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Years 1 and 2: Pre-program Courses

Prior to entering the program, students must complete two years of prerequisite courses, including biology, chemistry, and general nutrition. This coursework may be completed at UBC, or at other universities or colleges.

• Dietetics Major Courses & Prerequisites

Years 3 and 4: Campus-Based Courses

Dietetics Specific Courses

Students take a range of courses that focus on three main areas of dietetics practice: clinical, community, and foodservice administration.

• Course Objectives for Core Dietetics Courses (pdf)

Other Required Courses

In addition to dietetics specific courses, other required courses include research methodology, biochemistry, physiology, organizational behaviour and electives (pdf).

Summer Professional Practice Courses

In May, following each of program years 3 and 4, students take a 3-week (Monday to Friday, 3 hours per day) professional dietetic practice course, designed to prepare students for dietetic practice. The year 3 course focuses on nutrition communications, professional practice concepts, and dietetic practice environments. The year 4 course covers internship practice-based research, clinical practice preparedness, and orientation to internship.

For more details about required courses, see the Dietetics Major Courses & Prerequisites.

Year 5: Internship Courses

About Internship

During the dietetic internship year, students apply their academic knowledge in a variety of practice settings. Such settings include hospitals, long term care facilities, and community organizations. The internship is a comprehensive 39 week experience, in which students are exposed to administrative, clinical and community dietetics. Under the supervision of RD preceptors, interns develop confidence and proficiency in performing professional duties and responsibilities. The UBC dietetic internship has been accredited by Dietitians of Canada, and thus been designed to develop the competencies required of an entry-level dietitian.

Structure of the Internship Courses

The internship includes several modules: orientation (1 week), research (1 week and weekly project time), clinical (21 weeks), community (4 weeks), foodservice administration (10 weeks), and elective (2 weeks). Longer modules are typically divided into 2-3 week placements in different settings. During the elective weeks, students gain experience in practice settings that particularly interest them.

Internship Sites

Each year 5 student is placed at one of 8 BC health authority core sites. These include:

• Fraser Health
• Interior Health Authority Kelowna
• Interior Health Authority Kamloops
• Northern Health
• Providence Health Care
• Provincial Health Services Authority
• Vancouver Coastal Health
• Vancouver Island Health Authority

Although student site preferences are considered, they cannot be guaranteed. As a result, all students must be willing to relocate for some or all of the internship year.  

Post-Program Completion

Dietetics is a regulated health profession; therefore, dietitians must register with a provincial regulatory body to practice. Dietetics regulatory bodies serve to protect the public, by ensuring that Registered Dietitians have required competencies and practice in a safe and ethical manner. Once students have completed academic and practical training requirements for dietetics, they are eligible to apply for temporary registration in order to practice. To become full registrants, they must pass the Canadian Dietetic Registration Examination (CDRE). The CDRE is a national examination that is administered by the Alliance of Canadian Dietetic Regulatory bodies. The CDRE is designed to test practice-based knowledge, application, and critical thinking skills required to competently and safely practice dietetics. Students who graduate from accredited dietetics programs such as UBC's program have a high success rate with the exam.

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