We prepare you for a successful career as a registered dietitian nutritionist, encouraging you to assume a leadership role in your profession and society.
Dietetics is a STEM major that trains students to become registered dietitian nutritionists. Optimal food and nutrient intake play a critical role in disease prevention and health maintenance, and RDNs are nationally certified experts who know how to translate complex science into practical nutrition advice to counsel clients on health, wellness, and management of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Our students take advanced science, food, and nutrition courses that prepare them for diverse careers. In healthcare, clinical dietitians are essential members of the medical team and work in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and private practice. Other career opportunities for dietitians include sports nutrition, social media, foodservice management, business and industry, research and education, and so much more. Job opportunities in dietetics are projected to increase over the next decade due to the well-known impact of nutrition on health. Read our mission and goals on this page.
Looking for a way to get involved?
Join the UGA Student Dietetic Association, an organization run by students in the Department of Nutritional Sciences majoring in Dietetics.
National Accreditation
The dietetics major is a Didactic Program in Dietetics accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®) for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 800-877-1600, ext. 5400.
ACEND® Accreditation Standards are reviewed as part of the annual DPD Faculty and Teaching Assistant Orientation and ongoing training that the DPD director provides. In the presentation linked below, faculty and teaching assistants will review the mission, goals, and objectives of the DPD as well as selected ACEND® standards and core knowledge requirements. All DPD faculty and graduate students who have teaching assistant responsibilities in DPD courses will document that they have received the annual training.
View ACEND® Standards DPD Faculty and Teaching Assistant Orientation
Policies and Procedures
Information pertaining to all program policies and procedures that are of interest to both prospective and enrolled students can be found in the program’s student handbook located on the right side of this page (including estimated cost to students, application and admission requirements, academic calendar, guidance about distance education components, such as technology requirements, graduation and program completion requirements, and the process to become a registered dietitian nutritionist, including supervised practice programs and computer matching). Questions about policies and procedures can be directed to the dietetics program director, Dr. Emma Laing.
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Students completing their Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) degree requirements at the University of Georgia receive a Bachelor of Science degree. For post-baccalaureate and M.S. Non-Thesis + DPD (or other graduate) students enrolled in DPD coursework for the purpose of obtaining a verification statement, their undergraduate degree must be from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or foreign equivalent. Upon completion of the BS or post-baccalaureate programs, graduates must complete an ACEND®-accredited supervised practice program, such as a dietetic internship, to become eligible to take the registration examination for dietitians to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). Upon successful completion of our DPD, acceptance to an ACEND®-accredited supervised practice program, and passing the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialing exam* for Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), graduates are eligible to apply for licensure in their respective state(s) where they claim residency. To view US states where licensure is required to practice dietetics, visit the CDR Licensure Map. In Georgia, graduates must obtain licensure by the Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians in order to practice. Additional information and disclosures regarding state licensure for professional practice in nutrition and dietetics can be found at the UGA Licensure Disclosure Portal, which states that the DPD does not provide supervised practice experience as part of the curriculum, but we provide substantial support and mentoring to students to assist them in applying to post-graduate ACEND-accredited supervised practice experiences. More information about pathways to becoming an RDN can be found on the Careers in Dietetics page.
*Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit the CDR website.
Planning to get a Master's Degree, too?
If your future plans include earning a Master's Degree,* consider our dual degree Double Dawgs program. You can earn a bachelor's degree in dietetics and a master's degree in Nutritional Sciences in five years or less! Our unique program allows you to begin taking graduate level courses in your 3rd year as an undergraduate student. You can use 12 graduate credit hours toward both degrees, meaning you'll need just 18 additional credit hours for the remainder of your master's degree. Visit the Double Dawgs section of our website for more information about this outstanding opportunity.
What exactly do dietitians do?
This video explains what RDNs do and how they help people improve their health with food and nutrition. The interviewees are from diverse backgrounds, races, ethnicities, and age groups and are at various stages in their nutrition and dietetic careers. You will see how RDNs work across multiple practice settings, including clinical, foodservice, sports nutrition, schools, and public health.