Feasibility ReportFeasibility Report

Choosing Between a Dietetic Choosing Between a Dietetic Internship, Graduate School, Internship, Graduate School,

Or Entering the Work Force After Or Entering the Work Force After Graduating with a Nutrition Graduating with a Nutrition

Dietetics MajorDietetics Major

Your college career is Your college career is coming to an end, it’s time coming to an end, it’s time to start thinking about the to start thinking about the

next step in your life…next step in your life…

What Are You Going What Are You Going To Do In the Real To Do In the Real

World with a World with a Nutrition Dietetics Nutrition Dietetics

Degree?Degree?

TopicTopicComparing and Comparing and

Contrasting a Dietetic Contrasting a Dietetic Internship, Graduate Internship, Graduate

School, or Finding a Job School, or Finding a Job After Finishing an After Finishing an

Undergraduate DegreeUndergraduate Degree

ClientClient

Nutrition Dietetics major at the University Nutrition Dietetics major at the University of Minnesota. of Minnesota.

She is a representative of the broader She is a representative of the broader community of nutrition students at community of nutrition students at Minnesota who need a plan for what they Minnesota who need a plan for what they are going to do after graduation. are going to do after graduation.

Chelsea BeachChelsea Beach

Problem StatementProblem Statement It is necessary for many Nutrition Dietetic It is necessary for many Nutrition Dietetic

students to decide between an internship, students to decide between an internship, graduate school, or a job after graduate school, or a job after graduation.graduation.

Nutrition counselors and professors at Nutrition counselors and professors at Minnesota do not provide students with Minnesota do not provide students with adequate information or resources to adequate information or resources to make informed decisions about their make informed decisions about their post-graduation options. post-graduation options.

It is important to offer career choice It is important to offer career choice possibilities in order to choose the best possibilities in order to choose the best option for you.option for you.

PurposePurpose

The purpose of the project is to help The purpose of the project is to help Nutrition/Dietetic student Chelsea Beach Nutrition/Dietetic student Chelsea Beach decide what she wants to do after she decide what she wants to do after she graduates. graduates.

Based on my research of the three Based on my research of the three options and finding which program fulfills options and finding which program fulfills most of Chelsea’s expectations and most of Chelsea’s expectations and goals, I can help her decide on which goals, I can help her decide on which option is best for her.option is best for her.

DecisionDecisionFactorsFactors

• Total CostTotal Cost• GPAGPA• Completion Time of Each ProgramCompletion Time of Each Program• Hourly DemandHourly Demand• Application FeeApplication Fee• Job OpportunitiesJob Opportunities• Starting SalaryStarting Salary• Courses Required Outside MajorCourses Required Outside Major

Summaries of the Three Summaries of the Three OptionsOptions

Dietetic InternshipDietetic InternshipSix to twenty-four Six to twenty-four months. Focuses on months. Focuses on clinical, food service, and clinical, food service, and community nutritioncommunity nutrition

Graduate School:Graduate School:

Two to five years. Nutrition Two to five years. Nutrition Science or Public Health Science or Public Health Major. Thesis must be Major. Thesis must be presented and approved.presented and approved.

Career Options: Career Options: Work under direct Work under direct supervision. Job options supervision. Job options are limited are limited

Total CostTotal Cost

Graduate School: -$50,000-$75,000 Graduate School: -$50,000-$75,000 Most expensiveMost expensive

Dietetic Internship: -$32,000-$40,000Dietetic Internship: -$32,000-$40,000 Entry-Level Jobs: +$21,500-$39,000Entry-Level Jobs: +$21,500-$39,000

Starting salary, no debtStarting salary, no debt

GPA RecommendationsGPA Recommendations

Dietetic InternshipsDietetic Internships GPA as high as GPA as high as

possible: Minimum 3.0possible: Minimum 3.0

Graduate School Graduate School

GPA 3.0 or higherGPA 3.0 or higher

Entry-Level JobEntry-Level Job GPA not GPA not

recommendedrecommended

Completion TimeCompletion Time

Dietetic Internship:Dietetic Internship: Six to twenty-four Six to twenty-four

monthsmonths

Graduate School:Graduate School: Two to five yearsTwo to five years

Entry-Level Jobs:Entry-Level Jobs: No completion timeNo completion time

Demand Per WeekDemand Per Week Dietetic InternshipDietetic Internship

Forty-Hour Week Between Clinic and RotationsForty-Hour Week Between Clinic and Rotations

