Registered Dietitian
Registered Dietitians (RDs) are the food and nutrition experts who can translate the science behind nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living. As experts in the field of nutrition, Registered Dietitians create dietary modifications for disease prevention, treatment, and improvement of overall health.
Registered Dieticians use their nutrition expertise to
- Help develop and implement an individualized care plan
- Promote the patient’s understanding and management of their condition
- Optimize quality of life
- Improve clinical outcomes
Effective January 1, 2024, a master’s degree is required to take the exam to become an RD
Registered Dietitian Prerequisites
NOTE: Specific prerequisite courses can vary by school--always double-check the website of each program you are applying to for specific requirements. Please review the CSUSB Catalog as a guide to completing the CSUSB prerequisites.
Though some coursework is only needed for one semester, do keep in mind the courses can be sequential, meaning you have to complete two semesters' worth of courses in order to advance to the next prerequisite. (For example: CHEM 2200 is a semester prerequisite for CHEM 2400)
| Prerequisites | CSUSB Courses |
|
Biology: One semester of Microbiology with lab One year of Anatomy and Physiology with lab One semester of General Biology with lab |
BIOL 2200 OR BIOL 3200 BIOL 2230 and BIOL2240 BIOL 2010 |
|
Chemistry: One semester of General Chemistry with lab One semester of Organic Chemistry with lab One semester of Biochemistry with lab |
CHEM 2100 CHEM 2060 OR CHEM 2300 OR CHEM 2400 CHEM 4100 OR HSCI 4661 |
|
Math: One semester of Statistics |
Math 1201 OR HSCI 3205 |
|
Nutrition: One semester of Fundamentals of Human Nutrition |
HSCI 3601 |
- Health Science:
- HSCI 3602 Exposure to Life Cycle Nutrition
- A semester of Psychology or Anthropology or Sociology
How do I become a Registered Dietitian?
- Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's or Master of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from an institution that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Step 2: Completion of a Dietetic Internship (DI) to gain experience in the field
- Usually 1000 - 1200 hours
- Can only be matched with a DI after earning a Bachelor's/Masters degree in nutrition
- Step 3: Take the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Exam
- You have one year from your date of eligibility status to schedule and take the exam
- Step 4: Gain licensure in your state of practice (note that California does not have licensure for RD/RDNs at this time)
- Step 5: Maintain continuing professional education
- Every five years, your registration through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will come up for renewal.
Are there different types of Dietitians?
Yes! In fact, there are 10 different types! They include business, sports, clinical, community, neonatal, consultant, food service, gerontological, pediatric, and research dieticians. For more information on the specific dietitians, please visit New Life Nutrition: Types of Dietitians.
The link below has a list of institutions offering DI:
On campus Children's Center's Nutrition Assistant
- Email a resume and unofficial transcripts to heather.moon@csusb.edu
CSUSB's B.S. in Nutritional Science and Dietetics and M.S. in Nutritional Science
The information above is a general list of Registered Dietitian prerequisite courses and relevant resources. For the complete list of CSUSB course options for CSUSB's Masters of Science in Nutritional Science or Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science and Dietetics, please visit their respective page. There you will find requirements and prerequisite courses specific to their programs. For information more relevant to CSUSB's programs, please visit the Nutritional Science and Dietetics page.