Remote Dietetics Program Options

Remote Dietetics Program Options

Be a part of the healthcare team.

Are you a high school student, college student, or someone looking to make a career change? Now you can earn a degree and earn a living at the same time with remote dietetics program options at Regional West, thanks to a partnership with the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in Greeley, Colorado, and Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) in Scottsbluff.

As health professionals who are experts in nutrition and diet, dietitians promote health and shape dietary choices by blending nutrition, behavioral science, social science, and scientific research. High school students, college students, or people looking to make a career change can explore options that allow them to complete their education remotely while working in Regional West’s Food & Nutrition Services Department.

Regional West offers a skilled nutrition staff of registered dietitians who work with members of the medical team to create personalized nutrition plans and provide education, focusing on areas like oncology, diabetes, critical care, pediatrics, and gastrointestinal disorders. Regional West benefits include health, vision, and dental plans; competitive wages; and a sign-on bonus up to $10,000.

Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC)

Students interested in taking the first step toward a career as a registered dietician nutritionist can enroll in the Health Sciences, Dietetic Emphasis Associate of Science (AS) degree program at Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC). The program focuses on the mechanics of the human body and the application of this knowledge in a clinical setting.  

Regional West partners with WNCC so students can complete coursework online and, at the same time, gain valuable clinical experience in our Food & Nutrition Services department. Work alongside professional dieticians and earn your Associate of Science degree closer to home!

The Health Science AS degree includes 33-34 credits of general education courses and 33 credits of core courses. Core health science courses include biology, nutrition, anatomy & physiology, microbiology, general chemistry, algebra, and statistics. Students completing the Health Science AS degree are eligible to apply to the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) to complete their Didactic Program in Dietetics.

For more information, and to see the program’s requirements, visit WNCC’s Dietetics page. 

University of Northern Colorado (UNC)

UNC offers a distance-based track of their Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). The program is designed to be accessible and flexible for students finishing their Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics while continuing to work. Successful completion of the distance dietetics program enables students to apply for dietetic supervised practice and graduate school on the path to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). 

Distance dietetics students at UNC complete 31 credits of upper division nutrition and dietetics courses over five semesters/18 months as part of a peer cohort. Additional required classes may be transferred in or taken locally. The program’s supportive advisers work with each student to construct an individualized academic plan.

Steps to becoming an RDN include:

1. Complete a minimum of a master's degree granted by a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency or foreign equivalent, and coursework through an ACEND-accredited didactic, coordinated, graduate, or international program.
   •    Completing UNC’s didactic program in dietetics undergraduate program, either online or on-campus, prepares students to be eligible for nutrition and dietetic graduate programs and internships that require a DPD completion verification statement. 
2. Complete required supervised practice/experience through an ACEND-accredited dietetic internship, coordinated program, graduate program, or an individualized supervised practice pathway offered through an ACEND-accredited program.
   •    UNC also offers a master’s degree in dietetics with dietetic internship for students. Students with a bachelor’s degree and DPD verification statement (such as from UNC’s undergraduate dietetics program) are eligible to apply. 
3. Pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

Program Application Process
UNC recommends that you apply in the academic year in which you plan to start dietetics program classes and when you have completed most, or all, of the introductory courses. To be considered for admission, the following items must be submitted to the UNC Admissions Office:

1. UNC undergraduate application
2. All high school and college transcripts
3. Distance dietetics advising form

The undergraduate online dietetics track requires completing 30 courses/75 credits through a combination of transfer courses and online nutrition and dietetics coursework through UNC. A student who has previously taken at least 60 credits, including introductory science, nutrition, psychology, and statistics related coursework, is anticipated to complete the remaining upper division UNC dietetics coursework plus supporting courses in 18 months. Successful completion of the distance dietetics track will enable students to apply for dietetic internships and graduate schools on the path to becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist.

For more information, and to see program requirements, visit UNC’s Distance Dietetic Program page.

Want to learn more? Head to our Careers page to apply or call Regional West Human Resources department at 308-630-1586!