Graduate SchoolGraduate School Forty-Hour Week Between Research and ClassesForty-Hour Week Between Research and Classes

Entry Level JobEntry Level Job Flexible Depending on ScheduleFlexible Depending on Schedule

Application FeesApplication Fees

Dietetic InternshipDietetic Internship

$250-$1,000$250-$1,000 Most ExpensiveMost Expensive

Graduate SchoolGraduate School $55.00-$80.00$55.00-$80.00

Work ForceWork Force No fee but some No fee but some

employers require a employers require a resume and resume and referencesreferences

Job OpportunitiesJob Opportunities

Dietetic Internship:Dietetic Internship: Most jobs require Most jobs require

employers to be employers to be Registered DietitiansRegistered Dietitians

Graduate School:Graduate School: High paying Nutrition jobs High paying Nutrition jobs

are available, but they are are available, but they are limited without being a limited without being a Registered DietitianRegistered Dietitian

Entry-Level Jobs:Entry-Level Jobs: Limited and employers Limited and employers

work under direct work under direct supervisionsupervision

Starting SalariesStarting Salaries

Dietetic InternshipDietetic Internship $47,000-$80,000 $47,000-$80,000

depending on the depending on the type of dietitian and type of dietitian and locationlocation

Graduate SchoolGraduate School $50,000-$75,000$50,000-$75,000

Entry-Level JobsEntry-Level Jobs $21,500-$39,000$21,500-$39,000

Average Amount of Students at the Average Amount of Students at the University of Minnesota who Pursue University of Minnesota who Pursue

Further Education, Become Registered Further Education, Become Registered Dietitians, or Other OptionsDietitians, or Other Options

Courses Required Outside Courses Required Outside of the Majorof the Major

Dietetic InternshipDietetic Internship No extra courses requiredNo extra courses required Medical terminology and anatomyMedical terminology and anatomy

Graduate SchoolGraduate School No extra courses requiredNo extra courses required

Entry Level JobsEntry Level Jobs No extra courses requiredNo extra courses required Job may require trainingJob may require training

Research MethodsResearch Methods• Online ResearchOnline Research

• ADA WebsiteADA Website• Job Search WebsiteJob Search Website• Colleges with Post-Nutrition Colleges with Post-Nutrition

OptionsOptions

• Formal InterviewsFormal Interviews•Graduate Student Holly JatkisGraduate Student Holly Jatkis•Registered Dietitian Therese Registered Dietitian Therese LIffrigLIffrig•Decision Maker Chelsea BeachDecision Maker Chelsea Beach

Dietetic Internship Dietetic Internship FindingsFindings

Required to become a Registered DietitianRequired to become a Registered Dietitian Most competitive but wide range of job Most competitive but wide range of job

opportunities are available after competitionopportunities are available after competition Most nutrition jobs require applicants to be Most nutrition jobs require applicants to be

Registered DietitiansRegistered Dietitians Focuses on community, clinical, and food Focuses on community, clinical, and food

service aspects of nutritionservice aspects of nutrition

Dietetic Internship Dietetic Internship Findings ContinuedFindings Continued

Guidelines are based off the American Guidelines are based off the American Dietetic Association StandardsDietetic Association Standards

Chances of acceptance increase if Chances of acceptance increase if student is willing to relocatestudent is willing to relocate

Individuals need at least 900 supervised Individuals need at least 900 supervised hours.hours.

