Frequently Asked Questions
What if I complete the degree in nutrition but choose not to do a dietetic internship? What are my career options?
Our undergraduate nutrition program, like others throughout the United States, is designed to meet ADA requirements for entry into a dietetic internship program and pursuit of the R.D. credential. Forgoing the dietetic internship means you haven’t completed your education in dietetics/nutrition and job opportunities are extremely limited in such cases. However, it must be noted that this degree is also an excellent foundation for pursuing post-baccalaureate education in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, other biomedical professions, as well as graduate study in nutrition and related areas leading to a research-focused career either with or without the R.D. credential. Recent graduates have been highly successful candidates for some of the top dietetic internships in the country as well as pharmacy and optometry school.
What if I completed a bachelor’s degree in a major other
than foods and nutrition? What do I need to do to become a R.D.?
If your degree comes from an accredited college or university in
the U.S., you do not need to complete another bachelor’s degree.
However, you do still need to complete ADA-approved Didactic Program
requirements before applying to a dietetic internship program. In
most cases, there is little additional coursework required beyond
the didactic program in order to complete the second degree and degree-seeking
students have the advantage of financial aid eligibility. The Didactic
Program in Dietetics (DPD) Director will review your college transcripts
and advise you as to the undergraduate coursework you will need to
take to complete DPD requirements and become eligible to apply for
dietetic internships. If you are an international student, you should
contact the registrar’s
office. They will need to evaluate your college transcripts and
determine the equivalency to U.S. coursework prior to review of your
transcripts by the DPD Director. The ADA offers additional information
for international
applicants.
Contact the Department of Nutrition
1215 W. Cumberland Ave.
229 Jessie Harris Building
Knoxville, TN 37996-1920
Brenda Hart
bhart57@utk.edu
Phone: (865) 974-5445
Fax: (865) 974-3491