Careers
Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts. Trained in the sciences, they help people understand scientific findings and live healthy lives.
Many work environments, particularly those in the health care field, require the RDN credential to practice nutrition care. Students seeking to attain the RDN credential must:
- Earn a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university,
- Complete an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) Didactic Program in Dietetics, and
- Successfully complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.
The student is then eligible and must pass the entry-level registration examination for dietitians. For more information on eligibility requirements for dietitians, see the website of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Commission on Dietetic Registration.
The nutrition and dietetics program at Dominican University prepares students for a variety of careers. Students receive a broad education in the physical, biological and social sciences as well as communication arts and food and nutrition services administration.
For students pursuing careers as registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs), the program also provides preparation for dietetic internships or supervised practice.
Career options in nutrition and dietetics include:
- Clinical Dietetics
- Consulting
- Consumer Affairs
- Employee/Corporate Wellness
- Food Product Development
- Grant Writing
- Health Education
- Management
- Nutrition
- Program Development
- Public Relations
- Research
- Sales/Marketing
- Teaching
Employers include:
- Business/Industry
- Clinics
- Colleges/Universities
- Fitness Companies
- Hospitals/Acute Care Facilities
- Long-Term Care Facilities/Rehabilitation
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Pharmaceutical Companies
- Private Practice
- Public Health Settings
- Publishers
- Research Laboratories
- Social Agencies