Nutrition

You’ll learn how fats, proteins and carbohydrates help the body thrive. Gain an understanding of how vitamins and minerals are essential to the body’s biochemical processes and how diet and dietary supplements affect biological functions. Find out how to calculate caloric needs and plan healthy menus.

In class, learn the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Study how the process of digestion turns food into nutrients that can be absorbed by the blood stream. Explore how different foods affect your health, and the role enzymes play in breaking down food in your stomach and intestines. Learn how blood can be used to monitor lipids, protein, glucose and electrolytes.

Students are encouraged to complete an internship between their junior and senior year.

Prepare for Success

This major is a good fit if you can see yourself:

• Planning healthy menus.
• Working with people and using strong communication skills.
• Staying up-to-date with research about food and nutrition.

To prepare, you should:

• Take chemistry.
• Learn about nutrition and practice eating a healthy diet.
• Develop your leadership skills in student office.

Your First Year

Your first year, you will hone your communication skills with course work in writing. You will also take classes that focus on chemistry and human physiology.

More advanced major courses include nutrition related to fitness and sports, eating disorders and advanced nutrition.

See the four-year plan.

What You Can Do

With this degree, you’ll have job possibilities such as:

• Nutrition advisor: Work one-on-one with families and individuals to provide nutrition information and plan healthy meals.
• Nutrition educator: Coordinate and develop individual and group nutrition education programs for a school or public health organization.
• Research assistant: Provide assistance collecting data for studies about diet and health including obesity, osteoporosis and cancer.

Opportunities

This degree provides the qualifications to purse an advanced degree in nutrition, counseling, physical therapy, nursing or public health. It is also a stepping-stone to medical school.

Current Research

Gather, organize and analyze information for a faculty member’s grant-funded research. Observe meal times at a child care center for a study on feeding young children in group settings. Evaluate the results of a food safety education program. Enter nutritional data into a computer program for a sports nutrition project.

Activities

Food and Nutrition Club: Travel to local and national conferences and participate in nutrition-related activities.
Family and Consumer Sciences Club: Attend an annual state conference and meet professionals in the field.
Phi Upsilon Omicron: Join the national honor society; receive opportunities for scholarships and professional development.

Hands-On Experience

Intern. Get practical experiences like these:

• Health department: Provide nutritional education and one-on-one guidance to clients of a program for mothers with infants and children.
• University extension office: Help low-income families plan nutritious meals on a budget.
• Child nutrition program: Visit child care centers and schools to educate caregivers and plan healthy snacks.

Study abroad. Deepen your understanding of your major—and the world—in countries like these:

• India: Visit a spice market and explore the healing properties of curry.
• Taiwan: Visit a night market and sample traditional cuisine like fish eyeball soup.
• Mexico: Enjoy the exotic flavor of mole and the offerings of traditional food vendors.

Volunteer. Give back and gain experience. Work a booth at the student health fair. Deliver meals on wheels. Visit schools to talk to students about nutrition. Grow vegetables on campus at the organic farm. Deliver produce to the food bank.