Nutrition

The Profession

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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

Education

At the U of M, students can pursue nutrition in both undergraduate and graduate roles. As an undergraduate, you can pursue a degree in Nutritional Science of Nutrition Studies. Nutritional Science is typically studied by students going on to professional schools, while Nutrition Studies is for interested students who do not want to become a registered dietician or continue on to professional school. Undergraduate students who would like to become a registered dietician can apply for the didactic program in dietetics while completing an undergraduate degree in Nutrition.

Students interested in graduate programs can pursue a Master’s or Ph.D. in nutrition. These degrees allow students to tailor their experience to their interest and include an emphasis on both teaching and research. The curriculum includes work in food science and nutrition, epidemiology, public health, and more. Both Master’s and doctoral students must complete a thesis in order to complete their degree.

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