Learn to improve the nutritional health of individuals and communities with your bachelor's at Messiah University, one of the top Christian universities in the U.S. Our accredited nutrition and dietetics major prepares you for careers in medical nutrition, nutrition counseling and community health.
In the Nutrition and Dietetics program, you will take a selection of courses that successfully prepare you for a career in a related field. Hands-on experiences and classroom learning within the framework of Christian faith will give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Our programs offer a wide variety of courses that will not only help you excel in your future career, but challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of your field of study.
Learning in the classroom is important but actually applying that knowledge in a hands-on way can make all the difference. At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real world contexts--such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.
Graduates of the Nutrition and Dietetics program work in positions of leadership in their places of employment, using the tools and knowledge a Messiah University education prepared them with. Each year, eager employers and some of the nation's best graduate schools welcome Messiah graduates into their organizations.
96% of the Class of 2022 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation.
Regional and national employers seek out Messiah graduates for their academic preparation, work ethic and personal character. The transformation you experience at Messiah readies you to transform the lives of others through your chosen career path.
Meet Alumni from the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science
As a student in the nutrition and dietetics major at Messiah University, you will learn how to apply scientific principles, communication techniques and management strategies to improve the nutritional health of individuals and communities. Messiah University is one of the few Christian institutions to offer a dietetics curriculum that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Messiah University Nutrition and Dietetics graduates have a 100% first year pass rate on the National RDN exam!
Nutrition and dietetics students participate in service learning opportunities in the community, as well as hands-on experiences in on-campus labs. Our nutrition and dietetics graduates are well prepared to compete for positions in ACEND-accredited dietetic internships or graduate school, or to obtain jobs as public health nutrition counselors, dietetic technicians or food service managers.
Complete program information, including policies, procedures such as transfer credits, costs, academic calendar, licensure, application and admission requirements, and graduation and program completion requirements can be found in the Nutrition and Dietetics Didactic Program Handbook.
Beginning January 1, 2024 a minimum of a master’s degree is required to take the RDN exam. To adapt to industry changes and prepare you for success, Messiah University offers a Master of Science in nutrition and dietetics that includes a Dietetic Internship (MS/DI). This program is available to students who complete the Messiah University B.S. in nutrition and dietetics and to students with a B.S from other colleges or universities who have completed the course requirements for applying to a dietetic internship through a program accredited by ACEND.
Messiah University offers the opportunity to complete a bachelor's, master's and Dietetic Internship in a 5-year timeframe. While the MS/DI in nutrition and dietetics and the B.S. in nutrition and dietetics remain separate programs, they are designed to offer a clear pathway allowing students, who meet criteria, to move directly and seamlessly into the MS/DI program.
Many Messiah Nutrition and Dietetics graduates become registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). The RDN credential is required for many nutrition jobs, especially those related to health care. Most states require a state license or certification to practice medical nutrition therapy and the RDN credential is the most common way to meet state licensing requirements. The criteria for obtaining the RDN credential are:
Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Messiah University nutrition and dietetics major are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice programs. Messiah also offers an academic verification program for students who already have a bachelor’s degree and wish to take only the additional courses needed to apply to a supervised practice program, and an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship. For more information about educational pathways to become an RDN please visit https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/students-and-advancing-education/information-for-students.
Graduates who do not begin ACEND-accredited supervised practice programs after graduation are employable as dietetic technicians in health care institutions and businesses, nutrition counselors in community nutrition programs and food service managers in health care institutions, schools and industry. Completion of the Messiah University nutrition and dietetics major qualifies graduates to take the national nutrition and dietetics technician, registered (NDTR) exam. Additionally, graduates may choose to continue their education by applying to graduate school in areas such as nutrition science, public health, nutrition education or international nutrition.
For additional information on dietetics education contact ACEND at: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995, 312-899-0040 ext. 5400 or https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend
As a nutrition and dietetics major at Messiah University, you’ll be able to:
The mission of our program is to prepare students for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist and for other careers related to food and nutrition. Graduates will serve and lead with excellence as they provide food and nutrition services grounded in current evidence and biblical principles.
As a graduate of the nutrition and dietetics program, you will be equipped to:
Provide nutrition education in wellness settings such as fitness centers, food banks and community health programs
Assist with the management of food service operations in health care facilities, restaurants or schools
Assist registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) in providing medical nutrition therapy in hospitals and nursing homes
Pursue graduate education in nutrition education or public health
Apply to ACEND-accredited dietetic internships (required in order to become a registered dietitian nutritionist)
Graduates who successfully complete dietetic internships and pass the national Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) Exam are equipped to:
Provide medical nutrition therapy in hospitals, nursing homes, health clinics and businesses
Provide nutrition counseling and education in grocery stores, fitness centers, colleges and universities and businesses
Manage food service operations in health care facilities, schools, food banks and businesses
Help develop new food products and educate consumers as an employee of a food company
For more information on career planning for the nutrition and dietetics program, visit the Messiah University Career and Professional Development Center.
Messiah’s Career and Professional Development Center places students in a variety of nutrition and dietetics hands-on learning experiences. A few examples include working in:
The nutrition and dietetics major is a good choice if you enjoy biology and chemistry as well as working with people. This major has been approved or accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics to provide the academic portion of the requirements for becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) since 1977. Students who do not continue on the pathway to becoming an RDN have successfully pursued careers as community nutritionists, dietetic technicians and food service managers.
Within the nutrition and dietetics major, you’ll study a wide variety of subjects, including anatomy and physiology; inorganic and organic chemistry; food science and technology; nutrition science; management and business; education and counseling; and medical nutrition. Nutrition and Dietetics is a large major, so careful schedule planning is important. As you immerse yourself in classroom and laboratory learning, you’ll develop communication, teamwork, management and problem-solving skills essential to a career in foods manufacturing, food service, community health and medical nutrition. Messiah Nutrition and Dietetics graduates are known for their strong academic preparation and service to others.
