BS Nutrition and Dietetics

Dietetics — the application of food and nutrition knowledge to promote health, prevent disease and minimize disability — is a rapidly growing profession in allied health. Dietitians are dedicated to helping the public attain better health and longevity through the use of sound nutrition practices. Saint Louis University's nutrition and dietetics program is one of the few in the nation that allows you to become both a registered dietitian nutritionist and a certified chef. Graduates are prepared with foundation knowledge and skills to enter the field of nutrition.Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts who are dedicated to improving lives through nutrition. RDNs use their nutrition expertise to help individuals and groups make lifestyle changes to both prevent and treat nutrition-related illnesses. Translating the science of nutrition into solutions for healthy living, RDNs are equipped with the knowledge to impact lives.To become a registered dietitian, students must:The Saint Louis University Dietetics Association is the on-campus organization established by students to promote nutrition and dietetics and to provide student opportunities for leadership and service. Departmental welcome picnics, open houses, holiday parties and research presentations allow students to socialize with faculty and peers.Spend time in the Salus Center Kitchen or Fresh Gatherings Café — a modern culinary food lab and student-run dining facility — to gain experience planning, preparing and serving meals.*Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited program at Saint Louis University are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program/apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN. For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN, please click here.To thrive in a community that promotes and seeks truth about food and nutrition. Woven into the fabric of this community are multifaceted educational pursuits to promote a food-centered culture for health and wellness, scholarly exploration, and an appreciation of the global and ecological community in which we exist.