EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University’s online Bachelor of Science in Dietetics program has been ranked fourth in the nation in a review of schools across the nation by AffordableColleges.com, which cites the program’s quality and affordability.

Eastern Michigan’s listing notes that the program is also available as a second bachelor’s degree, allowing students who hold a bachelor’s in any other field to forgo general education courses and move straight into dietetics major course requirements.

The EMU online nutrition degree, which requires 128 credits, includes a business entrepreneurship concentration, giving students the business management skills to start their own dietetics practice. Online students gain hands-on experience through Supervised Practice Experience hours with a registered dietitian in private practice.

“The rapidly growing field of nutritional sciences has never been so critical as it is today, as the American population increasingly struggles with conditions like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease,” the AffordableColleges.com website says. “Food choice is a contributing factor to all of these diseases, and the expertise provided by nutrition professionals can provide life-saving benefits to those who suffer from debilitating health issues.”

“We are honored to be listed as a top dietetics program in the country,” said professor Olivia Ford, co-director of Eastern’s Dietetics and Human Nutrition Program. “We are proud of both our on-campus program and our online program, which was the first such online program accredited by our national governing body.”

Enhancements to the dietetics program facilities – including a state-of-the-art kitchen – were among the recent $10 million in renovations to the Rackham Building, which houses a variety of health-related programs.

AffordableColleges.com says it seeks to help prospective students find schools and programs that match their educational interests while still being affordable. The site attempts to draw a distinction between programs that appear inexpensive and those that pay off in the longer term.

A bachelor’s degree in dietetics at EMU, culminating with the registered dietitian credential (after passing the national registration exam), provides a variety of options for employment, including in the clinical area in hospitals, long-term care facilities, specialized health care settings and insurance companies.

In addition, there are opportunities in the community, including positions in federal and state programs such as the Women, Infant and Children’s Nutrition Program, Head Start, and Area on Aging. The food service industry is also a place for employment including hospitals, long-term care facilities, corporate operations, and school systems.

Other areas where dietitians provide their expertise include sports nutrition, universities, private practice, research, writing, and other government agencies such as the FDA and the USDA.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves 22,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.