Overview of Field
Dietetic schools offer formal education for training dietitians. Dietetics is a specialized area of heath care, which focuses on diet and healthy eating habits. The job of a dietitian revolves around research, preparation of diet routines and advising people about the role of a nourishing diet for proper health and longevity.
Programs offered
Dietetics is a formal field in which the composition of food is scientifically studied with its effect on the human body. The top dietetic schools offer various levels of dietetic programs such as bachelors and masters programs.
Bachelors in nutritional sciences is the most common program which requires 4 years of coursework after which an internship has to be pursued to gain practical experience. Some schools also offer a coordinated dietetic program in which the internship is included with the coursework. An internship and a registration process is a core requirement, for becoming a registered dietitian (RD), set by the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
The specializations include such areas as food and nutrition, dietetics, nutrition and exercise, management in food services, etc.
Admission Requirements
The admission requirements of the dietetic schools depends on the applicant’s chosen program. The top dietetic schools normally set the following conditions for their bachelors program:
- High School Diploma
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the ACT Assessment score
- Resume or personal statement
Courses in health, biology, chemistry, nutrition and home economics in high school strengthen the application.
Coursework The subjects normally taught in a program in nutritional sciences and dietetics include elements of nutrition, organic chemistry, basic microbiology, food and science, community nutrition, mammalian physiology, eating disorders, etc. Basic courses in communication skills, composition and writing, biology, sociology, etc. are also required for graduation.
Top Dietetic Schools Some of the top dietetic schools in the US are listed below:
University of Texas at Austin- Austin, TX Purdue University - West Lafayette, IN California State University at Los Angeles – Los Angeles, CA Buffalo State University of New York – Buffalo, NY University of Cincinnati – Cincinnati, OH University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Chapel Hill, NC Their bachelors programs are accredited by the ADA.
Career Prospects The field of dietetics is rapidly gaining recognition as people are realizing the impact of diet on treating diseases and on slowing the aging process. A registered dietitian (RD) can work in various capacities. A clinical dietitian is hired by hospitals and nursing homes. Management dietitians work in the food industry. Dietitians can also establish their private practice as counselors and offer advices about diabetic routines, weight loss and cholesterol control. Research interests can be pursued by obtaining a masters degree. The average salary of a RD is about $50,590.