Avocado College

About Nutrition and Dietetics Major

~ choosing a major ~

I was always interested in health sciences, so when it came to choosing my major I picked Dietetics. Entering the field, I didn’t know almost anything about it, and, unfortunately, no one in my department informed me about the major. It did take a toll on me and postponed my graduation for a year (cries internally). So I want to tell what is a Dietetics major (that no one knows about) and what you need to do to graduate on time.

First of all, dietetics major is a bachelor’s degree for Dietitians. A registered dietitian has many career options including work with athletes, work in a clinical setting, research, food service, counseling, etc. A general job of a registered dietitian is to analyze a person’s anthropometrics (weight, height, etc) and medical/social/family history, make a nutritional diagnosis and then treat it. Usually, it’s based on weight management or nutrient deficiencies. It’s all general because there are so many different tasks and jobs! There are two directions you can take in a four-year degree. 

The first one is DPD which is the Didactic Program in Dietetics. This degree is basically just a theoretical knowledge. You cannot sit for an exam to become a registered dietitian if it’s something you want to do. You can only work as a counselor or an educator with this degree and you definitely cannot work with patients. If you graduated with DPD you still can become a registered dietitian, however, you have to find and complete an internship (1200 hours), or you can do a Master’s degree that includes the internship.

The second option is CPD which is the Coordinated Program in Dietetics. CPD is a four-year degree that includes a two-year internship in it. The problem with it is that you need to apply for it, and only a limited number of people can get in. But if you do get in, you save a lot of time and money! After the completion of CPD degree, you can immediately sit for an RD exam and practice your profession.

Starting from January 1, 2024, you will have to have a Master’s degree to sit for an RD exam, just keep this in mind if you’re in middle/high school.

It’s a very fun major! You’ll learn a lot of things that you can apply in your life every day. You cook in some classes and you study metabolic pathways in others. A lot of variety in your day so you never get bored :)