Dietetics Specialization
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Food Science
What is Dietetics?
Dietetics is the specialized study of human nutrition in health and disease. Dietitians are essential members of interprofessional health care teams. They are regulated health care professionals who work in hospitals, health clinics, private practice, government, industry and community organizations. Dietitians are passionate about the potential of food and diet to enhance lives and improve health. Combine your love of science, nutrition and helping others by pursuing a career as a Registered Dietitian in the Dietetics Specialization program.
What do Registered Dietitians actually do? They translate scientific, medical and nutrition information into practical, individualized therapeutic diets and meal plans. Collaboration with clients, patients, caregivers and other health care professionals is central to their practice. Depending where you choose to work in this diverse field, responsibilities can include:
- Working with health care professionals such as nurses, physicians and speech language pathologists to manage foods and nutrition for health promotion, disease prevention, and treatment of acute and chronic diseases with a variety of client and patient populations in a variety of settings.
- Delivering information through formal and informal presentations, counseling and coaching that enables individuals to make informed decisions about food choices and nutrition.
- Developing nutrition programs that support the health of communities.
- Managing quality food service in health care institutions and influencing food, nutrition and public health policy.
Become a Registered Dietitian at the U of A
The Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Food Science, Dietetics Specialization is the only accredited dietetic education program in Alberta. This program includes extensive training in nutritional biochemistry, metabolism, physiology, food chemistry and food safety, nutrition program planning, community nutrition, clinical nutritional care and nutrition counselling to equip graduates with the skills and training to become Registered Dietitians.
You won’t get this unique learning experience anywhere else. Study with instructors who conduct world-class innovative research and train in the Human Nutrition Research Unit, which houses equipment required for comprehensive nutritional assessments, including body composition, specialized meal preparation and calorimetry unit. Learn about Indigenous and other food cultures, public health and community nutrition services, clinical nutrition and dietetic practice from our experienced professors and lecturers. Prepare for your career and practice your skills in hands-on labs and clinical training, and during internship placements across the province. You will receive the training required to graduate and meet the competencies to be eligible to become a Registered Dietitian (RD) and Registered Nutritionist in Alberta after successfully completing the registration exam.
“It has really opened my eyes to the vastness of the dietetics field, and I’m excited to see what opportunities lie ahead after graduation!”
- Dietetics Specialization graduate Jessica shared this message in her fourth year about some of her favourite parts of the program, including a practicum placement serving teens with Type I Diabetes.
Featured Courses
Feature Careers
Registered Dietitians are in-demand care professionals who assess, develop, deliver and evaluate strategies and programs related to food and nutrition. They develop and study food and food products. They manage food service systems. They do research and promote food safety. The College of Dietitians of Alberta is the regulatory body for the profession of dietetics in Alberta. Average salary: $76,537
For the latest information and statistics regarding the occupation of a RD in Alberta, please visit the following Government of Alberta website: Dietitian: Occupations in Alberta - alis
Source: Government of Alberta, Occupations in Alberta
Careers in Dietetics and Nutrition
- Clinical Dietitian (adult, pediatric, long-term care)
- Clinical Manager
- Dietetic Educator
- Food and Nutrition Manager
- Health Promotion Officer
- Community Nutrition Educator
- Sport Nutritionist
- Nutrition Researcher
- Nutrition Policy Analyst
Admissions
The Dietetics Specialization is 4 years in length and annually admits a cohort of 50 students. Applicants must complete a number of pre-professional courses and have and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 (see the Dietetics Admission Requirements for more info).
Students will have a specific course pattern, the same as their cohort classmates, and will not deviate from that pattern for the 4 years in the program. Years 1, 2 & 3 are academic course study and the final year 4 is internship training*, such as a professional placement or practicum at approved sites across Alberta.
*note: Rural Placement Requirement: All interns are required to relocate to communities outside of the metro Edmonton and Calgary areas during their time in the internship. Requests for waivers of the relocation requirement will only be considered in cases where there is a duty to accommodate and the intern is registered for accommodations.
To be considered for admission, students must complete ALL of the following courses by the end of Winter semester immediately prior to admission:
- BIOL 107 - Introduction to Cell Biology
- CHEM 101 - Introductory University Chemistry I
- CHEM 102 - Introductory University Chemistry II
- CHEM 164 OR CHEM 261 - Organic Chemistry I
- *6 units in ENGL OR 3 units in ENGL and 3 units in WRS
- NUTR 100 - Nutrition and Well-being
- STAT 151 - Introduction to Applied Statistics I
For detailed information on these pre-professional courses, please refer to the current calendar. See the Dietetics Specialization admission requirements for complete information before applying.
Note: If students are granted transfer credit from a previous study, it will NOT accelerate the student's degree progress. Refer to the course equivalency chart to match required courses with those from related institutions.The Dietetics Specialization MMIs are designed to identify those applicants who best demonstrate the personal characteristics, attitudes, and behaviours needed to become competent, caring dietitians.
The MMI format is an evidence-based approach that is commonly used to select individuals who wish to pursue degree programs in the health sciences.
The MMI process consists of:
- Seven, one-on-one, oral interviews, plus
- One, written MMI response
Licensing Exam & Registration to Practice
Once students complete their Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Food Science, Dietetics Specialization, they must write the Canadian Dietetic Registration Examination (CDRE) in order to enter practice as a Registered Dietitian. The CDRE is managed by the College of Dietitians of Alberta. For more information visit: College of Dietitians of Alberta.
Accreditation Disclaimer
This Dietetics Specialization is accredited and recognized by the EQual Accreditation Canada and prepares students for eligibility for registration with a provincial dietetics regulatory body.
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