About the Human Nutrition Program

BS in Human Nutrition

Welcome to the dietetics program at Texas A&M University – Kingsville.

A career in dietetics can be a very fulfilling path if you are interested in nutrition, food, science, and a life of service to people.

The field of nutrition and dietetics is a growing profession because of the need for healthy lifestyles and disease prevention. Not only does an education in dietetics provide you with opportunities to work in varied settings to help people improve their health and wellness, but it will also provide a strong foundation for a path further in graduate school or into other health related fields.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is accredited by The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), which prepares graduates for a dietetic internship, which is required to become a Registered Dietitian (RD). The RD exam requirements are set by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master's degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor's degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree

To become an RD, you need to –

Completion of a graduate degree granted by a US regionally accredited college/university
Completion of an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) approved/accredited dietetic program
Complete an accredited supervised practice (internship)
Pass a national registration examination for dietitians

Located in South Texas, the university is a teaching, research, and service institution that provides access to higher education in an ethnically and culturally rich region of the nation. Texas A&M-Kingsville’s DPD program is the only accredited program south of San Antonio.

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) information: You can access the ACEND website at: ACEND

The TAMUK Dietetic Internship (DI) is a graduate-level program designed for students who have earned a bachelor’s degree and hold a DPD Verification Statement from an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics. This program provides both academic and practical training to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

18 graduate credit hours in Human Nutrition
Required summer courses: HMNT 5352 and HMNT 5353 (offered only at TAMUK)
1,200 hours of supervised dietetic practice across clinical, community, and foodservice settings with specialty rotation options, including sports nutrition, private practice, and pediatrics
Accredited by ACEND (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
Meets CDR eligibility requirements for the RDN credentialing exam
Open to applicants with a bachelor’s degree and DPD verification statement

For more information, contact the Dietetic Internship Director, Erin Furlong, at erin.furlong@tamuk.edu or (361) 593-2212.

Why choose TAMUK Dietetic Internship Program?

South Texas Advantage
The TAMU Kingsville Dietetic Internship is the only program south of San Antonio and designed to support aspiring dietitians to serve our South Texas communities and beyond. This unique environment provides opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, hands-on simulation in our new College of Nursing and Health Professions lab, and real-world clinical experiences in a variety of settings throughout South Texas and the Coastal Bend.

Individualized Specialty Rotations
In addition to completing supervised practice experiences in clinical nutrition, community nutrition, food and nutrition management, specialty rotation options tailored to your personal and professional interests are available.

Interprofessional Education
You’ll learn alongside and collaborate with students and allied health professionals from across the healthcare team. These interprofessional experiences help you develop the communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills essential to providing high-quality, patient-centered care.

Faculty Support and Mentorship
Our faculty and site preceptors bring extensive professional expertise and a passion for mentoring the next generation of dietitians. Our small cohort size provide you with support and guidance throughout the program and continued success with job placement support after program completion.

More information coming soon on the M.S. in Human Nutrition option!