About the Major
Dietetics is an interdisciplinary program that incorporates the science of human biology and biochemistry as well as foods to understand how the body utilizes nutrients and related substances for optimal health throughout the life cycle. It links nutrition and human behavior by applying nutrition principles, counseling skills, and educational skills to improving the nutritional status and health of individuals and communities. Students gain training that will prepare them to work in diverse settings that include: clinical dietetics prescribing diets that help individuals manage diseases, community and nutrition education settings, culinary nutrition, sports nutrition, food industry and retail settings, food sustainability, public and health policy, and nutrition research. It also prepares students for management positions in the nutrition field and food systems settings. Individuals who have an interest in food, nutrition, and management and who want to work with the public to promote and optimize good health or to help manage existing diseases are excellent candidates for this field of study.
Curriculum
SUNY Oneonta’s nationally accredited Dietetics program is designed so you can understand the nutritional needs of the human body as it relates to health and disease throughout the life span. The program provides a strong foundation in biological, social, and behavioral sciences, nutrition, foods and food systems management with a diverse curriculum to meet the accreditation standards set by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND):
Graduates of the program may apply for post-graduate dietetic internships and future education graduate programs to establish eligibility to take the CDR registration examination to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Graduates also qualify to take the national CDR Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered, (NDTR) examination to be a dietetic technician who assists the RDN.
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Contact
Department of Human Ecology
607-436-2705
Did You Know?
SUNY Oneonta is ranked No.4 on Study.com's 2021 list of the nation's Best Bachelor's Degree Programs in Nutrition. Rankings criteria included U.S. Department of Education data on graduation and tuition rates, as well as information on activities, course options, degree choices and program flexibility.
Course Topics Include
Below are some of the courses available to Dietetics majors. View the full list of Dietetics and Human Ecology courses.
- Advanced Nutrition
- Community Nutrition
- Food Science
- Food Service Systems Management
- Introduction to Dietetics
- Introductory Foods
- Medical Nutrition Therapy I & II
- Nutrition Across the Lifespan
- Nutrition Assessment
- Nutrition Education and Counseling
What Can I Do With This Major?
The B.S. in Dietetics will help you meet the requirements for becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) Graduates earn the DPD Verification Statement that qualifies them to earn one of two credentials:
- The Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential. Students seeking the RDN credential are prepared for acceptance into post-graduate dietetic supervised practice programs that meet the requirements for eligibility to sit for the RDN registration exam. SUNY Oneonta seniors have the opportunity for early acceptance into SUNY Oneonta’s online M.S. Nutrition and Dietetics Program!
- The Nutritionist Dietetic Technician Registered (NDTR) credential. Students with their B.S. degree in Dietetics are eligible to sit for the NDTR registration exam to earn the NDTR credential. This credential allows you to work in variety of nutrition and dietetics settings as well.
You can forge your own path to a successful career in clinical dietetics, nutrition education, food service management, health-related pre-professional programs, public health nutrition, private practice, applied research, or continue on to graduate study.
Note to prospective students
As of January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration has changed the requirement from a bachelor's degree to a master's degree in order to be eligible to take the CDR credentialing exam for registered dietitian nutritionists. In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website.
Hands-On Learning Opportunities
You’ll get plenty of hands-on learning experience in and outside the classroom, whether it’s using our BOD POD (a computerized, egg-shaped chamber that uses Air Displacement Plethysmography technology to measure body composition), working with coaches to develop eating plans for Oneonta athletes, leading food production in a commercial kitchen or sharing nutrition information with local elementary school classes.
Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
The B.S. in Dietetics will help you meet the requirements for becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) by earning the verification statement needed to apply to ACEND-accredited supervised practice programs (dietetic internships and future education graduate programs) and preparing you for the Registered Dietitian Exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Education. SUNY Oneonta has an outstanding record of preparing students for careers as dietitians.
Accreditation
The Dietetics program at SUNY Oneonta is a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and is currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics Education (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. ACEND can be reached at: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995 Phone: 1-800-877-1600 Ext. 5400.
Graduates of the DPD program who earn their NDTR credential or go on to earn their RDN credential and want to practice as Dietitians/Nutritionists may need to apply for licensure before they are eligible to practice dietetics/nutrition. Licensing statutes include an explicitly defined scope of practice, and the performance of the profession is illegal without first obtaining a license. A list of the states that require licensure is available on the Commission on Dietetic Registration website. In New York state, graduates must obtain certification, and, soon, licensure, to practice through New York State Education Department Office of Professions.
Student Clubs
- BEFit
- Edgy Veggies Society
- Food and Nutrition Association
- Human Ecology Club
- Nutrition for Performance Club
- Pre-Health Professions Association
Student Profile
