Program Overview

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Nutrition B.S.

About this Program

Many nutrition professionals work in healthcare as part of patient care teams to prevent and treat illness. Others work with businesses, schools, and lawmakers to ensure all people have access to adequate nutrition, at school, at home, and at work. In every case, nutrition is an essential component of individual and public health.

The nutrition B.S. prepares you for a wide variety of careers in health promotion and is the first step toward becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). It may also serve as a preparatory step toward more advanced study at a master level or a graduate-level allied-health program, such as physician assistant programs or medical school.

Program Information

• Degree Type: B.S.
• Major: Nutrition
• Modality: In-person
• College or School: David B. Falk College of Sport
• Career Path: Sports

Curriculum

The Nutrition B.S. includes coursework in:

• Sciences: chemistry, biology, anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry.
• Food: safety, science, systems, and meal management.

Students also study nutrition in the health and lifespan, clinical nutrition therapy, community nutrition, nutrition education, and counseling.

Sample courses include:

• Nutrition in the Lifespan
• Research and Evaluation in Nutrition
• Nutrition Leadership and Management
• Nutrition Counseling

Differences Between the Nutrition B.S. and Nutrition Science B.S.

The Nutrition B.S. prepares alumni to work in a variety of health and health promotion fields, many as registered dietitians. The Nutrition Science B.S. explores the biological and physical sciences to prepare alumni for postgraduate work in medicine, dentistry, education, or health care, or to work for major food or pharmaceutical companies.

Accreditation

The Didactic Program in Dietetics at Syracuse University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Our program is granted full accreditation through June 30, 2029.

Program outcomes data are available upon request.

Expenses and Financial Aid

• Estimated expenses and financial aid information is available through the Syracuse University Office of Financial Aid.
• Cost of Attendance
• Program Costs
• Scholarships and Awards

How to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

You must complete a supervised practice requirement and at least a master’s degree to be eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic registration (CDR) credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).

The internship and master’s degree can be completed separately or through a combined program, like our Nutrition Science M.A.

Dietetic Internship Program: Using a centralized application service, you will match to a dietetic internship. Syracuse University has high match rates consistently exceed national averages, highlighting our commitment to your career goals.

Learn more about the Dietetic Internship Program at Syracuse University.

Licensure/Certification: In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website.

Stay up to date in dietetics through continuing education. After passing the national exam and earning the credential, a RDN stays up to date on the latest research, recommendations, and best practices to maintain their credential.

For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website.

Extracurricular Opportunities

Experiential Learning

Practice Nutrition in the Community

Take nutrition to the local community by joining community partnership programs through the Syracuse University Shaw Center:

• Provide tutoring and nutrition education to elementary school students with Books & Cooks.
• Provide hands-on, nutrition-focused STEM lessons to high schoolers with Food Busters.
• Teach nutritious food choices and cooking skills to high schoolers with Cooking on the Hillside.

On campus, Syracuse University is home to more than 300 extracurricular groups, including nutrition student-led organizations such as Nutrition Education and Promotion Association (NEPA).

Study Abroad

Experience Nutrition and Food Around the World

Syracuse University Abroad consistently ranks among the highest-quality international study programs in the country. Syracuse offers short- and long-term options in more than 60 countries, including internships, community engagement projects, and language study at all levels. In nutrition, you can study health care and families in India, food and culture in Italy, drug policy in the Netherlands, health education in South Africa, health policy in Switzerland, and social policy and public health in the United Kingdom, to name a few.

Research

Make Your Mark in Research

As a nutrition student, you can engage in independent and faculty-mentored research projects. Gain experience collecting and analyzing data. You can even publish as an author or co-author on scholarly articles and present your findings at conferences.

Hone your skills in on-campus labs using medical-grade equipment and technology that mirrors—or exceeds—what is found in medical facilities, professional sports, the military, and health and wellness settings. Our Nutrition Assessment, Consultation and Education (ACE) Center is a hands-on learning laboratory to prepare students with traditional and emerging professional competencies critical to effective nutrition practice.

Careers

Launch Your Career in Nutrition

Most commonly, our students choose to become registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs).

Alternatively, the nutrition science B.S. is also an excellent foundation for other graduate education, such as:

• Allied health: Medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, and others.
• Biomedical research.
• Pharmaceuticals.

Or you might choose to pursue entry-level positions in:

• Business: Medical and food science research and development, quality control, employee wellness programming.
• Research and education: Nutrition, biomedical, metabolic, or food science research, teaching, curriculum development, program administration.
• Food and nutrition management: Food services, wellness programming, nutrition planning, health and lifestyle coaching, agriculture.

Related Programs

• Nutrition Science B.S.
• Nutrition Science M.A.
• Nutrition Science M.S.