Bachelor of science in nutrition and dietetics
The bachelor of science degree prepares one for a career as a registered dietitian (RD). The RD is recognized as an expert in food and nutrition. Dietitians practice in schools, colleges, universities, and industrial cafeterias, and restaurants as food service administrators. They may be members of the health care team in acute care or long-term care settings or outpatient settings. Community nutrition is attractive to some RDs who seek to teach, monitor, and advise people in public or home health agencies, daycare centers, health and recreation clubs, or government-funded programs. The RD may be an educator in a school, college, university, or other educational program. Some serve as consultants and establish their own private practice for individual clients, physician groups, and/or health care facilities including food production consulting in nursing homes. Dietitians in business choose careers in industry where they may develop, market, and sell products. The scope of practice as a dietitian is limited only by the individual's creativity.
Students enter the coordinated program as a junior and upon completion of 82 quarter units of prerequisites. The prerequisites include anatomy/physiology, general chemistry, microbiology, general psychology, sociology plus one course from geography/political science or economics, the freshman English sequence, and two physical activity courses. The program consists of 8 quarters of classroom learning and supervised practice.
The student receives a verification statement of eligibility to write the Registration Examination for Dietitians upon satisfactory completion of the program.
A student with a bachelor of science degree in a field related to nutrition and dietetics may choose to earn a certificate in nutrition and dietetics. The certificate program will be individualized based on the student's transcript and work experience. This student also receives a verification statement upon satisfactory completion of the program, which allows the student to write the Registration Examination for Dietitians.
See also, School of Allied Health Professions Bulletin information.