Nutrition is a versatile degree that can lead to jobs and careers in many different areas. Visit the department website, watch the videos below, or scroll down and select an option under Related Career Fields to see more information about potential careers you can pursue.
Nutrition Minor
Related Career Fields
Select a career field below to see some of the various areas it encompasses, types of employers, and some sample occupations.
Clinical Nutrition
Career Areas
- Assessment
- Planning and implementation of nutrition programs
- Evaluation and reporting
- Consultation with healthcare professionals
Employers
- Hospitals
- Nursing care facilities
- Outpatient care centers
- Health centers and clinics
- Home health providers
- Health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
- Dialysis centers
- Diabetes care clinics
- Exercise and fitness centers
General Information
- 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 of experience and a graduate degree are required for specialties such as pediatrics, renal nutrition, or oncology.
Community and Public Health Nutrition
Career Areas
- Health promotion
- Education
- Program planning and implementation
- Administration
- Counseling
- Consultation
- Non-profit
- Emergency relief
Employers
- 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
- Congregate nutrition programs
- Cooperative extension
General Information
- 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
Career Areas
- Menu planning
- Budgeting
- Purchasing
- Food preparation
- Personnel management
- Food safety management
- Food processing
Employers
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Colleges and universities
- Company cafeterias
- Correctional facilities
- Camps
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Nursing homes
- Airlines
General Information
- 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
Career Areas
- Clinical dietetics
- Nutrition education and teaching
- Administration
- Program management
- Research
- Health care reform
- Supplement Labels
- Regulation
- Inspection
Employers
- Army
- Navy
- Air Force
- National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
- Food and Drug Administration
- National Center for Health Statistics
- Maternal and Child Health Bureau
- National Institutes of Health
- Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Veterans’ Health Administration
- Peace Corps
- AmeriCorps VISTA
General Information
- 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
Career Areas
- Nutrition consulting
- Menu development
- Food preparation and safety
- Nutrition counseling
- Weight management: Adult and pediatric
- Teaching
- Health promotion and programming
- Writing
- Food photography
Employers
- Private practice
- Physicians’ offices
- Weight loss clinics
- Nursing homes
- Health clubs and spas
- Corporate wellness programs
- Restaurants and chefs
- Catering services
- Food vendors and distributors
- Grocery stores
- Food manufacturers
- Food service managers
- Sports teams and athletes
- Health-related magazines and internet sites
- Newspapers
General Information
- 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 yourself.
Industry
Career Areas
- Research
- Product development
- Sensory evaluation
- Quality assurance
- Marketing
- Sales
- Customer service
- Consumer food science
- Consumer affairs
- Medical equipment
- Food service equipment
- Pharmaceuticals
- Nutraceuticals
Employers
- Food manufacturers
- Food vendors and distributors
- Special food services
- Trade associations
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Health-related businesses
- Weight loss programs
- Restaurant and hotel chains
- Public relations firms with food industry accounts
General Information
- 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
Career Areas
- Teaching
- Research
Employers
- Colleges and universities
- Community and technical schools
- Nursing, medical, dental, and health sciences schools
- Teaching hospitals
- Culinary schools
General Information
- 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.
Join Organizations
Being active in both student and professional organizations can help boost your career. You'll have the opportunity to network with and learn from peers, mentors, and professionals. Working within these groups helps build leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. You'll gain hands-on experience, showing employers your proactive attitude and commitment to growth, making you a stronger job candidate.
Student Organizations
Check out the organizations listed below, search Laker Life, or talk with a Career Coach to find others.
Search for Employers
General Guidelines and Strategies
- Most positions require the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential.
- Become an RDN through an accredited bachelor’s or master’s program followed by an approved, supervised internship.
- RDNs 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Consider pursuing further education.
- Consider gaining specialized certifications in areas such as pediatric or renal nutrition, nutrition support, and diabetes education.
- Assist a faculty member with nutrition research.
- 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.
Contact Us
145 Marano Campus Center
Phone: 315-312-2255
Email: [email protected]
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