Career Opportunities
The Nutrition and Dietetics program at Louisiana Tech University is a generalist program with two concentrations. The RD concentration prepares students for clinical dietetics, community dietetics, and food service management. After successfully completing the undergraduate RD concentration, a dietetic internship and the Registration Examination for Dietitians, graduates are prepared to assume professional positions in health care facilities such as hospitals; community positions in health centers like public health departments and wellness centers; and management positions in food service. The non-RD concentration is for students who do not wish to pursue the RD credential and allows students to select an approved minor in an area that supports their career interests such as family and child studies, gerontology, kinesiology, business, entrepreneurship, journalism, and psychology.
The undergraduate program in Nutrition and Dietetics has been granted accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL, 60606-6995, 312-899-0040 x5400, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the US Department of Education. The RD concentration is designed for students wishing to pursue careers as registered dietitians. The program allows students to master the ACEND Foundation Knowledge Requirements and Learning Outcomes, while earning a BS degree. Students completing the program must also complete a dietetic internship before they are eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians. The dietetic internship at Louisiana Tech University is described in detail in the graduate program section of the University catalog.
Program Information
Students in Nutrition and Dietetics apply for upper division status prior to enrolling in the specialized phase of the program (junior and senior years). Students are eligible for upper division when they have completed at least 54 semester hours, including 35 hours of required courses. Requirements to apply for upper division in the RD concentration include a curriculum grade point average of 2.85 and no grade lower than a “C” in required courses. A 2.85 curriculum GPA, with no grade lower than “C” in all curriculum courses is required to graduate with the RD concentration and receive the ACEND verification statement. Requirements to apply for upper division in the non-RD concentration include a 2.3 GPA and no grade lower than a “C” in required courses. No grade lower than a “C” in all curriculum courses is required to graduate with the non-RD concentration; the ACEND verification statement is not given to students who complete the non-RD concentration.
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