The Dietetics and Nutrition Management concentration provides a broad background in clinical nutrition, health promotion, and food service management. The science-based curriculum includes nutritional assessment, application of food theory, nutrition metabolism, and coursework focusing on nutritional counseling and medical nutrition therapy. This concentration is open to all students interested in becoming registered dietitians by preparing students for an accredited dietetic internship (see note below) and a professional career in medical nutrition therapy or community-based nutrition programs.

This program is an Accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Students must qualify to continue in the DPD by meeting the prerequisites for the Dietetic Practice Seminar course (FSHN 392) in their junior year. These prerequisites are an overall GPA of 3.000 and grades of “B” or better in:
FSHN 150;
FSHN 300;
FSHN 301;
CHEM 107/CHEM 108;
CHEM 111/CHEM 112/CHEM 113;
CHEM 245;
CHEM 246;
LIFE 102;
BZ 110/BZ 111;
BMS 300; and,
BMS 302.
Students who do not meet these requirements are encouraged to exercise their repeat/repair options in those courses which are lower than a “B” grade if they wish to be considered for the DPD option or seek other nutrition-related concentration options. Students may also choose to focus their education toward specific populations by taking specific courses related to childhood nutrition or gerontology nutrition, in addition to the required courses for the DPD.

The Childhood Nutrition option prepares students for supervisory positions in the school nutrition program. The Gerontology Nutrition option prepares students for supervisory positions in food service management for long-term care and rehabilitation, or for working with community programs providing nutrition services to older individuals. 

Please note: To become a registered dietitian, one must: 1) complete the required coursework and obtain the B.S. degree in Nutrition and Food Science; 2) complete an 8-12 month accredited dietetic internship AFTER finishing the B.S. degree; and 3) earn a master’s degree (effective January 2024). Internships are facilitated separately from obtaining the B.S. degree, and all internships require a vigorous application process. Earning the B.S. degree in Nutrition and Food Science at CSU is one step toward becoming a registered dietitian, but it is insufficient without then completing the internship and earning a master’s degree. After completion of an internship and master's degree, one is then eligible to take the registration exam, the final step toward becoming a registered dietitian. The registered dietitian credential is awarded after successfully passing the registration exam and is facilitated by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).

Learn more about the Dietetics and Nutrition Management concentration on the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition website.