Learn about the 5 Steps to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 

If you have a degree from another country, explore how the Foreign Degree Evaluation Agencies can validate your academic degree to determine if it is equivalent to the bachelor’s or master’s degree conferred by a U.S. regionally-accredited college or university.  Once this step is completed our Academic Coordinator will work with you to thoroughly review your course syllabi to determine which courses may transfer.   

Effective January 1, 2024, a graduate degree will be required to be eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Learn more about the future Routes to Meeting Eligibility Requirements for the Registration Exam for Dietitians.

No. If you have a bachelor's degree in a related field, some classes may transfer. However, you will need to earn a bachelor's degree in dietetics to pursue the RD credential. Contact our Director of Undergraduate Studies, Aaron Schwartz to review your transcripts and discuss the steps you need to take to pursue the RD credential.

Our Accelerated Coordinated Program (ACP) is tailored for dietetic students. This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). It is a fast-track program that consists of 2 years of undergraduate and graduate academic coursework and 7 months of supervised practice experience. Graduates earn a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics, a Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Systems, and a verification statement that allows them to be eligible to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) national registry exam to earn the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential directly after completion of the program. There is a selective admission process for this program with approximately 14 students admitted per class.

All dietetics students are welcome to apply for the Accelerated Coordinated Program in Dietetics. All students apply in the fall semester of "Year 3" in the program, so it would depend on where you are in the sequence of courses. Please contact our Director of the Coordinated Program, Dr. Liz Combs to discuss your options.

Students earning an undergraduate degree in Dietetics and Human Nutrition select one degree program that is the best fit for their future career goals. To learn more, explore our degree programs or schedule a visit with Aaron Schwartz.

A Bachelor of Science in Dietetics puts you on the path to becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutrition (RDN), the world’s leading experts in food and nutrition.

A Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition puts you on the path for professional school. Many students use their degree to prepare for further advanced study in health-related fields, such as medicine, physician assistant studies, nursing, dentistry, occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy or public health.

Beginning January 1, 2024, the  Commission on Dietetic Registration is raising the minimum required education level for prospective registered dietitians from a bachelor’s degree to a graduate degree. New dietitians will be required to hold a master’s or doctoral degree to be considered eligible to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration national registry exam to earn the credential RDN. 

We welcome a diverse pool of applicants from a variety of disciplines. In general we admit students into our graduate program who have a background in dietetics, nutrition, health sciences, kinesiology, or other related field. There are always exceptions and pre-requisites could be a possibility for learning background topics before pursuing an advanced degree in this field. Contact our departmental faculty to learn more about courses you may need if you have an undergraduate degree in an unrelated field.

If you do not have a bachelor's degree in dietetics, you would need to complete all Dietetic Program Didactic courses at the undergraduate level before pursuing our master's program. If you have a degree in a related field, some classes may transfer. Contact our Director of Graduate Studies, Dawn Brewer to review your transcripts and discuss the application process for our master's program.

If you earn a graduate stipend or assistantship, this funding can only be applied to graduate level courses. Undergraduate courses have to be paid for by the student and cannot be included in the stipend or assistantship support. 

The total estimated expense to attend UK, including tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses can be found here. The specific charges for instruction and related services, excluding other living and personal expenses can be found here.

If you earn a graduate stipend or assistantship, this funding can only be applied to on campus graduate courses. If you select to take online courses, you will be responsible for covering extra tuition fees.