Nutrition Science
Are you passionate about health and interested in understanding how food and nutrition can prevent and treat disease as well as maintain and promote good health? Are you interested in a people-oriented, science-focused, evidence-based field? Nutrition Science may be the major for you. NDSU has a long-standing history in food and nutrition. Since 1925, NDSU has educated nutrition experts who are active nationwide in the profession of nutrition and dietetics and leaders in professional organizations.
NDSU offers two tracks for those interested in studying nutrition science. The first is an accredited BS/MS Accelerated Coordinated Program in Nutrition Science and Dietetics (CPD) to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). An RDN is a nutrition expert and is a nationally recognized credential that is required for most employment in the healthcare industry and preferred for many other employment opportunities in the area of food and nutrition. The BS/MS Accelerated Coordinated Program in Nutrition Science and Dietetics combines the required 1,000 hours of supervised practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science and Master of Science in Exercise Science and Nutrition. Students graduate at the end of five years with the necessary preparation to take the Commission on Dietetic registration exam to become an RDN. Please see the CPD website for more information.
The second track is a four-year BS in Nutrition Science. This is a non-accredited program that provides students a background in nutrition but also serves as a pathway for advanced degrees in other health professions such as Pre-Physician Assistant, Athletic Trainer, Accelerated (Post-Baccalaureate) BSN to become a licensed Registered Nurse or as a pathway to become a Certified Dietary Manager (CDM). This degree path allows flexibility in courses to ensure students are able to meet prerequisite course requirements for other degrees they may pursue in the future.
If you are interested in a degree in nutrition science, you can take early-entry courses in high school to get a start on your degree. Please view the early-entry pathway guide.
Career Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of jobs for registered dietitians and nutritionists will increase by 7% between 2022 and 2032. This projection indicates a significant need for more RDN’s in the field to help combat preventable disease and conditions on the rise such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, certain types of cancer and osteoporosis.
All programs at NDSU, including the Nutrition Science program, comply with all federal and state regulations for institutions of higher education. These policies can be found below.