The BSc (Nutr Sc) Dietetics Major leads to eligibility to join a regulatory body in one of the provinces in Canada, and to be 鈥渞egistered鈥� or 鈥渓icensed鈥� to practice as a dietitian. The BSc Nutr Sci Nutrition Major does not lead to professional licensing as a dietitian-nutritionist. A person who completes the BSc Nutr Sci Nutrition Major is not allowed to call themself a "nutritionist" according to the regulations in Quebec for the use of that reserved title.
- The purpose of each provincial regulatory body is to protect the public. In Quebec, the name of the regulatory body is the Ordre des di茅t茅tistes-nutritionnistes du Qu茅bec (ODNQ) (previously named Ordre professionnel des di茅t茅tistes du Qu茅bec (OPDQ)).
- The Dietetics Major is recognized by ODNQ to meet the academic and internship requirements to be a registered dietitian/nutritionist in Quebec.
- The 3.5 year (115 credit) program includes 40 weeks of internship called "Stage鈥�. These weeks of Stage are sequenced throughout the program starting with the first term of year 1.
- In Quebec, the two titles, dietitian and nutritionist, are protected and equivalent with respect to training background. Dietitian-nutritionists promote health through food and nutrition in various domains including clinical nutrition care, foodservice management, and/or population and public health roles.
Program Vision and Mission
To improve human health and promote healthier societies by training future professional dietitian-nutritionists.
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Getting started
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Is the Dietetics Major for you?
If you are passionate about learning the science behind food composition and how healthy eating is a multi-faceted approach, this profession may be for you!听 You should have a strong science background, and enjoy communicating with others about food. You should be curious about food and nutrition, like reading scientific references, and enjoy sorting out fact from fiction. These are all clues towards an interest in the field of nutrition.
Where do dietitians work?
As a clinical nutritionist/counsellor in health care settings
- in medical or surgical units
- in nephrology, endocrinology and gastroenterology
- in oncology and immunology
- in geriatrics, etc.
You will assess the nutritional status of individuals and plan, implement and evaluate nutrition interventions as a member of the health care team.
路Organizing and managing the food system, from planning food purchase standards and nutritionally adequate menus to staff education, budget management and marketing will challenge your time and personnel management skills.
路 As a community nutritionist
- in a CLSC, school board, health club
- in community clinics
- in international settings
Teaching individuals and groups about meeting their specific nutrient needs and monitoring their nutrition wellness will be your main goal.
路 As researchers and teachers
Dietitian-nutritionists capitalize on an advanced degree and study all the varied aspects of nutrition from the level of the cell to nutritional status of populations.
路 As a food service manager
- in residential centres, hospitals, seniors' homes, prisons and schools
- in sports centres, cafeterias and companies
路 As communications, public relations and marketing specialists
In food and nutrition with food companies and medical enterprises you will use your food and nutrition knowledge to promote specially formulated nutrition products, advocate on behalf of people with special nutrition needs, or develop educational materials for the public.
- in private practice
- in government
- in product development
- in public education
The dietitian-nutritionist is a food and nutrition consultant to physicians, food scientists, teachers, community workers and others, synthesizing nutrition science for application by the public.
What do I need to know before starting my application?
Language Requirements for Professional Practice (Stage)
All placement sites within the McGill network are bilingual and require students to have, at minimum, a working knowledge of both English and French. French proficiency requirements for admission (effective Fall 2022) can be found at /undergraduate-admissions/french-proficiency.听
Immunization requirements
A compulsory immunization program exists at McGill which is required for Dietetics students to practice. Students must complete their immunizations by the end of the first year of the Dietetics Major. The process should be initiated in the first fall semester of the first year; please be prepared to have your vaccination records available. More details related to the Student Wellness Hub and immunizations will be provided during your first semester.
Can we practice in all Canadian provinces?
Graduates of this accredited program are eligible to apply to become registered as a professional dietitian with the regulatory body of any province Canada.
If I have taken required courses at another University, will I be able to complete the program in less time than 3.5 years?
No, due to the sequencing of the Stages at the undergraduate level, 3.5 years is the minimum amount of time that the program will take, even if course equivalency or transfer credit is given for some courses.
Are there opportunities for Stage in other provinces in Canada or other countries?
Yes, but this would only occur for a portion of the last Stage, Level 4, and further details are discussed once students are within about 6 months of the final Stage. Opportunities in other provinces are limited, and we cannot guarantee that a rotation in another province will be secured. Similarly, some international opportunities can be available in the Caribbean and Africa. Students need to pay certain costs for these international opportunities (such as travel and accommodation).
Program Term by Term
Required Courses: 112 credits
Elective: 3 credits
Required courses and Professional Practice (Stage) courses are sequenced in a specific order over 9 terms (3 陆 year program).
To learn more about courses you need to register for and their order, please consult the Dietetics Major Summary Sheet (Students starting Fall 2021 or after)
If you have more questions about the course selection and offering, please email听sandy.phillips [at] mcgill.ca (Sandy Philips) (the university Coordinator for Professional Practice and
Undergraduate Academic Advising Coordinator) or your designated academic advisor (name will be available after the confirmation of admission on your student account on Minerva).
TERM BY TERM PROGRAM OF STUDY
TERM 1
Note that IPEA 500 (0 credits) will be included in the course requirements for NUTR 208
TERM 2
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SUMMER (stage 1)
TERM 3
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TERM 4
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SUMMER (stage 2)
TERM 5
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TERM 6 (stage 3)
Note that three zero-credit courses IPEA 501, 502, 503 will be included in the course requirements for NUTR 408
**See Important Dates for actual dates (February to April)
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TERM 7 (stage 4)
ELECTIVE COURSE
Students are required to take one 3-credit elective course in any term of their Dietetics Major Program.听
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Professional Practice
What will I do in the other Levels of Stage?
Levels 2, 3 and 4 occur at a variety of placement sites in Quebec. The majority of the placements are on the Island of Montreal in hospital, geriatric or community centres. Placements provide exposure to Clinical Nutrition, Management and Community nutrition. Because the Stages are divided into 4 levels, students get to see a variety of placement sites, since normally they are placed in different sites for every level of Stage. In the clinical nutrition rotations, students are involved in individualized care for patients who require specialized therapeutic diets for their medical condition. In management rotations, students participate in projects and learn about practical applications of food and nutrition in both traditional (hospital) and non-traditional (community) settings. In community rotations, students are exposed to working with groups to promote healthy nutrition.
If you have more questions about the professional practice (Stage), please email sandy.phillips [at] mcgill.ca (Sandy Philips) (university Coordinator for Professional Practice and
Undergraduate Academic Advising Coordinator).
Previous cohorts
2024-2025
2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022
Class of 2020-2021
Class of 2019-2020
Class of 2018-2019
Class of 2017-2018
Class of 2016
Class of 2015
Class of 2014
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