Before becoming a Registered Dietitian, you have to complete many prerequisite courses. Check out our list of standard classes to decide where to start!
If you have decided to go back to school to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, the odds are that you have a few prerequisites to take. As a career-changer, I understand the overwhelming feeling of having so many classes to take but not being quite sure where to start.
Likewise, you will find that most dietetic programs require similar prerequisite courses. When you decide on a specific program you want to attend, make your list of precisely what school requires.
Click here to find dietetic programs near you!
Courses that will be required for most programs:
- Chemistry 1 (with lab)
- Biology 1 (with lab)
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Organic Chemistry
- General Microbiology
- Intro to Biochemistry
- Intro to Nutrition
Other courses that may be required:
- Chemistry 2 (with lab)
- Medical Terminology
- Intro to Statistics
- Intro to Psychology
- Research Writing
- Biochemistry 2
Courses I had to take before starting my dietetics program:
- Chemistry 1 (with lab)
- Biology 1 (with lab)
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Intro to Nutrition
- Medical Terminology
- Intro to Statistics
- Intro to Psychology
Courses I took during my Didactic Program in Dietetics:
- Organic Chemistry
- General Microbiology
- Intro to Biochemistry
- Research Writing
From my experience, I completed all of these courses in other online programs through universities that my school approved. This allowed me to have a very flexible schedule to work part-time, and I could take the classes from anywhere.
Completing these courses was very convenient, but I will say that taking classes online still had many challenges. In many cases, I felt as though I was teaching myself all of the material. There was always an instructor, and some of the courses had PowerPoints and lectures, but it wasn’t the same as sitting in an actual classroom or having a conversation with classmates or the instructor about the topic. All of the courses require a lot of reading, many hours, and excellent organization. It’s not impossible to complete all of these courses online, but if I could redo my experience, I would probably choose to take these courses in the classroom setting. For those looking to catch up on their prerequisite courses, many local community colleges offer science-based courses over the winter and summer, typically less expensive.
Some of the online programs I took courses through:
Wondering which courses to start with? I recommend starting with Chemistry 1 and Biology 1. These are very general classes that are necessary for completing several of the other prerequisites.
Hopefully, this gives you a starting point if you are going back to school to be a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist!
P.S. Just starting your career in nutrition and dietetics? Schedule your free call with Jenny to discuss your background, address any concerns, and decide on the next steps for your dietitian journey!
