Career Preparation
In This Section:
A nutritional sciences degree can prepare you for career opportunites in areas such as:
- Clinical Dietetics
- Food & Nutrition Management
- Public Health Nutrition
- Education and Research
- Consultant / Private Practice
- Related Health Professionals (e.g. MD, PA, etc.)
- Business and Industry
- Media
- International Food Organizations
- Public
Policy / Government
Further information on each of these categories is listed below. Contact your academic advisor for more information about recommended courses to prepare for these careers.
Clinical Dietetics
- Hospitals long term care, and outpatient settings
- Many specialties (pediatric, renal, diabetes, nutrition support, etc.)
- RD
generally required
American Dietetic Association (ADA) 2006 salary survey: median = $43,260
Food & Nutrition Management
- Hospitals, long term care, businesses, schools (contract service management)
- Work with chefs or at spas
- Consult
regarding healthy choices on menu
ADA 2006 salary survey: median = $57,700
Public Health Nutrition
- Women, Infants & Children (WIC)
- Public Health Department with state and county agencies
- Cooperative Extension
- Congregate
Meals program
ADA 2006 salary survey: median = $43,000
Without RD the salary is lower, but jobs are available
Education and Research
- College, university, health professional school & culinary school
- Teach K-12 (may require further course work)
- Create and write curriculum for state board of education, Dairy Council, Cooperative Extension
- Worksite wellness--teach nutrition, exercise, fitness and other health promotion to employees
- Manage
or assist with clinical protocols, interventions, or clinical
trials
Advanced degrees are usually required for research based jobs. RD credential frequently preferred, but not required.
ADA 2006 salary survey: median = $57,900
Consultant / Private Practice
- Private practice consultation to hospitals and long term care facilities on hourly or "job" basis
- Client counseling for weight management, eating disorders, sports nutrition, diabetes management, etc. from either physician referrals and/or advertisements
- Write cookbooks, educational programs, or articles for local newspapers or specialty magazines
- Food photography
- Consult
at health clubs / spas as a personal trainer-nutritionist
ADA 2006 salary survey: median = $51,700
Related Health Professionals
A nutrition degree use skills for a degree in a related profession
- Chiropractor (DC)
- Dentist (DDS)
- Naturopathic Doctor (ND)
- Physical Therapist (PT)
- Physician (MD or DO)
- Physician Assistant (PA)
- Podiatrist (DP)
- Veterinarian (DVM)
Business and Industry
Careers in business and industry include jobs such as sales, marketing, public relations, research and development (labeling, recipes & product informtation) and production quality control.
- Food (eg. Cambell Soup, Kraft Foods, Proctor & Gamble)
- Information Technology (eg. CBORD, Compu-Cal, Computrition, ESHA Research, First DataBank)
- Nutritionals (eg. Mead Johnson, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Novartis Nutrition, Ross Products)
- Nutraceuticals (eg. Archer Daniels Midland, Cooke Pharma, GeniSoy Products)
- Pharmaceutical (eg. Eli Lily, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Pfizer)
- Food Service Equipment (eg. Diversey Lever, Ecolab, Hamilton Beach Commercial, Hobart)
- Food Service Contract Management (eg. Aramark Healthcare, Morrison Management, Sodexho)
- Food Service Vendors (eg. Precision Foods, Super Bakery, Sysco, US Foodservice)
- Medical Equipment (eg. Bodystat, HealtheTech, Johnson & Johnson)
- Trade Associations (eg. Cranberry Institute, Dairy Council, Peanut Institute, Pork Producers)
Media
- Commodity groups (trade associations) hire public relations firms
- Radio, TV, newspaper, magazines are major source of nutrition education for the public
- Cooperative Extension agents often write for the local media
International Food Organizations
- Peace Corps
- Non-governmental organizations such as CARE, Food for the Hungry, or World Relief
- United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization
- US AID (Agency for International Development)
- Multi-national corporation
- Consulting and research collaboration
Public Policy / Government
- Staff resource to legislator
- Government agency--USDA, FDA, NIH, etc.
- Health care reform
- Supplement labels
- Regulatory
- Lobbyist in state or federal government