Nutrition

What can I do with this major?

Clinical Nutrition

Area

  • Practice Includes:
    • Assessment
    • Planning and Implementation of Nutrition Programs
    • Evaluation and Reporting
    • Consultation with Healthcare Professionals

Employer

  • Hospitals
  • Nursing care facilities
  • Out patient care centers
  • Health centers and clinics
  • Home health providers
  • Health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
  • Dialysis centers
  • Diabetes care clinics
  • Exercise and fitness centers

Information / Strategies

  • Volunteer in hospitals or nursing homes to gain experience working with patients or the elderly.
  • Develop excellent communication skills and learn to work well on a team.
  • Plan to earn the Registered Dietitian credential.
  • Several years experience and possibly a graduate degree are required for specialties such as pediatrics, renal, or oncology.

Community and Public Health Nutrition

Area

  • Health Promotion
  • Education
  • Program Planning and Implementation
  • Administration
  • Counseling
  • Consultation

Employer

  • Public health departments
  • Home health agencies
  • Social service agencies
  • Community centers
  • Federal, state, and local government
  • Daycare centers
  • Health and recreation clubs
  • Health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
  • Community health organizations

Information / Strategies

  • Participate in campus health promotion or wellness education programs.
  • Earn a master's degree in nutrition, public health, or related field to increase job opportunities.
  • Develop strong presentation and public speaking skills.
  • Learn to work well with people of varying socioeconomic and racial backgrounds.
  • Seek experiences in the public health arena.
  • Research government application procedures.

Food Service Management

Area

  • Menu Planning
  • Budgeting
  • Purchasing
  • Food Preparation
  • Personnel Management
  • Food Safety Management

Employer

  • Hospitals
  • Schools
  • Colleges and universities
  • Company cafeterias
  • Correctional facilities
  • Camps
  • Restaurants
  • Hotels

Information / Strategies

  • Obtain work experience in any large-scale food service operation such as campus cafeterias. Move into supervisory positions if given the opportunity.
  • Take business courses and develop strong computer skills.
  • Get involved in campus organizations and seek leadership roles.
  • Learn how to relate to a wide variety of people and to work well in a team environment.

Federal Government

Area

  • Clinical Dietetics
  • Nutrition Education and Teaching
  • Administration
  • Program Management
  • Research

Employer

  • Army
  • Navy
  • Air Force
  • National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
  • US Department of Health and Human Services:
    • Indian Health Service
    • Food and Drug Administration
    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
      • National Center for Health Statistics
    • Health Resources and Services Administration:
      • Maternal and Child Health Bureau
    • National Institutes of Health
  • US Department of Agriculture:
    • Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
  • Veterans Health Administration
  • Peace Corps
  • AmeriCorps VISTA

Information / Strategies

  • Pursue internships in government agencies.
  • Research federal government application procedures.
  • Maintain a strong grade point average.
  • Earn a master's degree for advancement in research, administration, or public health nutrition.
  • Assist a faculty member with nutrition research.

Consulting

Area

  • Nutrition Consulting
  • Menu Development
  • Food Preparation and Safety
  • Nutrition Counseling
  • Weight Management: Adult and Pediatric
  • Teaching
  • Health Promotion and Programming
  • Writing

Employer

  • Private practice
  • Consulting to:
    • Physicians' offices
    • Weight loss clinics
    • Nursing homes
    • Health clubs and spas
    • Corporate wellness programs
    • Restaurants and chefs
    • Catering services
    • Grocery stores
    • Food manufacturers
    • Food service managers
    • Sports teams and athletes
    • Health-related magazines and Internet sites
    • Newspapers

Information / Strategies

  • Gain experience and expertise in a specialty area of nutrition.
  • Earn additional certifications in fields such as fitness and athletic training or adult and pediatric weight management.
  • Find a need in the community and fill it. An entrepreneurial spirit is required!
  • Be prepared to work in several areas at one time.
  • Develop excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Learn how to promote oneself.

Industry

Area

  • Research
  • Product Development
  • Sensory Evaluation
  • Quality Assurance
  • Marketing
  • Sales
  • Customer Service
  • Consumer Food Science

Employer

  • Food manufacturers
  • Food vendors and distributors
  • Special food services
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Health-related businesses
  • Weight loss programs
  • Restaurant and hotel chains
  • Public relations firms with food industry accounts

Information / Strategies

  • Supplement curriculum with courses in business administration, marketing, or advertising.
  • Develop strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Get involved in research and gain technical experience.
  • Seek leadership roles in campus organizations.

Education

Area

  • Teaching
  • Research

Employer

  • Colleges and universities
  • Community and technical schools
  • Nursing, medical, dental, and health sciences schools
  • Teaching hospitals

Information / Strategies

  • Earn a master's degree for instructor positions or a doctorate for tenure track professorships.
  • Serve as a tutor or peer mentor on campus. Learn to work well with a variety of people.
  • Gain research experience by assisting professors.
  • Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations.

General Information and Strategies

  • Most positions require the Registered Dietitian (RD) credential. Become an RD through an accredited bachelor's or master's program followed by an approved, supervised internship. RD's must also pass the Registration Examination for Dietitians.
  • Research individual state requirements for licensure or certification to practice dietetics.
  • Scientific aptitude is required to successfully earn a degree in nutrition. Basic sciences play a large role in this discipline.
  • One should enjoy helping people, working with healthcare professionals, and have an interest in good health, nutrition, and fitness. Get involved in campus wellness or peer health educator programs to gain experience.
  • Volunteer in hospitals or nursing care centers to test interests.
  • The ability to work independently and as part of a team is important in this field.
  • Clients may be seen individually or in groups. Learn the fundamentals of human relations and group dynamics.
  • Strong communication skills are necessary to interact effectively with patients and healthcare professionals. Develop good interviewing and counseling techniques.
  • Over half of dietitians and nutritionists work in hospitals, nursing homes, or physicians' offices.
  • Research, public health, and advanced clinical positions require a graduate degree.