Bachelor of Science in Dietetics

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Dietetics prepares students to meet the eligibility requirements to sit for the Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR) exam. The BS in Dietetics is also designed to prepare students for graduate coursework and supervised practice in programs leading to eligibility for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential. To be successful in their field, NDTRs and RDNs need a strong science foundation along with courses in management, clinical and community nutrition, food science, communication, counseling, therapeutic nutrition, and nutrition for the lifespan. The BS in Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) as a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). 

Admission Requirements

  • Complete the Admission Requirements for Baccalaureate Programs.
  • All students will initially be admitted to a pre-major status. Admission as a pre-major does not guarantee admission to the dietetics program. 
  • Students may apply for admission to the full dietetics major in the spring semester in which they are completing the final prerequisites for the full major (see course list below). The application deadline for the BS in Dietetics is February 15. The application form and full requirements can be found on the UAA dietetics program website. Applicants transferring credit from another institution should apply to UAA no later than November 1 prior to spring application to the dietetics program to allow sufficient time for application processing and transcript evaluation. Spring enrollment in another institution may postpone transcript evaluation and therefore affect program acceptance.
  • Complete the following courses with a minimum grade of C and an overall GPA of 3.00*. BIOL, CHEM and DN courses (or a higher level course in similar subject matter as approved by the program director) must have been completed within the past 10 years:
BIOL A111
A111L
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
4
BIOL A112
A112L
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
4
CHEM A105
A105L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
4
CHEM A106
A106L
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Laboratory
4
DN A100The Profession of Dietetics1
DN A203Nutrition for Health Sciences3
MATH A151College Algebra for Calculus (or higher level math course or test score placement into higher level course)4
Humanities GER (language is recommended)6
Oral Communication Skills GER3
PSY A111Introduction to Psychology3
or SOC A101 Introduction to Sociology
Written Communication Skills GER6
At least 6 additional credits of required Dietetics and Nutrition (DN) coursework in residence at UAA (see Major Requirements).6
*

Conditional acceptance to the program can be granted if the students are in the process of taking any of the prerequisite courses during the spring semester. Students will need to provide official proof of course completion with a minimum grade of C prior to starting the program.

Special Considerations

Expenses beyond tuition generally include, but are not limited to, activity fees, lab fees, student organization membership, immunizations, fingerprinting and criminal background checks for practicums, cost of Serv Safe certification and food/supplies for some DN courses.

Graduation Requirements

Support Courses
BIOL A111
A111L
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
4
BIOL A112
A112L
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
4
BIOL A108Principles and Methods in Biology6
CHEM A105
A105L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
4
CHEM A106
A106L
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Laboratory
4
HLTH A151Breaking Trail on Your Health and Social Services Career3
MATH A151College Algebra for Calculus (or any course for which MATH A151 is a prerequisite or test score placement into higher level course)4
Fine Arts GER3
Humanities GERs (language recommended)6
Oral Communication Skills GER3
Social Sciences GER3
PSY A111Introduction to Psychology3
or SOC A101 Introduction to Sociology
STAT A200Elementary Statistics3
WRTG A111Writing Across Contexts3
or WRTG A1W
Written Communication Skills GER
WRTG A212Writing and the Professions3
or WRTG A213 Writing and the Sciences
or WRTG A2W
Written Communication Skills GER
Core Courses
BIOL A240
A240L
Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences
and Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences Laboratory
4
CHEM A321Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM A441Principles of Biochemistry I *3
DN A100The Profession of Dietetics1
DN A151Nutrition Through the Life Cycle3
DN A203Nutrition for Health Sciences3
DN/CA A270Culinary Nutrition3
DN A275Introduction to Culinary Medicine3
DN A301Nutrition Assessment3
DN A312Nutrition Communication and Counseling3
DN A325Food & Nutrition in Modern Alaska3
DN A350Foodservice Systems and Quantity Foods4
DN A355Weight Management and Eating Disorders3
DN A360Sports Nutrition3
DN A401Medical Nutrition Therapy I3
DN A402Medical Nutrition Therapy II4
DN A415Community Nutrition *3
DN A430Research Methods in Nutrition and Dietetics3
DN A450Dietetic Management3
DN A475Advanced Nutrition3
DN A492Senior Seminar in Dietetics2
Total119

A minimum of 120 credits is required for this degree, of which 39 credits must be upper-division.  

