NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
What is Nutrition and Dietetics?
The Nutrition and Dietetics major is a great fit for students who are passionate about food, health, fitness, and helping others live healthier lives.
Whether your goal is to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or explore careers in healthcare, wellness, sports nutrition, public health, or the food industry, you'll build a strong foundation in nutrition science and human health.
Along the way, you'll take courses in topics such as nutrition, metabolism, food science, and nutrition counseling, while gaining hands-on experiences that help you apply what you learn in real-world settings.
What Can I Do with a Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics?
A degree in Nutrition and Dietetics can open the door to a wide range of career opportunities. Graduates go on to work in hospitals, healthcare systems, community and public health programs, sports and wellness organizations, food and nutrition companies, and research settings. For students who want to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), the program provides the coursework needed to continue on to supervised practice and the next steps toward earning the RDN credential.
View videos featuring recent graduates Abigail Malle and Katie Rippon.
About the program
The Nutrition and Dietetics major is the first step leading to the credential of the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). At the University of Delaware, a student enrolled in the Nutrition and Dietetics major is completing the requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree and the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
The University of Delaware’s DPD is currently granted accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago IL 60606-6995, (800) 877-1600 ext 5400). ACEND is the accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN or RD) or Nutrition and Dietetics Technicians, Registered (NDTR).
After completing the DPD, a master's degree and ACEND-accredited supervised practice program is required to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. At the University of Delaware, students may complete an accelerated master’s degree:
- by enrolling in the BS in Nutrition and Dietetics/MS in Human Nutrition 4+1 program followed by an ACEND-accredited dietetic internship, such as UD’s Dietetic Internship, or:
- by enrolling in the combined MS in Nutrition and Dietetics/Dietetic Internship (MS/DI) which fulfills the master’s degree and ACEND-accredited supervised practice requirement, after completing the DPD.
Katherine Rippon, a senior nutrition and dietetics major at the University of Delaware, spent the summer examining the effects of wild blueberry consumption on cardiovascular health and cognitive function in the older adult population.: youtube.com/watch?v=1uwYvWsC7so