FCS

Dietetics

The undergraduate program leads to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree and is accredited by the American Dietetic Association. The Dietetics Program meets the American Dietetic Association's Standards of Education and graduates are eligible to apply for an accredited internship. Students must complete the internship and pass the registration examination for dietitians in order to qualify for certification as Registered Dietitians (R.D.). Students apply for admission to internships during the last semester of their senior year. Appointment to internships is competitive. Students are selected on the basis of a variety of criteria including grade point average (GPA), work experience, and recommendation letters. Most internships require that applicants have a GPA of at least 2.8. Successful applicants from this program have had an average GPA of 3.3.

After registration, the dietitian is eligible for positions in hospitals, such as those of clinical dietitian or food service administrator; for positions in commercial food establishments, such as restaurants, hotels, industrial facilities, schools, colleges and universities, and the armed forces; and for positions in community health agencies and WIC programs. There are also job opportunities available in sports nutrition, consulting, research, and private practice.

The graduate degree is intended for students with undergraduate backgrounds in dietetics, home economics, human ecology, or other areas that are related to the science of nutrition. Students take courses in dietetics, education, sociology, psychology, and other social science fields, as well as basic sciences. Field-based experiences allow students to gain practical training in local applied settings and to become acquainted with dietetics-related employers and employment opportunities.