NUTR 301

NUTR 301: Introduction to Professions in Nutrition and Dietetics

Prerequisites: None

Students are introduced to different career paths in nutrition, including educational preparation to become a registered dietitian nutritionist, areas of specialization and professional issues in the discipline.

Note(s): Applied Learning designated course.

Detailed Description of Content of Course

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to careers in nutrition and dietetics including the necessary steps to becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Nutrition Dietetic Technician, Registered (NDTR) and/or a graduate student in related fields.  Students will be introduced to the application process to applying to dietetic internships, Masters degrees in related fields, and exam requirements for becoming an RDN and a NDTR.  Students will also learn possible career opportunities upon graduation with a B.S. or M.S. degree and/or the RDN or NDTR credential.  Students will begin to describe experiences and skills necessary for resumes and required statements for application to graduate programs and dietetic internships.  Students will learn appropriate ethics standards in foods and nutrition related careers.

• Ethics in business and medical professions
• Politics of Foods and Nutrition
• Professional Organizations
  • Participation
  • Expectations/behavior
  • Club activities
• Professional characteristics and dispositions
• Oral communication skills
• Written communication skills
• Attendance and punctuality
• Quality of work
•  Professional appearance
• Quality of interactions and participation
• Critical thinking skills
• Quality of interactions with others and respect for others
• Responsive to constructive feedback
• Taking initiative and managing workload
• Commitment to diversity and equity
• Leadership skills
• Career planning and assessment
  • Apply individual skills to career selection
  • Goal setting
  • Academic portfolio
  • Professional portfolio
• Positions in nutrition, food and dietetics
• Major responsibilities
  • Guest speaker presentations
• How to find a job
  • Getting a recommendation
  • Networking
  • Career portfolio
  • Resume development
  • Volunteer opportunities and responsibilities
  • Work ethic

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Course instruction strategies may include, but will not be limited to, lecture, discussion, class activities, problem based learning, case studies, videos, guest speakers, and student presentations.

 

Goals and Objectives of the Course

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe different career opportunities available with a nutrition and dietetics degree.
• Describe the credentialing process for NDTRs and RDNs including the dietetic internship application process.
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• Draft essential elements of the professional portfolio and internship application including the personal statement and resume.
•  
• Conduct a personal evaluation of professional attitudes and dispositions necessary for successful internship placement and professional performance.
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• Plan an appropriate path towards career goals.
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• Describe ethics guidelines for foods and nutrition professionals.

 

 

Assessment Measures

Assessment measures may include, but are not limited to exams, quizzes, assignments, projects, and class participation.

 

Other Course Information

This course fulfills in part, the requirements for the Didactic Program in Dietetics accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.

 

Review and Approval

December 2001 Updated Anne Alexander, Chair

March, 2010

March 27, 2012 Revised

April 20, 2018

April 2019

March 01, 2021