Apply to a computer-matching programApply to a computer-matching program Starting salary is $47,000-$80,000Starting salary is $47,000-$80,000

Graduate School FindingsGraduate School Findings Major in Nutrition Science or Public HealthMajor in Nutrition Science or Public Health Required to conduct research and present a Required to conduct research and present a

thesis for approvalthesis for approval Takes two to five years to completeTakes two to five years to complete Most demanding, highest salary, longest Most demanding, highest salary, longest

time to completetime to complete Average salary is $50,000-$75,000Average salary is $50,000-$75,000 Required a minimum of thirty hours of Required a minimum of thirty hours of

classesclasses More jobs are available but still limitedMore jobs are available but still limited

Job FindingsJob Findings Job options are limited if applicants are Job options are limited if applicants are

not Registered Dietitiansnot Registered Dietitians Work under the direct supervision of a Work under the direct supervision of a

dietary supervisor or a manager.dietary supervisor or a manager. Starting salary is $21,500-$39,000Starting salary is $21,500-$39,000 Jobs as a Diet Tech and Diet Aid are Jobs as a Diet Tech and Diet Aid are

most availablemost available No real advancement No real advancement No debt No debt

RecommendationRecommendationDietetic InternshipDietetic Internship

The Dietetic Internship fulfills the majority The Dietetic Internship fulfills the majority of Chelsea’s plans and needs of Chelsea’s plans and needs

Chelsea would have a wide variety of job Chelsea would have a wide variety of job opportunitiesopportunities

She will make more money over a long She will make more money over a long period of timeperiod of time

It will build on her previous nutrition It will build on her previous nutrition education. education.

SourcesSources““Commission on Dietetic Registration.” Commission on Dietetic Registration.” The American Dietetic Association.The American Dietetic Association. 2008. 2008. 2 2 December 2008. December 2008. <http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/index.html>.<http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/index.html>.

““Graduate School Catalog.” Graduate School Catalog.” University of Minnesota Graduate School CatalogUniversity of Minnesota Graduate School Catalog..

2 December 2008. 2 December 2008.

<http://www.catalogs.umn.edu/grad/programs/g129.html>.<http://www.catalogs.umn.edu/grad/programs/g129.html>.

““Hourly Rate Survey Report for Job: Diet Technician.” Hourly Rate Survey Report for Job: Diet Technician.” Payscale.comPayscale.com. 2 December . 2 December 2008. 2008.

<http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Diet_Technician_Registered_(<http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Diet_Technician_Registered_(DTR)/Hourly_Rate>. DTR)/Hourly_Rate>.

““Job Description Diet Tech.” Job Description Diet Tech.” Lake CountyLake County. 2008. 2 December 2008. 2008. 2 December 2008

<http://www.co.lake.il.us/HR/jobs/data/positions/1510.pdf>.<http://www.co.lake.il.us/HR/jobs/data/positions/1510.pdf>.

““Nutrition Graduate School Programs-Masters & PhD Degrees.” Nutrition Graduate School Programs-Masters & PhD Degrees.” Gradschools.com.Gradschools.com. 2 December 2008. 2 December 2008. <http://www.gradschools.com/Subject/Nutrition/291.html>.<http://www.gradschools.com/Subject/Nutrition/291.html>.

Sources Sources ContinuedContinued

““Nutrition B.S.” Nutrition B.S.” University of Minnesota University Catalogs.University of Minnesota University Catalogs. 2008. 2 2008. 2 December 2008.December 2008.

http://onestop2.umn.edu/programCatalog/viewCatalogProgram.do?http://onestop2.umn.edu/programCatalog/viewCatalogProgram.do?programID=248&strm=1069.programID=248&strm=1069.

Peterson, Carrie. Peterson, Carrie. Dietetic Internship for Graduate StudentsDietetic Internship for Graduate Students. Minneapolis: . Minneapolis: n.p., 2005.n.p., 2005.

““Salary Survey Report for Skill: Nutrition.” Salary Survey Report for Skill: Nutrition.” Payscale.comPayscale.com. 2008. . 2008.

<http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Skill=Nutrition/Salary>.<http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Skill=Nutrition/Salary>.

TopUSAjobs.com. “Nutrition jobs and Careers.” 2 December 2008.TopUSAjobs.com. “Nutrition jobs and Careers.” 2 December 2008.

<http://nutrition.jobs.topusajobs.com/>.<http://nutrition.jobs.topusajobs.com/>.