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a BS in Dietetics will be able to:

  • Integrate scientific information and the translation of research into practice. 
  • Demonstrate beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviors for the professional dietitian nutritionist level of practice.  
  • Develop nutrition-related information, products and services to individuals, groups, and populations. 
  • Apply principles of management and systems in the provision of nutrition-related services to individuals and organizations.

Sample Plan

The academic plan below is one pathway through the degree/certificate. It includes all requirements, taking into account recommendations from program faculty. Each student’s plan may vary according to their initial course placement, intended course load, additional majors and/or minors, and their placement into required prerequisite courses. Any change in the plan below can have an unforeseen impact on the rest of the plan. Therefore, it is very important to meet with your academic advisor to verify your personal academic plan.

Please review the following terms, definitions, and resources associated with the sample academic plan below.

  • Each course in the far left column links to a pop-up bubble with a course description, prerequisite requirements, and associations with university requirements. For example, if a course fulfills a general education requirement, you will see that in the pop-up bubble.
  • GER: indicates a General Education Requirement. GERs that also count toward degree/certificate requirements appear as a specific course in the plan. For these courses, "GER" is not indicated explicitly in the table, but if you click on the course, you will see the course's GER status in the pop-up bubble.
  • Program Elective: indicates a specific course selection determined by program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
  • Elective: indicates an open selection of 100-400 level university courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate.
  • Upper Division Program Elective: indicates a specific 300-400 level course selection determined by the program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
  • Upper Division Elective: indicates an open selection of 300-400 level courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate. These courses must be upper division in order to meet General University Requirements for the particular degree/certificate type.
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
BIOL A111
A111L
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
4
DN A151 Nutrition Through the Life Cycle 3
HLTH A151 Breaking Trail on Your Health and Social Services Career 3
MATH A151 College Algebra for Calculus (or any course for which MATH A151 is a prerequisite or Aleks score of 65 or greater) 4
WRTG A111 Writing Across Contexts 3
 Credits17
Spring
BIOL A112
A112L
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
4
DN A203 Nutrition for Health Sciences 3
WRTG A212
Writing and the Professions (or WRTG A2W)
or Writing and the Sciences
3
GER Humanities 1 3
GER Oral Communications 3
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
CHEM A105
A105L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
4
DN A100 The Profession of Dietetics 1
DN A270 Culinary Nutrition 3
GER Humanities 3
GER Social Sciences 1 3
 Credits14
Spring
BIOL A108 Principles and Methods in Biology 6
CHEM A106
A106L
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Laboratory
4
DN A275 Introduction to Culinary Medicine 3
PSY A111 Introduction to Psychology 3
 Credits16
Third Year
Fall
BIOL A240
A240L
Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences
and Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences Laboratory
4
CHEM A321 Organic Chemistry I 3
DN A301 Nutrition Assessment 3
DN A312 Nutrition Communication and Counseling 3
DN A325 Food & Nutrition in Modern Alaska 3
 Credits16
Spring
DN A350 Foodservice Systems and Quantity Foods 4
DN A355 Weight Management and Eating Disorders 3
STAT A200 Elementary Statistics 3
GER Fine Arts 3
Elective 3
 Credits16
Fourth Year
Fall
CHEM A441 Principles of Biochemistry I 3
DN A360 Sports Nutrition 3
DN A401 Medical Nutrition Therapy I 3
DN A430 Research Methods in Nutrition and Dietetics 3
DN A492 Senior Seminar in Dietetics 1
 Credits13
Spring
DN A402 Medical Nutrition Therapy II 4
DN A415 Community Nutrition 3
DN A450 Dietetic Management 3
DN A475 Advanced Nutrition 3
DN A492 Senior Seminar in Dietetics 1
 Credits14
 Total Credits122
1

Choose a course that also fulfills the Alaska-Native Themed GER or Intercultural Fluency GER.