DIETETICS – GRADUATE PROFILE

Dietetics is one of the most dynamically developing fields of science. Public awareness about the beneficial influence of proper nutrition on health and beauty is changing and there is a growing need for consulting services of a dietitian not only in the prevention of diet-related diseases, but also for health, beauty and physical and mental well-being throughout the whole life.
At the same time, in recent years there has been a noticeable increase in interest in healthy lifestyle, fitness and beauty care in Poland.

The role of modern biochemical, chemical and medical solutions in maintaining a healthy look is increasing. These changes, however, necessitate proper education at a higher level of qualified specialists in the field of dietetics.

Education objectives

A graduate of the undergraduate program in Dietetics gains advanced knowledge and skills in the field of nutrition of healthy and sick people as well as prevention of diet-dependent diseases.

During the course of seven semesters, the students learn to prepare meals for particular diets, recognize, prevent and treat malnutrition and hospital malnutrition. They also learn the principles of proper nutrition and how to keep records of patients' diets. They are able to analyze the state of nutrition, dietary habits and the requirements for macro- and micro-nutrients of specific patients as well as the requirements of clinical nutrition using natural diets and special nutrition products.
The students also become specialists in planning and implementation of science-based individual, mass and therapeutic nutrition for groups varied in terms of age, occupation and living conditions, as well as prevention and dietary treatment of nutrition-dependent diseases.

Job opportunities

After graduation, the students will be able to work mainly in hospitals, health centers, metabolic diseases clinics, as well as restaurants, fitness clubs, spas, factories and companies involved in the production and distribution of healthy food.
Due to an interdisciplinary nature of teaching, graduates of dietetics will be prepared to work with organizations involved in promotion of healthy lifestyle, as well as to start their own business, such as providing consulting services in the field of dietetics, organization and manufacture of healthy food and catering services for highly profiled customers.

The courses included in the curriculum of all specializations include strictly medical disciplines, such as: Pediatric Nutrition, Clinical Outline of Diseases, Pharmacology and Nutritional Pharmacotherapy. It gives the graduates great opportunities to work with internal medicine doctors, gastrologists, pediatricians and dieticians in such areas as:

• evaluation of nutritional condition, diet and recognition of malnutrition;

• prevention of diet-dependent diseases;

• assessment of the mutual impact of pharmacotherapy and nutrition.

During the course of studies, the students will gain the knowledge and practical skills required for:

• planning well-balanced diets for various groups of people;

• preparing meals for specific diets;

• assessment of nutritional status and diet, and diagnosis of malnutrition;

• prevention of diet-dependent diseases;

• running own catering business;

• diet planning and counselling for athletes and sports clubs;

• assessment of the mutual impact of pharmacotherapy and nutrition;

• monitoring the quality of food products and storage conditions in accordance with the HACCP principles;

• assessment of the impact of a disease on the nutritional status and the impact of nutrition on the results of the treatment process;  

• organizing individual, mass and therapeutic nutrition adapted to the patients' age and health condition;

• conducting nutrition education;

• working as a specialist in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

• establishing proper contact with potential clients/patients,

• working in the departments of food hygiene and mass nutrition of sanitary and epidemiology centers,

• working in the field of food production

• qualification improvement and professional development on the domestic and international markets.

In addition, the students of dietetics will also gain specialization-specific skills:

Curriculum

The curriculum covers all recommended areas included in the education standards for this faculty. Courses included in the curriculum that are not mentioned in the standards are designed to prepare the students for work within a selected specialization, including principles of nutrition in sport and wellness, clinical dietetics and nutritional counseling.

An integral part of the study program are vocational trainings meant to allow the students to acquire the skills necessary for them to work in public and non-public health care facilities, mass catering facilities, establishments supplying food to hospitals or other institutions as well as consumer organizations.

It is essential that theoretical knowledge is transmitted in combination with practice. Silesian College of Medicine in Katowice aims at adapting its educational programs to the labor market by introducing practical aspects of study in the curriculum.

Such an educational concept with a highly interdisciplinary nature (combining knowledge in the fields of medicine, chemistry and dietetics with practical skills) will enable graduates to meet the current and future requirements of the labor market.