-enrollment courses with clinical rotations. The second injection is due 30 days after the first injection and the third is due five months after the second injection was completed.
    • If you have already had the three injection series, please send in proof. If the injection was 10 years ago or more, an antibody titer (Anti-HBs) needs to be completed. If any injections were significantly beyond the specified time frame, a titer is also recommended.

Student Health Insurance Coverage

Students enrolled in Sinclair health care programs are expected to have in effect personal health insurance prior to enrolling in any course which includes a clinical experience requirement. This requirement for having health insurance is in place because most clinical sites that accept Sinclair students require it. If a student does not have health insurance, he/she may not be admitted into a clinical course, and therefore, not be able to complete the program. Sinclair provides accident insurance for students injured in clinical settings. However, the insurance carrier decides what treatment is eligible for reimbursement, and any treatment denied for reimbursement is the responsibility of the student, not Sinclair or the clinical site. Information about obtaining health insurance can be found at: https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/rights/index.html or https://medicaid.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/medicaid/

Mental and/or Physical Requirements

Minimum acceptable mental and physical qualifications of a student for the profession of nutrition and dietetics include the following abilities:

  1. Ability to stand for long periods of time. Walk intermittently throughout the working day and do frequent slow- and fast-paced walking. Being able to negotiate stairs when required.
  2. Ability to reach, stoop, bend, lift, carry and manipulate various food products, dietary supplies and equipment.
  3. Ability to lift and/or carry 30-40 pounds and withstand exposure to temperature and humidity changes as in entering refrigerated storage areas, working at ovens, ranges, dish-washing machines, and at steam tables.
  4. Ability to work with chemicals and cleaning agents.
  5. Must not be physically dependent on non-prescribed drugs. Student may be required to pass drug screens at clinical sites.
  6. Perform mathematical calculations for clinical and management assessment.
  7. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, using appropriate grammar, vocabulary, and word usage.

Students entering the Dietetic Technician Program are responsible for determining their own eligibility in light of these qualifications, for informing the college of any potential problem areas and for identifying to the Dietetic Technician Program any particular accommodations they may need. Students with disabilities are encouraged to register with the Office of Disability Services and may utilize these services to determine appropriate accommodations. Students with disabilities who enter the program do so with the understanding that they will be expected to meet course requirements with any REASONABLE accommodation that may be provided by the College.

Meeting the mental and physical requirements of the Dietetic Technician Program does not guarantee that the student will meet the mental and physical requirements of the institutions that employ dietetic technicians, registered.