A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) is an expert on foods and how they affect human health. An RDN is registered by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) as an individual who has completed an accredited four-year undergraduate program. The BS in food science and nutrition (with a specialization in dietetics) is an accredited program with the Commission on Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. In addition, the individual must complete a post-baccalaureate 1,200-hour accredited supervised practice experience at one of over 200 dietetic internship sites. Finally, individuals must then pass the registration examination to attain the RDN credential. Please see an advisor for more information. Dietitians may work in hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes as clinical dietitians; for government and public health agencies as community dietitians, and in food service departments of hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and restaurants as management dietitians. In addition, dietitians also are employed as researchers, educators, and as consultants in a variety of settings.
For more information, please contact an advisor in the Department of Health Sciences.