Human Nutrition

Nutrition affects people at all ages and stages of life. The health of an individual, group or population is related to eating behaviors and food intake. Nutrition professionals must understand the science of nutrition, from the biochemistry of cellular nutrition to the application of that science to individuals, groups, and populations. The nutritional needs of growth and development, pregnancy, a specific disease state, or advancing age challenge professionals to use their knowledge to assess individuals or communities and provide information and effective interventions or services.

The Human Nutrition Program provides a curriculum that accommodates ever-changing scientific knowledge as well as the breadth of knowledge gained from other public health disciplines and hands on experiences. Students learn in multiple ways as they seek to apply classroom lessons to community problems. The varied backgrounds of students provide stimulation for new thinking about solutions to problems. For students interested in becoming a Registered Dietitian, an American Dietetic Association approved dietetics program is available.

Upon completion of the Human Nutrition program, students find employment opportunities in public health settings such as local, state or federal agencies, as well as non-profit agencies, the food and nutrition industry and research organizations. Nutrition as a component of health promotion and disease prevention is an important part of the nation's health programs for the 21st century.

Program Director: Anita Sandretto, PhD
Telephone: (734) 647-0207
Fax: (734) 764-5233
E-mail: asandret@umich.edu

For Curriculum and Other Requirements:

Download HN Program Requirements for Current Academic Year
(PDF Format, 393KB)

Download EHS Program Curricula for Current Academic Year (PDF Format, 168KB)

Registered Dietitian (RD)

To achieve the Registered Dietitian status, students must meet three requirements: completion of academic requirements, completion of a supervised experience (dietetic internship) and completion of the RD examination. For all students interested in the dietetics program, a transcript evaluation will be completed by the dietetics program director. The evaluation will provide the basis for identifying an individualized plan of course work to meet both graduate program and dietetic requirements.

Completion of Academic Requirements -- Students must complete academic requirements as specified by the American Dietetic Association. Completion of those requirements may be done at the undergraduate level (before entering the Human Nutrition program) or during completion of either the MPH or MS degree in Human Nutrition. The University of Michigan Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is currently granted Developmental Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association. Upon completion of the required coursework, students are issued Verification Statements, signifying that all coursework is completed and that students are eligible to apply for dietetic internships.

For more information about the Didactic Program, please contact

Ms. Theresa Han-Markey
Director, Dietetics Program
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029
(734) 647-0214 hanmark@umich.edu

Completion of Supervised Experience Requirement (Dietetic Internship) - Experience may be obtained through approved internships which are listed in the Directory for the American Dietetic Association. Internships must provide a minimum of 900 hours of supervised practice in the areas of clinical nutrition or therapeutic dietetics, food service, and community nutrition. Applications for internships may be obtained from the individual programs. Students must complete a matching process for internships; applications may be submitted in February or September of each year. The date for submitting applications is dependent on the start date for the individual internship.

The Human Nutrition Program sponsors a dietetic internship to which students may apply upon completion of the academic requirements. The internship is currently granted Developmental Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association. The internship provides 960 hours of supervised experience in the University of Michigan Medical Center, the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital medical complex, food service sites throughout the U of M area, and community nutrition sites throughout the Ann Arbor area. Students may enter the program in January or July. For more information about the program, contact:

Andrea Lasichak
Director, Dietetic Internship
C333 Med Inn
University of Michigan Hospital
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0832
(734) 763-6170 alasichak@aol.com

Registered Dietitian Examination - Upon completion of the supervised internship, students will be issued a Verification Statement, declaring that they have completed the internship and are eligible to write the Registered Dietitian (RD) Examination. The exam is a computerized exam, available by appointment after the American Dietetic Association has received notice of internship completion.

Download HN Program Requirements for Current Academic Year ((PDF Format, 393KB)