Undergraduate Majors and Minors: Dietetics

 

• Mission Statement
• About the Dietetics Major
• Career Opportunities
• Didactic Program in Dietetics
• Dietetics Courses for non FDN Post Baccalaureate Students
• Dietetics Practicum

Optimal food and nutrient intake play a critical role in disease prevention and health maintenance. There is an increasing demand for professionals in the field of dietetics who can provide quality food and nutrition care services to individuals and groups. The mission of the didactic program in dietetics is to prepare students for successful careers in dietetics and encourage students to assume leadership roles in their profession and in society.

Entrance Into the Major

Students who have completed two years of college and are planning to transfer into this major need to be aware of the following requirements: Preferred courses taken as part of the core include statistics, psychology, fundamentals of speech communication, biology and freshman chemistry. Students should complete the equivalent of BIOL 1103/1103L or 1107/1107L and CHEM1211/1211L with a grade of C or better. Entrance to the major requires completion of Area F Core requirements for the Dietetics major with a grade of C or better in each of the courses. Note: General chemistry courses should be equivalent to CHEM 1211, 1211L and 1212, 1212L, and organic chemistry should be equivalent to CHEM 2211, 2211L.

Dietetics Program of Study

• Dietetics Semester Degree Requirements
• Food & Nutrition Course Descriptions

Special Requirements

To receive a B.S.F.C.S. in dietetics a student must have at least a "C" grade in CHEM 1211/L, BIOL 1103/L, in all Area F core courses, and in all major courses.

Sample Course Plan for a Dietetics Major

The field of dietetics offers many opportunities related to foods and nutrition in health care, management, education, business, and industry settings. Clinical dietetics positions are available in hospitals, clinics, health maintenance organizations, long-term care facilities, and private practice. Other opportunities include management of foods or nutrition care services in health care facilities, schools or restaurants; public health nutrition; research and/or education in universities, medical centers, and government agencies. For more information visit the American Dietetic Association Careers website (www.eatright.org/careers.html).

The dietetics major is a Didactic Program in Dietetics approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association. Students completing degree requirements receive a Bachelor of Science degree. Additional Requirements to become a Registered Dietitian

Additional Requirements to become a Registered Dietitian

Upon completion of the Didactic Program in Dietetics students must complete a supervised practice program, such as an CADE-accredited dietetic internship, to become eligible to take the registration examination for dietitians.

Students who already have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university may complete dietetics course requirements as a post-baccalaureate student or as a second degree student.

Frequently Asked Questions for Students who have Completed a Bachelor's Degree in a Field other than Dietetics

Q: I have a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university, but it is not in dietetics. Can I complete course requirements as an undergraduate at the University of Georgia to become eligible to enter a dietetic internship and become a registered dietitian?

A: Yes. You have two options to complete the dietetics course requirements. For both, a student must be enrolled as a student in the University of Georgia. Visit the university’s site for prospective students to obtain application information and deadline dates (http://www.admissions.uga.edu).

The first option is to enroll in the university to complete a second bachelor’s degree in dietetics. As a part of the admissions process your previous coursework will be evaluated and you will be told which courses are needed to complete a second degree in dietetics. A verification statement indicating that you have met dietetics coursework requirements will be issued to you following completion of this second degree. This verification statement is required to enter a dietetic internship program to become a registered dietitian.

The second option is to enroll as a post-baccalaureate student and complete coursework needed to meet dietetics knowledge requirements in addition to your bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. A verification statement indicating that you have met dietetics coursework requirements will be issued to you following completion of this work. This verification statement is required to enter a dietetic internship program to become a registered dietitian. In addition to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, you will need to complete the following courses or their equivalent (with a minimum of a C grade) to receive a verification statement from the Didactic Program in Dietetics at the University of Georgia:

• CHEM 2211-2211L, Modern Organic Chemistry I, (requires General Chemistry as prerequisite)
• CBIO 2200-2200L, Anatomy and Physiology I
• CBIO 2210-2210L, Anatomy and Physiology II
• MIBO 2500-2500L, Microbiology and Health Care or 3500-3500L, Introductory Microbiology
• BCMB 3100, Introductory Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• FDNS 2100, Human Nutrition and Food
• FDNS 3100, Macronutrients and Energy Balance
• FDNS 4100, Micronutrient Nutrition
• FDNS 4500 Nutrition Assessment and Intervention
• FDNS 4510, Nutrition Related to the Human Life Cycle
• FDNS 4520, Dietetic Practice and Nutrition Support
• FDNS 4530, Medical Nutrition Therapy
• FDNS 4600, Food and the Consumer
• FDNS 3600-3600L, Food Principles
• FDNS 3610-3610L, Quantity Food Production
• FDNS 4610, Foodservice Procurement and Financial Management
• FDNS 4620, Management of Foodservice Organizations
• FDNS 4540, Public Health Dietetics
• FDNS 4660 Food and Nutrition Education Methods
• FDNS 5800, Practicum

If you are interested in this option you should send copies of your transcripts for review to

Dr. Joan Fischer, Associate Professor, Department of Foods and Nutrition, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. Fax (706) 542-5059 Phone (706) 542-7983. Your transcripts will be reviewed to determine which courses you need to take to receive a verification statement. Some of the courses may be taken at another university if they are considered to be equivalent to required courses at the University of Georgia. However, a minimum of 12 credits must be taken in the Department of Foods and Nutrition at the University of Georgia to receive a verification statement from our program.

Some students may elect to take some of the coursework at the graduate level. If you are interested in completing some of the coursework at the graduate level as a non-degree seeking student or as a part of a graduate degree please view the graduate program website: http://www.fcs.uga.edu/fdn/graduate/index.html.

Q: I have completed my degree at a university outside of the United States. I would like to complete dietetics coursework and become eligible to apply to a dietetic internship. Can I take coursework at the University of Georgia to meet the dietetics course requirements?

A: Yes, you will need to have your academic degree(s) validated as equivalent to the bachelor’s degree conferred by a U.S. regionally accredited college or university. Please see the American Dietetic Association website for information and a list of agencies that will perform this service (http://www.eatright.org/Public/7782_8679.cfm).

As discussed above, you will also need to apply for admission to the University of Georgia (http://www.uga.edu/admissions/international.html). For a review of your transcripts to determine which courses you need to complete dietetics requirements at the University of Georgia please contact:

Dr. Joan Fischer
Associate Professor
Deptartment of Foods and Nutrition
jfischer@fcs.uga.edu
(706) 542-7983