The Profession
Who They Are
Nutrition professionals provide knowledge on nutrients and the foods from which they are derived, to aid in the maintenance and prevention of disease. Registered Dietitians have the responsibility of assessing a person's nutritional status, recommending appropriate therapeutic diet, and evaluating and responding to the diet.
What They Do
Nutritionists and dieticians promote health and wellness through healthy eating. This can include assessing dietary needs, providing health eating guidance, creating educational materials and programs about healthy eating, and more.
Where They Work
Registered Dietitians work in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, long term care facilities, business and industry, and federal and government agencies. A nutrition background can also prepare you for graduate school, medical or dental school, and other professional schools.
Outlook
Employment as a dietician or nutritionist is growing much faster than average. In the next ten years, 8,000 new jobs are expected to be created. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Preparing to Apply
Students interested in applying to graduate programs must complete prerequisite coursework in chemistry, biology, statistics, physiology and more. Learn more about prerequisite work here. Students must also include letters of recommendation, a resume with relevant experience, and transcripts when applying.
Applying students must also take the Graduate Record Exam, or GRE. More information about taking and preparing for the GRE can be found here.