TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- A select group of students at The University of Alabama have been accepted into the Coordinated Program in Dietetics in the UA College of Human Environmental Sciences.

The students who were accepted included:

• Lindsay Quinn of Birmingham (zip code 35243)
• Joy J. Warren of Sterrett
• Alisha Gaines of Millbrook
• Christi Giles of Collierville, Tenn.
• Ashley Rebecca Erwin of Gardendale
• Kathryn Johnson of Allen, Texas

UA has one of 51 Coordinated Programs in Dietetics in the nation and the only one in the state. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education.

The Coordinated Program provides for the integration of the theories learned in courses in nutrition, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, food science, food service systems management and business, with a minimum of 900 hours of supervised practice in health care facilities and community agencies. Upon completing the baccalaureate degree, graduates are eligible for active membership in the American Dietetic Association and are eligible to write the national registration examination that is required to become a Registered Dietitian.

Admission into the University of Alabama’s Coordinated Program in Dietetics is highly competitive. Cumulative grade point average, a comprehensive examination covering material covered in prerequisite courses, and letters of recommendation are considered in the admission process.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dietitians is expected to grow because of increased emphasis on disease prevention, a growing and aging population, and public interest in nutrition.