Welcome to Nutrition & Dietetics
On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students in the Nutrition & Dietetics program in the Department of Individual, Family and Community Education, we would like to welcome you to our website. We offer programs of study leading to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Master of Science (M.S.), as well as a nutrition minor, and an ACEND accredited Dietetic Internship.
The Nutrition & Dietetics Program prepares nutrition professionals to work in public health, clinical care, or management. Our faculty is student-oriented. We welcome the opportunity to work with students and help them grow to their full potential. The Nutrition Program faculty is involved in clinical and public health research that examines nutritional and lifestyle determinants of health to provide data for the best evidence-based nutrition practices.\
Thank you for considering the Nutrition and Dietetics program at the University of New Mexico. Please contact us with any questions. We look forward to welcoming you to our program.
Peter Pribis, DrPH, MD, RDN, FAND
Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)
Undergraduate
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics
(Didactic Program in Dietetics)
The baccalaureate program prepares individuals for the profession of dietetics by providing a sound background in foundation knowledge and skills needed in areas of dietetics practice: community, clinical, and food service management. By maintaining accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), we assure that graduates are eligible to pursue the additional training required for registered dietitian status. Graduates are also prepared to apply for graduate study upon completion of the baccalaureate program.
Post-Baccalaureate Preparation (Second Degree)
Nutrition and Dietetics, B.S. (Didactic Program in Dietetics)
The post-baccalaureate Didactic Program in Dietetics is intended for students who want to become registered dietitians (RD) and have an undergraduate degree without completion of core coursework approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education. If the undergraduate degree is not in nutrition, it is likely that this core coursework has not been completed. This coursework is called the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). Following completion of the DPD, students will need to apply and be admitted to a dietetic internship. Completion of a dietetic internship is required before taking the Registration Examination for Dietitians. Contact the Nutrition and Dietetics Program office for information on dietetic internships.
Minor in Nutrition
The minor in nutrition will complement major study in basic natural sciences such as biology, chemistry, and biochemistry, as well as social sciences such as anthropology, sociology, psychology, and human geography. The minor in nutrition will also be of interest to students in pre-medical and pre-dental curricula; to students of health promotion and physical education; to students in the allied health professionals; and to students in general family studies, and in child development and family relations. The minor in nutrition is not a teacher certification minor.
Graduate
Master of Science in Nutrition
The master of science in nutrition is designed to prepare students for careers in the field of Nutrition and Dietetics, including opportunities in administrative, clinical dietetics, and community nutrition programs. It is desirable that the student has an undergraduate major in nutrition/dietetics. Students without prior preparation in nutrition should contact a nutrition graduate advisor for more information. Our phone number is (505)-277-4535.
Mission of the Nutrition & Dietetics Program
The mission of the Nutrition & Dietetics Program at the UNM is to (1) prepare students for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the credentialing exam to become registered dietitian nutritionists who will serve their clients in diverse settings in New Mexico, the nation, and the world, (2) to prepare competent nutrition professionals that are able to apply medical nutrition therapy, (3) conduct research, (4) provide public health nutrition activities in the community to positively impact the health and well-being of multicultural and diverse populations in local, regional, and national communities, and (5) to provide education to allied health professional programs and students (medicine, pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, public health) to facilitate collaborative opportunities.
The Nutrition & Dietetics Program faculty conducts clinical and public health research through the University and community collaborations to examine nutritional determinants of health and to provide data for the best evidence-based practice.
Requirements to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) is a health professional that assists people of any age to attain optimal nutritional status. A career in nutrition requires significant formal education.
