Dietitian courses provide students with the skills necessary to incorporate nutrition into meal and menu planning. The two of the most basic courses for aspiring dietitians are Nutrition Science and Food Science. These courses provide the foundation that will lead students to become dietitians. Nutrition Science provides an overview of the human body and nutrition. Students will learn about the "production, processing, evaluation and utilization of foods in nutrition," according to EducationPortal.com. In Food Science courses, students learn about food supplies and the regulations that control the production of food to ensure safety. Students will also learn about food preservation.
Other dietitian courses prepare students for more specialized work, such as overseeing the planning and preparation of food in hospitals, nursing homes and schools. Community Nutrition, Menu Planning and Trends in Food are other courses that make up part of the dietitian curriculum. Community Nutrition helps students to better understand the needs of a community based on available resources. Students study things such as school lunch programs and food assistance clinics. Menu Planning prepares students for work in the restaurant industry, teaching students to create meals and write menus. Trends in Food allow students to study various food trends and how they relate to health and nutrition.
Many online schools provide dietitian courses and degree programs. Kaplan University offers a Bachelor of Science in nutrition. Ashworth College provides nutrition diet and health coursework as part of a diploma program. Students who wish to pursue a master's degree can study online at Benedictine University.
Many colleges and universities across the country are popular for their dietitian coursework. Eastern Michigan University offers both a bachelor's and master's degree program for dietitians. Seton Hill University is located in Pennsylvania and offers courses taught by registered dietitians. California State University offers coursework in addition to internships and seminars for students studying dietetics in Long Beach. North Dakota State University offers a combination of classroom and clinical experience. Ohio State University offers the first ADA-recognized coordinated medical dietetics program in the country in which students can pursue a bachelor's, master's or Ph.D.