Dietetic Programs
A dietetic program is one that prepares students for a career as a dietician. Dietetic programs also enable students to apply for Dietetic Internships or Pre-professional Practice Programs. These programs allow students to seek membership in the American Dietetic Association. In order to become a Registered Dietitian RD; individuals are required to enroll themselves in different dietetic programs. Dietitians or nutritionists are healthcare professionals who plan and develop diet programs for the purpose of improving public health. Dietitians work in different healthcare facilities including public healthcare center, food distribution facilities, and others.
Educational Requirements
The minimum education required to become a dietitian is a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, nutrition, or any other field related to health science. The duration of a bachelor’s degree in dietetics or nutrition is 4 years. During this degree program, students study different courses including nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, quality food production, human nutrition, and others. After pursing a bachelor’s degree, some dietitians want to seek advanced opportunities in the field of research and public health. These positions require candidates to pursue a master’s degree in Dietitians. A master’s degree in Dietitian includes different courses including metabolism, advanced research methods, developmental nutrition, nutritional biochemistry, and others. Students also have an option to enroll for an online degree or an online certification if they need to carry out other responsibilities alongside their educational pursuits.
Career Outlook
Dietitians are professionals who are experts in the field of food and nutrition. The job duties of dietitians include advising people on a diet plan, a healthy lifestyle, and their overall health. There are different career options that are available for dietitians including nursing homes, public health institutions, research institutions, hospitals, and others. Some dietitians are also self-employed. There are different advanced opportunities that are also available for dietitians. Experienced and qualified dietitians also have opportunities to become an associate or even with experience director of a dietetic department. There are some dietitians who opt for some specialized areas for practice such as pediatric dietetics or renal dietetics. Some dietitians also start their career as sales representatives and work with pharmaceutical, food manufacturers, and other organizations. In the year 2010, the number of jobs available for dietitians was 64,400. From the year 2010 to 2020, the job outlook of dietitians is expected to grow by 20% which is faster than average (www.bls.gov). Career outlook of dietitians is expected to grow faster than average because of an increase in the number of jobs. The demand for nutritional counseling and a balanced-diet is increasing with the passage of time. It is because a large number of people have become aware of the requirements of a healthy lifestyle. With the awareness of people, the demand for dietitians in community health programs, schools, and hospitals will also grow. Dietitians and nutritionists work for average 40 hours a week. Some dietitians also work on weekends.
Salary Forecast
In 2010, the average pay of dietitians and nutritionists was $53,250 (www.bls.gov). The salary of dietitians and nutritionists may vary according to their level of experience, skills, and education. Salaries of dietitians may also differ on the basis of organizations and settings in which they are working.
Career promotion, financial independence, and freedom of choice are some of the rewards which can be yours if you opt to study in this field. Either decide to develop further in your current field of employment, or choose to learn about an entirely new field that stimulates your mind. Once that’s done, you can start hunting for the course that will help you open the doors that have always been closed to you.
The healthcare industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the country, and according to the US Bureau of Labor this growth is likely to continue for at least the next ten years. Health administration is the backbone of effective healthcare and there is a high demand for skilled administrators and managers.
Health administration degrees can be studied online at associate, bachelor, masters and doctoral level. You will learn strategic, analytical, problem-solving and management skills, preparing you for health care administration and management careers in hospitals, insurance providers, and within the government. Salaries and positions will reflect your level of expertise.
