Nutrition and Dietetics
The nutrition and dietetics capstone experiences integrates scientific principles of nutrition with critical thinking and communication skills. The capstone prepares students to conduct and interpret research and to communicate evidence-based nutrition advice and counseling.
Students in this capstone obtain additional training in community nutrition and nutrition instruction.
Students selected for this capstone are placed in settings related to nutrition and dietetic for the community rotation during the first summer of supervised practice and for all of the supervised practice that takes place the second year of the program. Practice sites include a choice of specialty clinics (diabetes, eating disorders, maternal and child clinics, metabolic disorders, pediatric, senior care, dialysis, wellness).
CAREERS
After completing the CMP, students are prepared for a wide variety of dietetics careers. Students who complete the CMP with the nutrition and dietetic capstones experience have found employment in a variety of settings including:
- Hospitals
- Diabetes Treatment Centers
- Dialysis Clinics
- Long-term Care Facilities
- County and State Public Health Programs (The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Health Promotion)
- Federal Drug Administration (FDA)
- Research (Industry and academia)
- Community Colleges or Universities
- Worksite Wellness
- Private Practice
- Wellness Coaching
- Grocery Stores
SELECTION
There are approximately eleven (11) openings per year in the nutrition and dietetic experiences. Students will have the opportunity to choose their capstone experience after admission into the program. Advising will be provided to students in the Fall of their first year to guide this decision.
THESIS & NON-THESIS OPTIONS
Students participating in the CMP with the nutrition and dietetic capstone may choose the thesis or non-thesis also know as focused area of study (FAS) option.
SPORTS NUTRITION
The University of Utah’s Department of Nutrition & Integrative Physiology is proud to be one of the few graduate programs in the country and the only PAC-12 University that offers a sports nutrition capstone experiences. The sports nutrition capstones are designed to integrate scientific principles of nutrition as they relate to exercise and sports and prepare students to eventually become Board Certified Specialists in Sports Dietetics (CSSD).
Selected on a competitive basis, students pursuing the sports nutrition experiences will obtain supervised training in various aspects of sport and exercise nutrition as part of the practice hours required in the CMP. Students in the sports nutrition capstone will also complete sports nutrition practicum hours as part of their specialty training.
.jpg)
CAREERS
After completing the CMP with the sports nutrition capstone experience, students are prepared to become board certified specialists in Sports Dietetics following two years of practice as a registered dietitian in the field of sports nutrition. Students receive the same training as those completing the nutrition and dietetic capstone experiences with the addition of a specialty area – sports nutrition.
Graduate students with the sports nutrition capstone have found employment in a variety of settings including:
- Sports Medicine Clinics
- Collegiate Athletics
- Professional Teams
- Olympic Teams
- Corporate Wellness
- Research
- University and Community Colleges
- Health and Fitness Clinics
SELECTION
There are approximately four (4) openings per year in sports nutrition experiences. Students will have the opportunity to choose their capstone experience after admission into the program. Advising will be provided to students in the Fall of their first year to guide this decision.
Students selected for sports nutrition capstone experiences will be placed in settings related to sports, exercise, or wellness depending on the interests of the student, preceptor needs, and director approval.
The Department of Nutrition & Integrative Physiology offers four main sports nutrition practicum sites. However, opportunities also exist for students to complete practicum hours in various aspects of health and sports such as clinical eating disorders, community health, and corporate wellness.
THESIS & NON-THESIS OPTIONS
The CMP and NSMP with sports nutrition experience is generally considered a Focused Area of Study (non-thesis) track; however, a thesis option may be possible with sports nutrition capstone coordinator's approval.
PROSPECTIVE STUDENT RESOURCES
CMP STUDENT RESOURCES
CONTACT US
