-
Gretchen Arnold
CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR -
Jennifer Chadbourne
CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR -
Kevin Pietro
CLINICAL ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Nutrition Major: Dietetics Option (B.S.)
Nutrition Major: Dietetics Option (B.S.)

The nutrition program celebrated 100 years of graduates in 2022 and commemorated the milestone with special events and stories thoughout the year. Learn more here.
At UNH, you have three curriculum options (Dietetics Option, Nutrition and Wellness Option, Nutritional Sciences Option) for pursuing a bachelor's degree in nutrition. Students typically declare an option within the nutrition major no later than the second semester of their sophomore year.
The UNH Nutrition Major: Dietetics Option B.S. is accredited by The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The United States Department of Education recognizes ACEND as an accrediting body.
Website: https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend
Email: ACEND@eatright.org
Phone: 800-877-1600, ext. 5400
Mailing Address: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995.
What is dietetics?
Dietetics is the study of the ways in which food and nutrition affect human health. Students in this program learn how to provide nutrition information to individuals and families to improve their health and wellbeing. This degree option is the first step toward becoming a registered dietitian, who is someone engaged in the assessment, diagnoses and treatment of nutritional problems.
Why study dietetics at UNH?
UNH offers a Didactic Program in Dietetics for students interested in becoming registered dietitians. The curriculum, which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), provides a strong foundation in nutrition, food science, dietetics and management, with integrated laboratory and clinical experiences and numerous research opportunities with award-winning faculty. Students can also participate in UNH-in-Italy, a study-abroad program that explores the links between food culture, sustainable agriculture and the policies and issues impacting the country’s food system. Graduates are prepared for the supervised practice leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist, as well as graduate school and entry-level nutrition positions that do not require an RD.
Potential careers
- Business owner
- Consultant (hospitals and care facilities)
- Dietary counseling to individuals
- Food service industries
- Hospitals and nursing care facilities
- Outpatient centers and health practitioner offices
- Registered dietitian
- State and local government agencies
Contact
Michela Lessard
University of New Hampshire
Kendall Hall
129 Main Street
Durham, NH 03824
(603) 862-2130
Curriculum & Requirements
Nutrition is the study of how nutrients and food components function at molecular, cellular, and whole-body levels to impact human health and disease. Students are grounded in fundamental sciences as they develop nutrition-specific competencies in nutrition and health, foods, nutritional assessment, wellness, life cycle nutrition, and/or metabolic biochemistry.
The nutrition program prepares students for entry-level positions in health care, education, or the biotechnology industry, or entry into post-baccalaureate professional programs. Nutrition faculty have expertise in clinical nutrition, sports nutrition, and food science, as well as assessing risk factors of chronic disease risk (i.e. obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular, cognitive) in diverse populations (pediatric, young adult, older adult).
The curriculum for the Dietetics option is accredited by the Academic Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Students who complete the B.S. in Nutrition with the Dietetics option are eligible to apply for a dietetic internship, a prerequisite for becoming a registered dietitian.
SAMPLE Course Sequence for Dietetics
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
NUTR 400 | Nutrition in Health and Well Being | 4 |
NUTR 401 | Professional Perspectives on Nutrition | 1 |
BMS 507 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
SOC 400 or PSYC 401 |
Introductory Sociology or Introduction to Psychology |
4 |
ENGL 401 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
Credits | 17 | |
Spring | ||
NUTR 476 | Nutritional Assessment | 4 |
BMS 508 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
HMP 401 | United States Health Care Systems | 4 |
Discovery Course | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
CHEM 403 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
NUTR 403 | Culinary Arts Skills Development | 4 |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
PSYC 402 |
Statistics in Psychology | |
SOC 402 |
Statistics | |
BIOL 528 |
Applied Biostatistics I | |
Inquiry Course | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
NUTR 504 | Managerial Skills in Dietetics | 4 |
CHEM 404 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
Discovery Course | 4 | |
Elective (any course) | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall | ||
NUTR 550 | Food Science: Principle and Practice | 4 |
NUTR 610 | Nutrition Education and Counseling | 4 |
BMS 501 | Microbes in Human Disease | 4 |
CHEM 545 & CHEM 546 |
Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory |
5 |
Credits | 17 | |
Spring | ||
NUTR 600 | Field Experience in Nutrition | 2 |
NUTR 650 | Life Cycle Nutrition | 4 |
NUTR 773 | Clinical Nutrition | 4 |
BMCB 658 | General Biochemistry ( (no lab required)) | 3 |
Discovery Course | 4 | |
Credits | 17 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall | ||
NUTR 700 | Career Development in Dietetics | 1 |
NUTR 750 | Nutritional Biochemistry | 4 |
NUTR 775 | Practical Applications in Medical Nutrition Therapy | 4 |
Discovery Course | 4 | |
Elective (any course) | 1-4 | |
Credits | 14-17 | |
Spring | ||
NUTR 720 | Community Nutrition | 4 |
NUTR 780 | Critical Issues in Nutrition | 4 |
Discovery Course | 4 | |
Elective (any course) | 3-4 | |
Credits | 15-16 | |
Total Credits | 128-132 |
A grade of C-minus or better must be earned in all NUTR courses required by the major.
