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Dietician Degree

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 12 2010

What kind of a degree is required to become a dietitian?

Typically a bachelor's degree in nutrition and dietetics by an American Dietetic Association accredited institution is the most direct route to a career as a dietitian. However, some individuals chose to earn their bachelor's degree in another field and then go on to earn a master's in nutrition. Many schools that offer master's level nutrition degrees also provide the opportunity to complete a dietetic internship that is required to take the licensure exam to become a Registered Dietitian (R.D.). Others chose to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in nutrition and dietetics, which may make them more marketable than those with just a bachelor's degree. In addition to the four-year bachelor's degree, a dietetic internship (900 hours) is required in order to become registered and practice as a dietitian. This internship typically takes between nine months and one year to complete.

What types of dietitian schools are available?

Typically dietician degrees are offered through large state universities. There are private colleges that offer these programs although they are less common. Sometimes people choose to earn a degree in nutrition first and then go on to earn their dietitian degree since these programs can be very competitive. Nutrition degrees are offered at both campus-based and online universities.

What does a master's degree in dietetics entail?

A master's degree in nutrition varies based on the background of the student. If a student has a bachelor's degree in nutrition and dietetics, the length of the program varies from one to three years. If a student enters a master's nutrition program with a different background than nutrition (ie. business, marketing, liberal arts), he or she will be required to meet minimum academic requirements including science courses such as introductory biology, chemistry and biochemistry that are prerequisites for the bachelor's degree candidates in nutrition. Master's degree programs vary depending on the focus. Some nutrition programs are focused on communications while others are more clinically focused.

What is the typical class make up of a dietitian program?

Many of the dietetics college students are straight out of high school; however, oftentimes other students are enrolled in dietetics programs as a career change.

How is a dietitian different from a nutritionist?

A dietitian has a bachelor's or master's degree in nutrition/dietetics or related science field, a yearlong internship, and has to have taken and passed a comprehensive board certified exam through the Commission on Dietetic Registration. The term "nutritionist" is used much more loosely. For example, upon completing a nutrition class a person could claim to be a nutritionist. While sometimes people refer to dietitians as nutritionists, their formal title is RD or "registered dietitian".