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Dietitian
Dietetics and nutritional care is the health profession concerned with human nutrition, that is, the study of the relationships between components of food and the body's needs. Quality nutritious food is essential in maintaining good health, in preventing or treating illness, and in aiding rehabilitation. There are several career occupations including dietitian, nutritionist, dietetic technician, dietetic manager, dietetic aide and dietetic clerk.
The dietitian is a food specialist responsible for nutritional care and food service. The dietitian plans special diets for hospital patients and teaches groups and individuals nutritional health, especially in food selection and eating habits.
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Administrative dietitian
supervises food service systems in large institutions by managing the large-scale planning, preparation and service of quality nutritious food. Employers include hospitals; universities; schools; and governmental, commercial, and industrial establishments.
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Clinical dietitian
(also called a therapeutic dietitian) assures that nutrition is incorporated as an integral part of a patient's recovery program. The clinical dietitian assesses the nutritional needs of patients, plans their diet and provides dietary counseling for maintenance programs.
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Community dietitian
coordinates the nutritional component and improved health and preventive health in a community. The community dietitian assesses nutritional needs of the population, or portions of it, such as the elderly or adolescents; and then counsels individuals or families on nutrition, food selection and food purchasing. The community dietitian is usually employed by community or government agencies, such as day care centers, senior care centers, and public health facilities.
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Dietetic educator
plans and implements the educational curriculum of dietetic students and the teaching of nutrition to medical, dental, nursing and allied health students. They work in universities, colleges, medical schools or vocational/technical institutions.
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Research dietitian
conducts research for universities, medical centers and food companies in nutrition, nutrition education, food management, food service, and also in the design of food processing equipment.
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With experience, a dietitian may also serve as a consultant on nutrition, nutritional care or food service to hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, day care centers, restaurants or food manufacturing companies.
The nutritionist is more specifically an educator of human nutrition. As a specialist, the nutritionist attempts to solve food problems, control disease, and maintain and promote health through education. Employed in government and voluntary health agencies, public health nutritionists are responsible for the nutritional aspects of community health care and preventive health services. They counsel and instruct the elderly, the poor, adolescents, and mothers with babies and young children on sound nutritional practices including special diets, meal planning, food preparation and food budgeting. A bachelor's degree is required.
Job Outlook
Employment opportunities are expected to increase as a result of the expanding needs of health care facilities, corporate wellness programs, and business and industry.
Educational Requirements
A baccalaureate degree from a college with an ADA-approved program, plus clinical internship is required.
Degrees can be earned in dietetics, food and nutrition or food systems management. Courses cover physical and biological sciences, behavioral and social sciences, nutrition, food service systems management, communication skills, and data processing and evaluation.
Educational Programs - Chicago Area
Illinois Benedictine College
5700 College Road
Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 960-1500 Ext. 1504
http://www.ben.edu/
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Olivet Nazarene University
1 University Ave.
Bourbonnais, IL 60914
(815) 939-5011
http://www.olivet.edu/
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Dominican University
7900 West Division
River Forest, IL 60305
(708) 366-2490
http://www.dom.edu/
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University of Illinois at Chicago
P. O. Box 4348
Chicago, IL 60680
(312) 996-4350
http://www.uic.edu/
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Rush University
Dept. of Clinical Nutrition
425 Triangle Office Bldg.
1752 W. Van Buren St.
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 942-5926
http://www.rushu.rush.edu/
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Other Programs - Illinois
Bradley University
1501 West Bradley Avenue
Peoria, IL 61625
(309) 676-7611
http://www.bradley.edu/
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Eastern Illinois University
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 581-5300
http://www.eiu.edu/
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Illinois State University
North and School Streets
Normal, IL 61761
(309) 438-2111
http://www.ilstu.edu
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Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115-2854
(815) 753-1543
http://www.niu.edu/
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Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Woody Hall
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 536-4405
http://www.siu.edu/
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1401 West Green St.
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-4646
http://www.uiuc.edu/
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Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455
(309) 298-1414
http://www.wiu.edu/
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