Bachelor of Science - Dietetics

Internships

Dietetic Graduate Programs

Doctoral Program

NDTR - Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered

Student Tips

Whether you are already a nutrition and dietetics student or you're already in the workforce and looking for a change in careers or a high school student exploring your options, we welcome you to the West Virginia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website!

Dietetics is the science of managing food and nutrition to promote health and wellness. Dietetics is a growing field that is open to creativity and opportunities that are endless! If you want a career that is exciting, challenging and allows you to succeed, excel and feel good about what you do, then consider the field of dietetics.

This page contains a brief introduction of the steps to becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and a Dietetic Technician Registered (DTR). It also includes education and scholarship opportunities available here in West Virginia. We encourage you to also visit the Student page on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' website for additional information on careers, internships, and certifications, in food and nutrition, as well as scholarships and preparation aids for registration examinations.

You can also learn more by visiting a couple of Facebook pages, the WVU Student Association of Nutrition and Dietetics - SAND and the Marshall University Student Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics.

A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), formerly known as a Registered Dietitian (RD), is a highly qualified health care professional educated in nutrition and foods.

An RDN has a Bachelor of Science or a Master of Science degree in human nutrition or dietetics and has successfully completed a dietetic internship and passed the registration examination administered by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. An RDN receives specific education and training to provide medical nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling to promote optimal nutrition, health and well-being.

  • Hospitals, HMO's or other health-care facilities, educating patients about nutrition and administering medical nutrition therapy as part of the health-care team. They may also manage the foodservice operations in these settings, as well as in schools, day-care centers and correctional facilities, over-seeing everything from food purchasing and preparation to managing staff.
  • Sports nutrition and corporate wellness programs, educating clients about the connection between food, fitness and health.
  • Food and nutrition-related business and industries, working in communications, consumer affairs, public relations, marketing, product development or consulting with chefs in restaurants and culinary schools.
  • Private practice, working under contract with health-care or food companies, or in their own business. RDNs may provide services to foodservice or restaurant managers, food vendors and distributors or athletes, nursing home residents or company employees.
  • Community and public health settings, teaching, monitoring and advising the public and helping improve their quality of life through healthy eating habits.
  • Universities and medical centers, teaching physician's assistants, nurses, dietetics students, dentists and others the sophisticated science of foods and nutrition.
  • Research areas in food and pharmaceutical companies, universities and hospitals directing or conducting experiments to answer critical nutrition questions and find alternative foods or nutrition recommendations for the public.

In the state of West Virginia, the educational opportunity to become a dietetic professional is available through programs offered at both Marshall University, in Huntington, and West Virginia University, in Morgantown.