Dietetics

This major teaches you how nutrients affect the body at a biochemical level. Learn how fats, proteins and carbohydrates help the body thrive. Gain an understanding of how vitamins and minerals are essential to the body’s biochemical processes. Acquire skills to plan hospital menus and advise doctors about the nutritional needs of patients. Learn teaching strategies to encourage children to eat more fruits and vegetables or to improve job skills in food service employees.

The pass rate for University of Idaho graduates taking the registered dietitian exam exceeds the national average.

More than half of all dietitians work in hospitals, nursing homes, and physician's offices and clinics.

In class, learn the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Study the process of digestion. Explore the roles microscopic organisms play in breaking down food in our stomachs and intestines.

In your junior year, learn how to supervise employees, feed groups of people, balance budgets and analyze nutritional research. Explore the reasons for nutrition-related diseases. During your senior year, take classes and do supervised practice in Spokane, Wash.

All seniors are required to complete a three-part supervised practicum.

Prepare for Success

This major is a good fit if you can see yourself:

• Helping people improve their health by eating the right foods.
• Communicating with others and working as part of a professional team.
• Learning about biochemistry and microbiology.

• Take biology.
• Learn about nutrition and practice eating a healthy diet.
• Develop your leadership skills in student office.

Your First Year

Your first year, you will hone your communication skills with course work in writing. You will also take classes that focus on chemistry and human nutrition.

More advanced courses cover topics such as global nutrition, eating disorders, clinical dietetics and microbiology.

See the four-year plan.

What You Can Do

With this degree, you’ll have job possibilities like:

• Clinical dietitian: Provide nutritional services for patients in institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes.
• Community dietitian: Work with wellness programs and international health organizations. Promote healthy behaviors and help prevent disease.
• Management dietitian: Oversee large-scale meal planning and preparation in health care facilities, company cafeterias, prisons and schools.

Opportunities

Employment of dietitians is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. More than half of all dietitians work in hospitals, nursing homes, and physician's offices and clinics. About one in five dietitians works for state or local governments.

You may also choose to continue your education. Earn an advanced degree in nursing or public health. Go on to medical school.

Current Research

Gather, organize and analyze data for a faculty member’s grant-funded research. Evaluate the results of a food safety education program. Enter nutritional data into a computer program for a sports nutrition project.

Activities

Food and Nutrition Club: Travel to local and national conferences and participate in nutrition-related activities.
Family and Consumer Sciences Club: Attend the state conference and meet professionals.
Phi Upsilon Omicron: Join the national honor society in family and consumer sciences.

Hands-On Experience

Senior year supervised practice. Learn by doing, in a three-part practicum in Spokane, Wash. that includes:

1. Community nutrition: Focus on public health. Take classes and work up to three days a week for a community organization. Teach children about food and nutrition. Organize nutrition services for the elderly through senior nutrition programs. Provide one-on-one guidance to clients of a program for mothers with infants and children.
2. Clinical nutrition: Work full time in a hospital. Be a part of a health care team. Interview patients and assess their nutritional needs. Consult with doctors and nurses to calculate tube feedings and make dietary recommendations. Monitor blood work. Receive feedback from an experienced dietitian.
3. Food service management: Organize meals for a group. Prepare menus at an elementary school. Help with food budgets at a nursing home. Plan a theme meal for 300 in a hospital cafeteria.

• India: Visit a spice market.
• Taiwan: Sample time-honored cuisine like fish eyeball soup.
• Mexico: Enjoy the offerings of traditional food vendors.