Dietetic Technician, A.A.S. (A45310)

Admission Information

Students applying for admission to the Gaston College Dietetic Technician program MUST meet the following requirements for GENERAL ADMISSION to the college:

1. Submit to the Admissions Office a completed Application for Admission.
2. Request that your high school mail an official high school transcript to the Admissions Office at Gaston College, 201 Highway 321 South, Dallas, NC 28034-1499. The documentation listed below can be submitted in the place of a traditional high school transcript.
   
   1. Official Adult High School Transcript
   2. Official copies of GED scores
   3. Official transcript from International Correspondence School
   4. Official transcript from Home School
   5. Official transcript from a regionally accredited college or university reflecting an Associate Degree or higher.
3. Request that all colleges from where credit was received submit official transcripts.
4. Schedule and take the placement test. Students who scored 500 or higher on the Verbal or Critical Reading portion of the SAT are not required to take the Writing and Reading portions of the placement test. Students who scored 500 or higher on the Mathematics portion on the SAT are not required to take the Mathematics portion of the placement test. Official test score results must be no more than 5 years old and they must be received and evaluated by the Office of Admissions.
   Students who score a 18 or higher on the English portion of the ACT will be exempted from the Writing portion of the college’s placement test. Students who score 21 or higher on the Reading portion of the ACT will be exempted from the Reading portion of the college’s placement test. Students who score a 22 or higher on the Mathematics portion of the ACT will be exempted from the Math portion of the college’s placement test. Official test score results must be no more than 5 years old and they must be received and evaluated by the Office of Admissions.
5. Attend a New Student Orientation or complete an on-line New Student Orientation. 
   
   NOTE: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a Gaston College Application for Admission at least six weeks prior to enrolling to ensure that their information is processed. Though applicants may enroll for one semester without submitting transcripts and test scores, this information facilitates advising and smooth registration. Applicants must all meet all admission requirements before enrolling for the second semester. Applicants who decide to enroll during a later semester are responsible for contacting the Admissions Office to ensure their start semester is updated.
6. International students must meet all admission requirements listed under General Admission Requirements. Proof of English proficiency is required. This may be established by making a minimum score of 540 (207 on the computer) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Supervised practice activities must be completed in the United States.
7. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Additional Requirements

To be Eligible to Submit an Application to the Dietetic Technician Program:

1. Prior to entering the Dietetic Technician Program, you should complete coursework up to MAT 070 , RED 090  and ENG 090 .
2. Applicants should be aware that travel in “out-of-service” areas may be required for clinical fieldwork.
3. Must have an overall grade point average of 2.0 or better in required college courses.
4. Must have grades of “C” or better in all related courses.
5. Must have completed the required Biology and Chemistry courses within 10 years from the date of application to the program.
6. Criminal Background Checks, Fingerprinting, and Annual Drug Screening. In order to comply with current Student Facility Affiliation Agreements students admitted into the Dietetic Technician Program will be required to complete successful Criminal Background checks, Fingerprinting, and Drug Screens according to Gaston College procedures before being placed in a clinical facility. The facility reserves the right to deny the student access to the facility. If the student is denied access, the student will not be allowed to complete the program. Completion of clinical experience is required for the satisfactory completion of the program. More information will be provided upon conditional acceptance into the program.
7. CPR Certification. The student must be currently certified in infant, child and adult CPR from the American Heart Association, the Red Cross or you may go on line to www.CPRTODAY.com. You must submit a copy of the CPR certification card prior to beginning the program.
8. A completed North Carolina Community College Student Medical Form documenting satisfactory emotional and physical health is required before entrance into the program by date to be announced by the Dietetic Technician Department Chairperson.
9. Additional Criteria: Students may be required to submit documentation of additional nonacademic criteria such as, but not limited to, Criminal Background Checks. More information will be available upon conditional acceptance to the program.

ALL ABOVE INFORMATION MUST BE PROVIDED AND APPROVED PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT IN THE PROGRAM.

