Human Nutrition & Food

A degree in dietetics prepares students for a variety of careers including those in health promotion and disease prevention and for careers in the food service industry. With a focus on health and wellness, students are ideally suited to promote healthy lifestyles and behavior modification. Specific career options include health promotion specialists, wellness directors, and physical activity, exercise, and fitness leaders. Another emphasis of this degree relates to the operational issues of food service management and allows students to gain experience and knowledge related to food preparation and leadership necessary to further careers in the hospitality industry. Specific employment opportunities include those in restaurant industry, in food distribution, and in food service facilities.

Housed within the dietetics degree is the ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). This program provides a strong science foundation and the opportunity to complete a DPD verification statement. A DPD verification statement is necessary to qualify and apply for a dietetic internship. While not all dietetic students will select to be part of the DPD verification statement program, students are strongly encouraged to consider this opportunity. Graduates completing the steps to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are in high demand. Employment opportunities include positions in clinical dietetics (hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient facilities), community and public health nutrition (WIC and extension positions), food service management, food industry, nutrition communication/journalism, corporate wellness programs, marketing, and supermarkets. Other career options include positions in sports nutrition, research and education, government, and private practice. Students interested in becoming RDNs must apply for and complete an internship after completing their undergraduate degree; this undergraduate program does not include an internship experience.