Nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics is an ACEND-accredited program that explores nutrition through clinical and management courses. Dietetics is the practice of integrating biochemical, physiological, social, and managerial concepts into the science of nutrition to achieve a healthy lifestyle.
What will I learn in nutrition and dietetics?
As a nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics student, you’ll learn about the science behind what we eat and how food can be used to treat and prevent disease. You courses will explore microbiology, physiology, psychology, biochemistry, and nutrition.
If you’re interested in becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), this program is the first step of your journey.
What can I do with a nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics major?
Nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics graduates are prepared for careers educating people about nutrition with hospitals, clinics, and universities; conducting clinical research with healthcare, food, and pharmaceutical companies; sports nutrition, and corporate wellness programs.
To become a RDN, you will need to complete the nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics undergraduate program, a supervised practice internship program, and pursue a master’s degree. Learn more about becoming a RDN. With an increased emphasis on the role of food and nutrition in treating and preventing disease, employment of registered dietitians is projected to grow faster than other occupations.
The Department of Nutritional Sciences offers two ways to earn a master’s degree:
- Accelerated (4+1) Master’s of Science in Clinical Nutrition – Start completing graduate courses during your last year of your undergraduate degree
- Online Master’s of Science in Clinical Nutrition – A four semester, online program
Application and admission information
Prospective students interested in the nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics program should declare the nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics major when applying to UW–Madison. When you are admitted, you will be listed as an intended dietetics student.
Upon completion of the prerequisite courses and meeting GPA requirements, you will meet with your academic advisor to apply to the nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics program.
When applying for the program, students should consider if they’d like to pursue a master’s degree — a master’s is required to become a RDN. Students who want to pursue the Accelerated (4+1) Master’s of Science in Clinical Nutrition pathway should indicate their interest when applying to the nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics program with their advisor.
Once accepted into the nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics program, you will be assigned a faculty advisor in addition to your academic advisor.
Students must submit:
- Completed program application
- Unofficial copy of UW–Madison transcript
- Evaluation of transfer credits and official copies of transcripts from all transfer institutions (if applicable)
Provide this information in one packet to your advisor by July 5 for fall admission and January 5 for spring admission.
Accelerated (4+1) Master’s of Science in Clinical Nutrition (MSCN) Pathway
The Department of Food Science and Nutritional Sciences offers a pathway for students pursuing a degree in nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics to complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree in as little as five years.
If enrolled in the Accelerated (4+1) MSCN Pathway, undergraduate students that graduate with a degree in nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics in either the fall or spring semester can complete the Master’s of Science in Clinical Nutrition (MSCN) within just 12 months following graduation.
Program details
When applying for the nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics program, students should indicate their interest in the Accelerated (4+1) MSCN Pathway. After committee review, approved students will meet with their advisor and be given permission to enroll in selective MSCN courses during their final year of study.
Accelerated MSCN Pathway students should apply for the MSCN program during their final semester of study in the nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics bachelor’s degree by submitting a UW–Madison Graduate School Application. Accelerated MSCN Pathway students who follow this timeline will be eligible for admission to the MSCN degree program the semester after graduation, assuming a minimum 3.00 GPA is maintained. Visit the MSCN program page to learn more.
What can I do on campus?
Learn through real-world experiences
Required courses expose students to clinical problem solving, assessing medical record data, evaluating food intake, planning modified diets, and reviewing medical and research literature related to certain diseases or conditions. This training develops critical thinking, teamwork, and communication skills needed by dietetic interns and registered dietitians.
Join a student organization
Make friends, develop leadership skills, compete in competitions, and learn new things in student organizations and extracurriculars! The Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences sponsors two student organizations and three competitive teams.
Advising
Faculty advisors
Students admitted into the nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics program will be assigned a faculty advisor in addition to their academic advisor.
FAQ
If you have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics from UW–Madison, you will receive a verification statement. This statement is required for entry into a Dietetic Supervised Practice Program (Internship). Acceptance into an internship looks at many factors. Some of these include:
- Overall undergraduate GPA and GPA in science and professional courses (3.3 or above, although a slightly lower GPA may be accepted along with strong work or volunteer experience)
- Dietetics-related work and volunteer experience
- Leadership experience
- Letters of recommendation
- Letter of application
- Interview
Acceptance can be highly competitive depending on which dietetic internship you apply to. The nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics program at UW–Madison prepares all its graduates for successful placement into a dietetic internship. Nearly all students who apply for dietetic internships are placed.
UW–Madison graduates of the nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics program also show high success rates on the registration exam (>90% on the first try, surpassing the national average).
Dietetic internships are supervised practice programs that are part of the requirements to take the RDN exam. These internships begin after completing a bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences, nutrition an dietetics. During the internship, knowledge and skills learned in your coursework are applied in actual work settings.
The verification statement attests to your successful completion of the nutritional sciences, nutrition and dietetics program. Every student will need a verification statement before they start their Dietetic Supervised Practice Program — you cannot start your internship without one. Your verification statements will be sent directly to you, not your internship program.
If you have graduated, you may obtain a verification statement by submitting the following to Tara LaRowe at tllarowe@wisc.edu:
- Official UW–Madison transcript with the degree posted
- Official transcripts from all other college/universities attended (unless submitted previously)
- Request Form – Verification Statement
- Academic Requirement Checklist
Please allow 1-2 weeks for completion of the verification statement.
If you have not submitted the proper documentation to Tara LaRowe prior to requesting the form via DICAS, your request will be denied. Once the appropriate form has been completed, you will be able to review it and then add your electronic signature so it can be included in your application. If you are matched, you will need to send a “hard copy” to the internship program.
Yes! The department awards around $50,000 through numerous scholarships every academic year. The CALS Scholarships and Awards page has additional information on how to apply for scholarships.