Nutrition and dietetics education leading to credentialing as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
The Nutrition major is designed for students interested in basic and applied sciences, and students are able to pursue one of three concentrations: the Biomedical Nutrition Science Concentration, the Community Nutrition Concentration, or the Dietetics Concentration. The Dietetics Concentration of the Nutrition Major is accredited as a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040 ext. 5400, url https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend. As such, graduates are eligible to apply for ACEND-accredited supervised practice programs and, following successful completion are eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) and active members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. RDNs are food and nutrition professionals who unite the science of nutrition with the application of nutrition principles to improve health through interventions, including education and counseling, at the community and individual levels or by addressing nutritional aspects of medical problems in clinical practice. Many work in acute care hospitals, long-term care, and medical offices as members of the health care team or in community-based settings. Other areas of practice include corporate wellness, journalism, sports nutrition, the food and nutrition industry, and others.
The M.S. in Nutrition with a concentration in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
In 2018, the Department was selected by ACEND to develop a Future Education Model Graduate Program, which will began to be phased in effective Fall 2020. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science program with a Nutrition-Dietetics major who are interested in clinical nutrition practice as a RDN are eligible to apply. The application deadline is May 1 prior to the senior year of undergraduate study. This program integrates traditional coursework with practice-based courses that enable students to complete the bachelor's degree (Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Nutrition-Dietetics) and master's degree (Master of Science in Nutrition with a concentration in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics) in five years and be eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians upon graduation. Students admitted to this master's program concentration do not enroll in graduate coursework during the four years of the bachelor's degree program, but graduate study commences with the summer term immediately following graduation.
Application and admission to the M.S. in Nutrition with a concentration in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
A student intending to enter the Master of Science program in Nutrition with a concentration in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics is required to complete coursework in the Nutrition-Dietetics concentration for the first three years of undergraduate study. At this point, students must apply for the Master of Science program and be accepted into the Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics concentration in order to enroll in specific prerequisite upper-division courses that will establish the knowledge and skill set necessary for the transition to graduate study and for meeting of ACEND-required competencies. Students who do not enroll in the Master of Science program may still complete the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition-Dietetics and the Didactic Program in Dietetics and apply for supervised practice programs. Admission requirements for the Master of Science program with a concentration in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics include at minimum:
- Academic achievement
| a. | Nutrition coursework: completion of NUTR 100 *, NUTR 302 , NUTR 311 , NUTR 314 , NUTR 315 , NUTR 316 *, NUTR 320 , NUTR 321 , NUTR 322 or equivalents. | ||||
| b. | Science coursework: completion of CHEM 122 * and CHEM 123 *, CHEM 132 * and CHEM 133 *, CHEM 260 ; BCMB 230 ; MICR 210 * or equivalents. | ||||
| c. | Other non-departmental coursework: CLAS 273 ; CMST 240 *; ENGL 295 * or ENGL 360 *; approved FDSC course, KNS 350 ; PSYC 110 *; PUBH 201 *; STAT 201 * or equivalents. |
- Submission of an online application for admission to the Graduate School by May 1 prior to the senior year of undergraduate study in the B.S. Nutrition-Dietetics Concentration. The completed application must include current transcripts, a personal statement detailing experience as well as long- and short-term goals, and a resume. No recommendation forms are required.
- In-person interview with the program director and representatives of the program.
Admission decisions will be based upon meeting listed admission criteria as well as completeness of application, clarity of written and oral expression, and expressed interest in pursuing a career as a RDN. Admission is competitive and students accepted to the Master of Science program in Nutrition with a concentration in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics are required to follow the Nutrition-Dietetics concentration curriculum during the fourth year of the undergraduate program with the addition of HTM 445 and NUTR 426 Clinical Nutrition II Practicum and complete the Bachelor of Science degree.
Transition to Upper Division
Students who are on track to enter term 5 of the Dietetics Concentration curriculum transition to a departmental faculty advisor. In order to graduate with a major in nutrition, regardless of concentration, students must earn a grade of C or better in every required nutrition course.