About our Nutrition and Dietetics Specialization

Our Food Science and Nutrition degree offers a specialization in nutrition and dietetics, preparing you for a career as a registered dietitian. This program teaches you to effectively communicate, analyze, problem-solve, and perform high quality work. You will leave CWU as a knowledgeable practitioner, contributing to the profession of nutrition and dietetics. 

The dietetics specialization fulfills the requirements of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics for a Didactic Program in Dietetics. The DPD program is currently granted continuing accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

Dietetics alumni survey in 2017-18 revealed of graduates who seek employment, 100% were employed in nutrition or dietetics or a related field within 12 months of program completion.

Why Specialize in Nutrition and Dietetics at CWU?

The aim of this specialization is to prepare you for supervised practice in order to be eligible to take the CDR credentialing exam to become registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). This program creates life-long learners and highly trained nutrition scholars. 

Program Highlights

Where is this program offered?

Ellensburg 

If you are transferring into this program from another school, more information can be found through our Transfer Center. 

How much does this program cost?

Find out how much this program costs through the registrar

Internships

CWU offers an accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) Program through the Department of Health Sciences. The Dietetic Internship is currently granted full accreditation (through Dec. 31, 2027) by ACEND. For more information, see our Dietetic Internship Overview.

Careers and Outcomes

There is an increased interest in the role of food in promoting health and wellness, particularly as a part of preventative healthcare in medical settings.
The importance of diet in preventing and treating illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease is now well known. More dietitians and nutritionists will be needed to provide care for people with these conditions. 

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Area ranked #6 in Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Dietitians and Nutritionists: Annual Wage: $69,030 

Degree Information

For information regarding admission requirements, required and elective courses, and Dietetics Specialization courses, please reference the 2022-2023 Academic Catalog or our comprehensive Dietetics Handbook.

To apply, reference our Nutrition Advising Forms

Recommended Academic Plan

• The *courses listed in the junior year allow you to apply for the Dietetic Specialization at the end of your junior year. You need a GPA in the pre-specialization courses of a 3.0 or better to be admitted. 
• It is strongly recommended that students schedule NUTR 490 Cooperative Field Experience, 5+ credits in the summer following the junior or senior year. If the student seeks a clinical experience, it is strongly encouraged that the student completes NUTR 344 Medical Nutrition Therapy before initiating the experience.
• To graduate, a student needs to complete at least 180 total credits with 60 credits at the 300 or 400 level in addition to completing the major requirements above. There are 73 credits in the major at the 300 or 400 level unless courses are substituted from another institution at a lower level. 
• Note that NUTR 440/445 - Experimental Foods/Research has a large number of prerequisites that are needed in order for one to produce a successful food research project. Those prerequisites are NUTR 240, NUTR 340, CHEM 112, and MATH 211 (or other statistics class). Please plan your schedule to take these classes before taking NUTR 440.
• Note that NUTR 444 - Medical Nutrition Therapy has a number of prerequisites. Those prerequisites are NUTR 443, and CHEM 113. Please plan your schedule to take these classes before taking NUTR 444.
• Prerequisites for full admission to the major are NUTR 101, NUTR 240 (LAB), and CHEM 111 (LAB) (or CHEM 180 (LAB) series).  You can be admitted as a pre-major before completing these courses. However, these courses are prerequisites for many other courses in the program and should be taken as early in your studies as possible. Also, as a pre-major CAPS will not do a program requirement assessment.
• Community college transfer students: if you have not had all the courses listed in the freshman & sophomore years (except for CHEM 113/L), it is extremely difficult to complete this program in two years. These students should plan on either attending one summer session or expect to stay beyond two years (six quarters).
• EXSC 350 (LAB) and 351 (LAB) can be substituted for BIOL 355 (LAB) and 356 (LAB).

Contact Information

Dr. Nicole Stendell-Hollis
Diectics Director
Office 302-K Extension: x3360
Nicole.Stendell-Hollis@cwu.edu