Foundation Courses
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
BMS 507 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
BMS 508 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
SOC 400 | Introductory Sociology | 4 |
or PSYC 401 | Introduction to Psychology | |
Choose ONE statistics course | 4 | |
BIOL 528 | Applied Biostatistics I | |
PSYC 402 | Statistics in Psychology | |
SOC 402 | Statistics |
Science Core Courses
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CHEM 403 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
CHEM 404 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
BMS 501 | Microbes in Human Disease | 4 |
CHEM 545 & CHEM 546 | Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 5 |
BMCB 658 | General Biochemistry | 3 |
Nutrition Core Courses
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
NUTR 400 | Nutrition in Health and Well Being | 4 |
NUTR 401 | Professional Perspectives on Nutrition | 1 |
NUTR 476 | Nutritional Assessment | 4 |
NUTR 650 | Life Cycle Nutrition | 4 |
Dietetics Option Courses
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
NUTR 403 | Culinary Arts Skills Development | 4 |
NUTR 504 | Managerial Skills in Dietetics | 4 |
NUTR 550 | Food Science: Principle and Practice | 4 |
NUTR 610 | Nutrition Education and Counseling | 4 |
NUTR 700 | Career Development in Dietetics | 1 |
NUTR 720 | Community Nutrition | 4 |
NUTR 750 | Nutritional Biochemistry | 4 |
NUTR 773 | Clinical Nutrition | 4 |
NUTR 775 | Practical Applications in Medical Nutrition Therapy | 4 |
NUTR 780 | Critical Issues in Nutrition | 4 |
HMP 401 | United States Health Care Systems | 4 |
Dietetics Capstone Experience
One capstone experience, supervised and approved within the major, is required of all seniors. The capstone explores areas of interest based on the integration of prior learning. The capstone requirement for Dietetics students is satisfied through the completion of NUTR 720 Community Nutrition or NUTR 780 Critical Issues in Nutrition during their senior year.
NOTE: Both NUTR 720 Community Nutrition and NUTR 780 Critical Issues in Nutrition are required courses; one of these courses must be taken during the student's senior year to fulfill the university's capstone requirement.
- Demonstrate how to locate, interpret, evaluate and use professional literature to make ethical, evidence-based practice decisions. Writing assignment
- Use current information technologies to locate and apply evidence-based guidelines and protocols.
- Apply critical thinking skills.
- Demonstrate effective and professional oral and written communication and documentation.
- Describe the governance of nutrition and dietetics practice, such as the Scope of Nutrition and Dietetics Practice and the Code of Ethics for the Profession of Nutrition and Dietetics; and describe interprofessional relationships in various practice settings.
- Assess the impact of a public policy position on nutrition and dietetics practice.
- Discuss the impact of health care policy and different health care delivery systems on food and nutrition services.
- Identify and describe the work of interprofessional teams and the roles of others with whom the registered dietitian nutritionist collaborates in the delivery of food and nutrition services.
- Demonstrate an understanding of cultural competence/sensitivity.
- Demonstrate identification with the nutrition and dietetics profession through activities such as participation in professional organizations and defending a position on issues impacting the nutrition and dietetics profession.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the importance and expectations of a professional in mentoring and precepting others.
- Use the Nutrition Care Process to make decisions, identify nutrition-related problems and determine and evaluate nutrition interventions.
- Develop an educational session or program/educational strategy for a target population.
- Demonstrate counseling and education methods to facilitate behavior change for and enhance wellness for diverse individuals and groups.
- Explain the processes involved in delivering quality food and nutrition services.
- Describe basic concepts of nutritional genomics.
- Apply management theories to the development of programs or services.
- Evaluate a budget and interpret financial data.
