What careers are available to graduates
of dietetics?
»Management
dietitians may be responsible for personnel management, menu
planning, budget and purchasing. They work in healthcare
institutions, schools, cafeterias and restaurants. They play a
key role wherever food is served.
»Clinical
dietitians are a vital part of the medical team in hospitals,
nursing homes, health maintenance organizations and other
healthcare facilities. They work with doctors, nurses and
therapists to help speed patients' recovery and lay the
groundwork for long-term health.
»Community
dietitians work in public and home health agencies, child care
centers, health and recreation clubs, and in government-funded
programs that feed and counsel families, the elderly, pregnant
women, children and disabled or underprivileged individuals.
They reach out to the public to teach, monitor and advise.
»Educator
dietitians work in colleges, universities, and community or
technical schools, teaching future doctors, nurses, dietitians
and dietetic technicians the sophisticated science of food and
nutrition. A Ph.D. or minimally the M.S. degree is usually
required for this type of work.
»Research
dietitians work in government agencies, food and pharmaceutical
companies and in major universities and medical centers. They
conduct or direct experiments to answer critical nutrition
questions. As the educators, persons in these fields have earned
advanced degrees.
»Consultant
dietitians work full or part-time, usually under contract with a
healthcare facility or in their own private practice. Specific
clients could include cardiac patients, diabetics, athletes,
company employees and nursing home residents.
»Business
dietitians work in food and nutrition related industries. They
focus on enabling companies to satisfy consumers' growing
interest in nutrition.
What opportunities
are available for those who choose the Nutrition and Fitness
option?
Students who are not seeking to be a registered dietitian and
would prefer the role of a bench researcher or who may wish to
prepare for medical or dental school are excellent candidates
for the nutrition and fitness major. You may wish to combine
nutrition with a minor such as marketing to prepare for a sales
career. Students may also elect to combine nutrition with a
concentration in anthropology and study the population focusing
on food choices and food production in graduate school. Students
may combine psychology as a double major or minor to assist in
understanding the mechanism of behavior. The curriculum in
nutrition provides sufficient hours to obtain a minor or
concentration to assist in planning a career in nutrition.
What can you do after graduation for
a career or continued education pathway in nutrition?
»Sales
of food, beverages, equipment and pharmaceuticals.
»Management
of food systems, hospital and corporate food services,
restaurants and hotels.
»Post-graduate
study in allied fields such as medicine, biochemistry,
communication, anthropology, management, marketing, nutrition,
education and psychology.
»Research
opportunities are also available for nutrition majors.
What about practical
work experience?
Practical experience and internships are
encouraged. Internships and experiences are available in the
business of food production and purchasing, anthropological
digging and assisting in laboratory research study.
