Concordia’s liberal arts curriculum that helps students
acquire effective communication and organizational skills,
and to enjoy working as a member of a creative team, are
an added dimension to a food/nutrition degree and is highly
valued.
The Didactic Program in Dietetics at Concordia College has
been granted Accreditation by the Commission on
Accreditation for Dietetic Education of the American Dietetic
Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago,
IL 60606-6995, 800/877-1600 Ext 5400
The demand for food/nutrition graduates is increasing with
continued interest in healthy lifestyles. The May 2006 issue of Money Magazine listed nutrition/dietetics as one of the top careers for the future. The 2007 Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the US Department of Labor, stated that the outlook for dietitians and nutritionists is identified as growing faster than the national average.Today’s
food/nutrition graduates are employed by industry, government
agencies, medical or research facilities, in clinical practice,
communication, education, management or sales.
Concordia Benefits
• Students have the opportunity for international travel and study abroad programs to explore a variety of topics of interest to health professionals.
• Students in our nutrition laboratories receive individual
attention and use up-to-date facilities and equipment.
• Faculty have specialties and professional experience
in food, nutrition and dietetics.
• An active Student Dietetic Association invites expert
speakers to campus every month who represent different career
options for food/nutrition graduates.
• Our students have opportunities to:
— attend local and state meetings of the American
Dietetic Association;
— present research projects at professional meetings;
and
— work with health professionals on and off campus.
• Concordia’s acclaimed liberal arts curriculum
enables students to develop skills in thinking analytically
and reflectively, as well as develop their ability to write
and speak with clarity and precision.
The Dietetics Program
• Concordia graduates are successful in being selected
for dietetic internships.
• The program classrooms and labs feature up-to-date
equipment and are well-designed within the Concordia Science
Center.
• Students take courses in physical and biological
sciences, behavior and social sciences, nutrition, food-systems
management and communications.
• Students may combine a food/nutrition and dietetics
degree with a related major or minor such as biology, business,
psychology or chemistry.
• Faculty have worked in careers related to food/nutrition
before joining the staff at Concordia. Their experiences
include working in institutional management, clinical dietetics
and community dietetics.
Career Opportunities
Registered dietitians are eligible to work in many areas:
• Clinical dietitians are a vital part of the medical
team in hospitals, outpatient clinics, research laboratories
and private practice.
• Community dietitians coordinate nutrition awareness
and disease prevention programs in public health agencies,
childcare centers, health clubs, federal programs or with
athletic teams and organizations.
• Management dietitians are responsible for administering
personnel, designing and implementing training programs,
and planning food systems and departmental budgets in healthcare
facilities, school food-service programs and restaurants.
• Dietitians in business may serve as sales professionals
representing food, equipment or nutrition product accounts,
or as food, nutrition or marketing specialists for public
relations and the media.
• Dietitians in education teach the science of nutrition
and food systems management in colleges and hospitals, conduct
nutrition research, and write nutrition articles.
• Consultant dietitians practice independently, formulate
products for pharmaceutical industries, speak at professional
seminars, write nutrition books, and counsel patients in
nursing homes and in medical, dental and fitness centers.
Mission Statement and Goals
• The mission of the food/nutrition
and dietetics program is to provide an educational environment
that will facilitate the development of future professionals
in food/nutrition-related careers
• The goals for the food/nutrition
and dietetics program are to:
-prepare graduates for a dietetic
internship or preprofessional practice program;
-prepare graduates for participation
in the American Dietetic Association
-prepare graduates to meet
the knowledge requirements of the ADA.
• Students who complete the program are qualified
for a dietetic internship.
After completion, students are
eligible to complete the registration examination and become
a registered dietitian.
• Faculty assist students in the computer matching
process required to obtain a dietetic internship. Information
on the computer matching process is available on the American
Dietetic Association Web site at www.eatright.org
or by writing to D & D Digital Systems, Suite 301, 304
Main street, Ames, IA 50010
• Faculty assist students in making application for
internships.
• Concordia students are eligible for the food/nutrition/dietetics
program at no additional cost or requirements beyond admission
requirements.