The following criteria will be utilized by the Admissions Committee in the selection process of recommending applicants for admission to the Dietetic Technician program:

1. The number of related courses completed by end of the fall semester prior to making application.
2. Grade Point Average (GPA) in related courses.

Health Requirements

1. Physical health is defined as being free of disabling or contagious disease, being able to perform fine and gross motor skills, and being able to perform normal weight-bearing activities.
2. A completed health form documenting satisfactory emotional and physical health is required before entrance into the program. Date required will be announced by the Dietetic Technician Department Chairperson.

Immunization Requirements

ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE THE RESULTS OF A TUBERCULIN SKIN TEST DONE WITHIN ONE YEAR PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT IN THE GASTON COLLEGE DIETETIC TECHNICIAN PROGRAM. AN UP-TO-DATE TUBERCULIN TEST IS REQUIRED FOR EACH ADDITIONAL YEAR OF PROGRAM ENROLLMENT.

1. STUDENTS 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, BORN IN 1957 OR LATER.
   REQUIRED:
   • 3 DTP or Td doses
   • 1 MEASLES (Rubeola) dose, on or after 15 months of age.*
   • 1 RUBELLA dose on or after 15 months of age.**
   • 1 MUMPS dose on or after 15 months of age.
   • 1 Td dose within the last 10 years.
   • 1 MEASLES, MUMPS, RUBELLA (MMR) booster dose in 1980 or later.
2. STUDENTS BORN PRIOR TO 1957.
   REQUIRED:
   • 3 DTP or Td doses
   • 1 RUBELLA dose. **
   • 1 Td dose within the last 10 years.
3. STUDENTS OVER 50 YEARS OF AGE.
   REQUIRED:
   • 3 DTP or Td doses.
   • 1 Td dose within the last 10 years.
4. Varicella immunization or Varcilla Titer test required. 

* History of physician diagnosed measles is acceptable.

** ONLY laboratory proof of immunity to rubella is acceptable (Rubella titer). Rubella is not required if 50 years or older.

5. The Hepatitis B Vaccine (recommended immunization) must be completed (series of three (3) injections) by the end of the spring semester, freshman year.

Note:

Those students who do not pursue immunization for Hepatitis B will required to sign a waiver releasing Gaston College and the Dietetic Technician Program of any responsibility for the possibility of their contracting Hepatitis B.

2. Emotional health is defined as reacting appropriately to stressful situations, withstanding everyday environmental stresses with little difficulty, using healthy coping mechanisms, and understanding one’s own ability to cope with stressful situations.
   
   Assessment of emotional health of applicants is made through the use of physical examinations, references, letters from psychiatrists or therapists if intensive therapy is in progress or has occurred, and psychological evaluations, if necessary.

First Semester

• DET 110 Dietetic Technician I (8 Credit Hours)
• BIO 163 Basic Anat & Physiology (5 Credit Hours)
• ENG 111 Expository Writing (3 Credit Hours)
• PSY 150 General Psychology (3 Credit Hours)

Total Credit Hours: 19

Second Semester

• DET 120 Dietetic Technician III (9 Credit Hours)
• CHM 130 Gen, Org, & Biochemistry (3 Credit Hours)
• CHM 130A Gen, Org, & Biochem Lab (1 Credit Hour)
• DET 115 Dietetic Technician II (2 Credit Hours)
• MAT 110 or Higher (3 Credit Hours)

Total Credit Hours: 18

Third Semester

• DET 210 Dietetic Technician IV (9 Credit Hours)
• BIO 275 Microbiology (4 Credit Hours)
• PSY 241 Developmental Psych (3 Credit Hours)
• ENG 114 Prof Research & Reporting (3 Credit Hours)

Total Credit Hours: 19

Fourth Semester

• DET 220 Dietetic Technician V (10 Credit Hours)
• COE 111 Co-op Work Experience I (1 Credit Hour)
• DET 225 Dietetic Technician VI (2 Credit Hours)
• Humanities (3 Credit Hours)

Total Credit Hours: 16

Total Semester Hour Credits: 72