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Nutritional Sciences

Bachelor of Science

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Top 3%

Online Bachelor's Program in the Nation

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Top 25

Public Flagship University

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Quick Facts

Credits Required: 120
Cost Per Credit: $525

College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences

Nutritional science examines the impact of nutrition and food on health and disease throughout the lifespan. Course topics include nutritional biology and metabolism, food science and safety, nutrition assessment, and therapeutic diets.

As a student in this program, you will specialize in either dietetics or nutrition. The Dietetics emphasis allows you to apply for dietetic internships and become a registered dietitian through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The Nutrition emphasis opens doors to other careers and graduate studies in nutrition, food science, nutritional biochemistry, dentistry, nursing, physical therapy or veterinary medicine.

The Dietetics emphasis at the University of Arizona is a nationally accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

Beginning January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) has changed the degree requirement for dietitian registration eligibility from a Bachelor's degree to a Master's degree (in any field) in addition to the current requirement of a verification statement from an ACEND accredited dietetics program.  Arizona Online offers a Professional Science Master’s in Applied Nutrition.

*Residents of some U.S. Territories may not be eligible. Please see our Eligibility & State Authorization page for more information.

Skills

Earning your Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences will build core skills, including:

  • Dietetics
  • Food safety
  • Food science
  • Medical nutrition
  • Nutrition assessment
  • Nutrition counseling
  • Patient/family education
  • Quality assurance and control
  • Research and analytical methods
  • Therapeutic diets
  • Treatment planning

The BS in Nutritional Sciences will prepare you to launch a career after graduation or to pursue graduate programs in dietetics, nursing, pharmacy, medicine and other healthcare fields.

If you are looking to kickstart your career after graduation, a degree in Nutritional Sciences is a path to rewarding opportunities in which you can help others live longer, healthier and happier lives. Make a difference in the following fields:

  • clinical dietetics
  • food and nutrition management
  • public health nutrition
  • education and research
  • consultant/private practice
  • healthcare (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician's assistant, etc.)
  • business and industry
  • media
  • international food organizations
  • public policy/government

Areas of Emphasis

Nutritionist weighing various foods displayed on a table

Nutrition

The Nutrition emphasis gives you lots of options. It combines medicine, food chemistry, cell biology and biochemistry with a focus on nutrition and foods. It also prepares you to enter careers in the food and health industries or pursue graduate studies and research.

Course topics include nutritional biology and metabolism, food science and safety, nutrition assessment, and therapeutic diets. Graduates may also work as nutritional advisers in schools, wellness centers, the U.S. military or nonprofit organizations. Some of these jobs may require an advanced degree or certification, but with a bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences, you’ll have plenty of paths toward your goals.

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Nutrition Courses
Nutritionist explaining with hands over bowl of fruit

Dietetics

The Dietetics emphasis provides the first step toward becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDNs), nutrition and dietetics technician, registered (NDTR) or nutrition professional. You’ll gain a strong foundation in the sciences and take a wide variety of food and nutrition courses, preparing you to work in disease prevention and management, community health and wellness, counseling, food science, and the food industry. Many of these careers require or prefer the RDN or NDTR credential.

To become an NDTR, graduates must sit for the NDTR Credentialing Exam. Completing the Dietetics emphasis qualifies students to sit for the exam.

To become an RDN, graduates must complete an accredited dietetic internship. These competitive programs can be started after graduation. A national exam is then required as the final step to earn the RDN credential.

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Dietetics Courses