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• Dietetics

  The profession of applying the science of nutrition to the care and feeding of individuals and groups
• Education is the key to dietetic practice and to the future of the profession
• A specialized body of knowledge is required of individuals who practice in any area of dietetics
• Early leaders in dietetics set standards for the education of dietitians, which have been revised as the practice evolved and the needs of those being served changed
• Undergraduate education for dietitians

  • Study is based in the biological, physiological, behavioral, and social sciences, and includes both theoretical and applied courses
  • Curriculum meets both the educational standards of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the university requirements, including general education courses
  • Requires a Bachelor degree from an accredited college or university, combined with a supervised experience either integrated into the degree program or in an internship following the degree
• Didactic program in dietetics (DPD)

  The educational program that meets the academic standards
• Coordinated program (CP) in dietetics

  The program where the didactic portion and supervised practice are completed during the course of study toward the degree
• Dietetic technician (DT) program

  The program that includes both didactic and supervised practice (minimum of 450 clock hours), accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
• Supervised practice in dietetics

  1. For DPD students, the dietetic internship follows the degree

  2. Supervised practice takes place in the work setting where students learn to apply their knowledge and skills under the direction of a preceptor

  3. Successful completion establishes eligibility to take the registration examination and apply for active membership in the Academy

  4. All supervised programs must offer a minimum of 1200 hours of experience for the dietitian and 450 hours for the DT
• The education of the dietitian focuses on the present and future roles professionals will fulfill, as environmental, demographic business, and health trends create new opportunities for practice
• Future education preparation for dietitians

  • Requirement of a minimum of the master's degree as preparation for an entry-level, generalist, registered dietitian nutritionist
  • Bachelor's degree required for entry-level nutrition and dietetics technician
  • Associate degree preparation for nutrition health workers
  • Experiential learning integrated into each degree program
  • Each degree level prepares students for employment
  • Future exploration of high school and doctoral level programs
• "As a profession, the one thing that we can predict is that the greatest change in our practice will be the change in knowledge and how we integrate new science into our daily practice."
• Group projects should be 25-minute PowerPoint presentations, with each student actively participating, using reliable sources and including at least two research papers on the effectiveness of the diet
• Group project topics

  • Ketogenic Diet
  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Mediterranean Diet
  • Atkins Diet
  • Paleo Diet
  • DASH Diet
  • Intuitive Eating
  • Veganism