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.

UA has one of 51 Coordinated Programs in Dietetics in the nation and the only one in the state of Alabama.

The students and their hometowns include:

Tuscaloosa -- Brittany Long James, a graduate of Northside High School, and LaToya R. Harper, a graduate of Central High School

Northport -- Lori Ann Moshier, a graduate of North Miami Beach Senior High School

Birmingham -- Kinsley Brooke Woods, a graduate of McAdory High School, and Nalisha Nicole Wright, a graduate of A.H. Parker High School

Trussville -- Megan Mosley, a graduate of Hewitt Trussville High School

Fort Payne -- Sheena Criszel Quizon and Megan Lynette Lindsey, both graduates of Fort Payne High School

Huntsville -- Sandra V. Silver, a graduate of Kansas State University, and Lindsay S. Ross, a graduate of Grissom High School

Mobile -- Anna Hart McCown, a graduate of St. Paul’s Episcopal High School

Guntersville -- Amy Elizabeth Stanley, a graduate of Guntersville High School

Lanett -- Morgan Klepper, a graduate of the Springwood School

Anniston -- Virginia Mathews, a graduate of Cleburne County High School

Gadsden -- Kelly Kerr, a graduate of Westbrook Christian School

California -- Kristin Smith of Marysville, a graduate of Faith Christian High, and Mari-Christine Ruth Bayer of San Jose, a graduate of Lynbrook High School

Tennessee -- Virginia W. Willingham of Memphis, a graduate of St. Agnes Academy

The program is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation for Dietetics Education, and provides an integrated curriculum of courses in nutrition, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, food science, foodservice systems management, and business in addition to a minimum of 900 hours of internship 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 UA’s Coordinated Program in Dietetics is highly competitive. Cumulative grade point average, a comprehensive examination based on material covered in prerequisite courses, and letters of recommendation are considered in the admissions process.

Health, nutrition and fitness have become primary interests for children and adults. People want to feel good and live healthy lives. Eating right for a healthier lifestyle and learning about good nutrition are top priorities in school, work, and play, and people are eager to learn more. These changes mean increased opportunities for professionals in dietetics careers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dietitians is experiencing growth because of increased emphasis on disease prevention and health promotion, a growing and aging population, and public interest in nutrition.