Dietetics

Dietetics courses cover areas such as biology, chemistry, nutrition, human physiology, food preparation and management, food safety, psychology, sociology and counseling strategies.

Complete degree requirements and a listing of courses are available in the following:

• Undergraduate Bulletin
• Curriculum Guides

Faculty

The School of Graduate Health and Professional Programs at Mount Mary is rich with talented faculty who care about their students.

High school & transfer students:

To pursue a dietetics bachelor’s degree, you must first apply online to Mount Mary University. The dietetics application process includes a review of your GPA and course history to determine if you will also receive direct admission into our Integrated Master of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics. If you receive direct admission, this means that you will have a guaranteed spot in Mount Mary's graduate dietetics program provided you meet the department's progression requirements. Students who are not directly admitted can still apply to the M.S. program under standard admission in the second semester of their junior year.

For more information about the pathways to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist visit the ACEND website.

Students entering with a non-nutrition bachelor's degree:

Click here for information on how to apply to our Integrated Master of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics.

Click here for information on how to apply to our Integrated Master of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics.
Click here for information on how to apply to our Dietetics Internship Program.

Registered dietitians:

Click here for information on how to apply to our Post-Professional Master of Science in Dietetics.

Mount Mary’s Integrated M.S. in Nutrition & Dietetics includes the required minimum 1,000 hours of supervised experiential learning you need to be eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians upon graduation. This means that you do not need to complete a separate internship experience. Documentation of a physical examination, immunizations, drug testing and a background check are required to participate in supervised experiential learning.

Initially, your supervised experiential learning hours will be accomplished with Mount Mary faculty on-site. In your final year, your supervised experiential learning hours will be completed with a preceptor (a dietetics professional who is dedicated to working with students). Your supervised experiential learning hours will focus on:

• Medical nutrition therapy
• Community/consumer nutrition
• Foodservice management

Practicum site locations include hospitals, outpatient clinics, school districts, nursing homes, businesses, public health departments, food service companies and social service agencies.

The Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, administers the Registration Examination for Dietitians to individuals seeking the professional distinction and credential of Registered Dietitian (RD).

Successful completion of the Integrated M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics prepares you for the RD exam and for active membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. We encourage you to talk with your faculty adviser prior to taking the RD exam to ensure you are fully prepared. You will meet with your academic advisor in the dietetics department each semester to ensure that all requirements are met.

Registered Dietitians are eligible for certification in the State of Wisconsin.

While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND's considered opinion that the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND-accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state's licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license. More information about state licensure and certification can be found at this link: State Licensure

Through a career in dietetics, you can help people apply the principles of nutrition to their everyday lives so they can live a better, healthier life.

Dietitians who work in clinical dietetics assess, educate and counsel individuals to help manage or prevent medical conditions. They can also manage large foodservice departments or provide nutrition services to the community. The median annual salary for dietitians is about $66,450, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

As a dietitian, you may counsel people to help them manage obesity, diabetes, heart disease, eating disorders or other conditions requiring a modified diet, manage a large foodservice operation, or provide nutrition services to the community. You could work for organizations such as:

• food product corporations
• food service companies
• government agencies
• grocery stores
• hospitals
• nonprofit or social service agencies
• nursing homes
• private practice
• restaurants
• schools

You can get involved in several service learning activities or student clubs and organizations at Mount Mary. Join the Student Nutrition and Dietetics Association or help in the community garden. The produce from this garden is made available to the Mount Mary community and used in dietetics courses for instructional purposes.