Is a Nutrition Degree Right for Me?

Are you fascinated by the association between food and health? Want to pursue a career helping others make healthier dietary choices? Perhaps you're considering a degree in nutrition science or a related field, but you want to know if this is the right path for you.

A degree in nutrition can lead to various careers in food service and specialized areas of health and wellness. This is a good degree choice for those hoping to pursue these specialized nutrition careers or keep their options open for pursuing advanced education or other areas of food and health.

What Is a Nutrition Degree?

A nutrition degree is an accredited program of study designed to help students become nutritionists and dietitians. There are many specialized careers you can pursue within this industry. These professionals often help clients learn to develop healthy eating habits.

Most students pursue bachelor's or master's degrees in this field. Nutrition degrees may also be available at other levels of education, from associate to doctoral, at some institutions. Master's programs and other graduate degrees and certificates often provide more specialized education in specific areas of nutrition.

Depending on the school you attend, you may be able to complete a nutrition degree online or in a hybrid format if desired. The time it takes to get your degree varies depending on the type of program; bachelor's degrees typically take about four years, while master's degrees commonly take an additional two years.

What Does a Nutrition Major Study?

Many nutrition programs offer concentrations, allowing students to specialize in a particular area of nutrition. Other schools offer more specialized majors related to nutrition, such as:

• nutritional studies
• food and nutrition
• nutrition and dietetics
• medical nutrition therapy

Regardless of the concentration or major you pursue, all of these programs contain a basic introductory nutrition course or two. Other coursework may cover topics such as nutrition and disease, food preparation, and global food availability.

Most nutrition programs also require science courses such as anatomy, physiology, and biology. Practical experiences may be required as well, such as internships or volunteer opportunities. Didactic programs typically require a set number of clinical hours obtained through a dietetic internship.

Why You Should Consider a Degree in Nutrition

So, you're drawn toward a nutrition degree, but you're not sure why. Or, you're wondering if you're interested in nutrition for the right reasons. Let's take a look at some common reasons in favor of pursuing a nutrition degree.

You Have Various Career Options

Whether you are interested in working with clients to help them improve their health, cooking healthy meals for a living, working in food safety, or hoping to pursue an advanced position in public health or the medical field, you have options with a nutrition degree. Not only can this degree prepare you for many different careers, it can also prepare you for more specialized advanced degree programs.

You Can Increase Your Knowledge and Skills

If you have a natural curiosity about how food and nutritional choices impact the human body, a degree in nutrition can provide in-depth knowledge and skills in the field. It will allow you to take a deep dive into subjects that already interest you, gaining information that will help you in a variety of career paths.

You Can Choose Your Work Environment

Those with nutrition degrees can work in many different settings: health and wellness clinics, food preparation facilities, restaurants, gyms, nursing homes, and private practices. Those interested in working for themselves can open their own nutrition business. Whatever type of work environment interests you, a nutrition degree can provide you with options.

You Can Help Others

Working in nutrition allows you to make a positive difference in the lives of people. Whether you are working directly with patients or clients or behind the scenes ensuring food supplies are safe and nutritious, you are likely to enjoy a level of satisfaction knowing that your job makes a difference.

You Can Help Yourself

Even if your primary goal is to help others get and stay healthy, having a strong understanding of nutrition can be beneficial for you as well. Knowing how to make healthy diet choices gives you the power to live a healthy lifestyle, improving your overall mental health and physical wellbeing.

Job Opportunities for Nutrition Degree Majors

Wondering about all the different career options for nutrition majors? Some of the common job titles in the nutrition and dietetics industry include:

• nutrition consultant
• health educator
• registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN)
• food scientist
• registered nutrition and dietetics technician
• naturopath
• food safety auditor
• food and nutrition services director
• nutrition coordinator
• health coach

Nutrition Degree: Questions To Ask Yourself

Still wondering if a nutrition degree is the right path for you? To help you decide, consider asking yourself questions such as the following.

Do I Enjoy Working With People?

Many nutrition careers involve providing nutrition guidance to clients and patients. In many roles, you will interact with a variety of people each day. Before majoring in nutrition, you may want to consider how much of a people person you are.

Some nutrition careers allow you to take a more behind-the-scenes role. Consider career paths such as food scientist, food safety auditor, or nutrition coordinator if you're still interested in pursuing nutrition but aren't sure you want to spend so much of your day working with people.

What Are My Long-Term Career Goals?

Do you see yourself working as a nutritionist, nutrition consultant, or health coach for the majority of your career? Or do you view nutrition as a stepping stone on a related but much different career path, such as the medical field or culinary arts?

A degree in nutrition can certainly benefit you in all of these industries. But keep in mind that you may need to pursue additional education if your nutrition degree doesn't prepare you for these career paths. Consider pursuing a nutrition degree that offers concentrations (such as pre-medicine or food science) to help tailor your education toward your specific interests.

Do I Have a Passion for Health and Nutrition?

Finally, the most important thing to consider is how interested in food and nutrition you really are. You may have a strong interest in these subjects, but do you really want to turn them into a career?

It might be helpful to take community nutrition classes to learn more about the topic. You could also look into job shadowing opportunities with a nutritionist or some other nutrition professional to learn more about what they do on a daily basis. These opportunities can prove invaluable when helping you determine if nutrition is the right career path for you.