DIETETICS (DPD) -TRADITIONAL OR SPANISH EMPHASIS »
Students can apply to the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) with either the Traditional or Spanish Emphasis. Marywood's Nutrition and Dietetics program is one of just a handful nationwide that offers both a traditional and a Spanish emphasis course of study that includes a study abroad component. After completing the DPD and a 1,200-hour accredited Dietetic Internship program, you’ll be prepared to take the national registration examination for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs).
Five-year Degree Option »
Students have the option of earning their bachelor's and master's degrees in just five years. Qualified DPD students can apply (through a pre-selection process) to complete their bachelor’s and master’s degrees, along with their DPD Verification Statement (VS) in five years, making them eligible to apply to a dietetic internship program. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the RDN exam after these five years of preparation. Advanced coursework begins in the "bridge" year overlapping the fourth year of undergraduate study and the first year of graduate work. The fifth year encompasses the supervised practice component with rotations in facility sites including community nutrition, food systems management, medical nutrition therapy, and professional practice.
Nutrition and Wellness Track »
The Nutrition and Wellness Track provides a broad curriculum that includes liberal arts, science, health, nutrition, and psychology courses. This educational framework provides the knowledge, skills, and values needed for entry into graduate school or a career in nutrition and wellness. All undergraduate students follow this track upon admission to the Nutrition and Dietetics Department. If a student does not meet the acceptance criteria for either the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) or the Coordinated Program (CP), the student remains in this Nutrition and Wellness track. Additionally, students can select this program after they complete their second year-level courses, if they are not interested in pursuing the RDN credential. Students following this track may consider earning a minor in science and or psychology.
Careers
Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) work in a wide variety of professional fields, including health care, business and industry, public health, education, research, and private practice.
Many RDNs work in organizations, particularly those in medical and health care settings, that require that an individual be credentialed as an RDN.
Work Settings
- Community and public health teaching, monitoring, and advising the public, and helping to improve their quality of life through healthy eating habits as well as planning public health programs.
- Hospitals, HMOs, and other health care facilities educating and counseling patients about nutrition and administering medical nutrition therapy as part of the health care team. They may also manage the food service operations in these settings, as well as in schools, day-care centers, and correctional facilities, and oversee a number of areas from food purchasing and preparation to managing staff.
- Sports nutrition and corporate wellness programs educating and counseling clients about the connection between food, fitness, and health.
- Food and nutrition-related businesses communications, consumer affairs, public relations, marketing, pharmaceutical companies, or product development.
- Private practice and consulting working under contract with physician's offices, health care food service companies, or in private practice. RDs may provide services to food service or restaurant managers, food vendors, distributors, athletes, nursing home residents, or company employees.
- Universities and medical centers teaching physicians, nurses, and dietetics students, and others the sophisticated science of nutrition and foods.
- Research at 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.
Careers in Exercise Science
Our Exercise Science major is designed for students interested in positions related to:
- Personal Trainers
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Exercise Physiologist
- Health fitness instructors with hospital-based and corporate fitness programs
- Graduate studies in Exercise Physiology
- Post-graduate studies in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, or Physician's Assistant programs.
Practicum Manual