- Describe the regulation system related to billing and coding, what services are reimbursable by third party payers, and how reimbursement may be obtained.
- Apply the principles of human resource management to different situations.
- Describe safety principles related to food, personnel and consumers.
- Analyze data for assessment and evaluate data to be used in decision-making for continuous quality improvement.
Explore Program Details
Initial Admission to the major as a First-year or Transfer Student
Students entering the University as first-year or transfer students may declare Nutrition as part of the UNH admission process. First-year and transfer students who are admitted directly into Nutrition will be assigned an academic faculty advisor who will work with you throughout your course of study.
Declaring the Major as a Continuing Student within UNH
We welcome applications from UNH students who wish to transfer to the Nutrition Major from other degree programs. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
The following guidelines will be used in review of submissions from UNH students wishing to transfer into the Nutrition Program.
Transfer Requirements for Existing UNH Students
All students wishing to transfer into the Nutrition Program must have:
- Earned a minimum of 12 UNH credits
- Completed or be enrolled in NUTR 400 and NUTR 401
All students may transfer into one of the following:
- Nutrition: No Option
- Nutrition: Nutrition & Wellness
- Nutrition: Nutritional Sciences
Students interested in transferring into the Nutrition: Dietetics Option, must also meet the following 3 requirements:
- Minimum GPA of 3.2
- Minimum earned grade in introductory nutrition (e.g. NUTR 400) = B
- Minimum earned grade in one semester of chemistry w/lab or anatomy/physiology with lab = C+
To facilitate a change of major into Nutrition, students will submit an application requesting the transfer from another degree program.
Students admitted to the Nutrition major at UNH are required to declare, and be formally admitted into, one of the following options:
Nutrition majors designate an option once they have successfully completed: 1) NUTR 400, 2) NUTR 401, & 3) BMS 507 or CHEM 403 (CHEM 411 for Wellness). The Fall and Spring semester deadlines are September 15th and February 15th, respectively
Description of the Program
The University of New Hampshire Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is a baccalaureate program which provides students with the foundation knowledge and learning outcomes to fulfill the competencies established by The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The program consists of four years of academic coursework equaling 128 credit hours of coursework, which includes DPD courses, general education courses, and electives.
The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Policies & Procedures Handbook is a guide for undergraduate students admitted into the Dietetics Option.
Program Mission
The mission of the dietetics program at the University of New Hampshire is to provide a quality baccalaureate program for students seeking careers in dietetics. The program is designed to meet the accreditation standards for foundation knowledge and learning outcomes of the The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics by providing a strong science-based foundation with a professional preparation in nutrition, food science, dietetics and management with integrated laboratory and clinical experiences. Students are encouraged to participate in outreach activities in addition to research, service, and academic activities. Graduates will be prepared for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist, as well as graduate school and entry-level nutrition positions that do not require an RD.
Post-graduate Opportunities
Dietetics graduates, who complete a post-graduate dietetic internship and pass the national Registration Examination for Dietitians are eligible for jobs in:
- medical nutrition therapy at healthcare facilities
- state and local government agencies
- food service industries
- private practice
Dietetics students, who choose not to apply for a post-graduate dietetic internship or take a “gap year” before applying for a dietetic internship are eligible for jobs in:
- state and local government agencies
- nonprofit and community organizations
- wellness promotion at schools, fitness center, or within the industry
DPD program graduates are also eligible to take the registration examination for dietetic technicians to become a Nutrition and Dietetic Technician Registered (NDTR). Professionals that hold this credential may work independently or under the supervision of an RDN in a variety of settings including:
- healthcare facilities
- schools
- state and local government agencies
- health clubs
Requirements
Course requirements for the Dietetics Option are found in the undergraduate catalog. A grade of C- or better must be earned in all NUTR courses required by the major. Students admitted to the Dietetics Option must maintain a cumulative GPA of ≥ 3.2.
CHANAS is a wonderful venue for those interested in undergraduate and graduate research projects. Each semester UNH students work as research assistants for the project and, in the process, gain valuable research and clinical skills.
Advising is available for UNH students, alumni, and post baccalaureates pursuing health professional careers.
The Pre-Health Advising Office provides support throughout the process of preparing for health professions school from advising on the courses they should take to helping navigate through the complex steps of the application process.
The UNH Nutrition: Dietetics Option B.S. is accredited by The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The United States Department of Education recognizes ACEND as an accrediting body.
Website: https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend
Email: ACEND@eatright.org
Phone: 800-877-1600, ext. 5400
Mailing Address: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995.