Nutritional Sciences Undergraduate Program | Penn State College of Health and Human Development

Discover How Nutrition Impacts Human Health

Prepare for your career in nutritional sciences by learning about nutrition at all levels, from molecule to individual, and how it impacts public health. You'll have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through internships, research, and practical training, preparing you to empower individuals and communities to achieve optimal health and wellness.

Two nutritional sciences students teach kids nutrition information

Major in Nutritional Sciences

Solidly rooted in the sciences of chemistry, biology, physiology, psychology, neuroscience, behavior, and development, the Nutritional Sciences (NUTR) undergraduate program at Penn State examines how food fuels our bodies and how nutrition choices affect every facet of health over time.

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Minors

Each minor offered through the Department of Nutritional Sciences allows students of any undergraduate major to apply nutrition principles to their studies.

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Earn two degrees in five years

Integrated undergraduate-graduate accelerated masters programs allow qualified undergraduate Nutritional Sciences students to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in about five years.

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Honors Study

The Honor Study program in Nutritional Sciences takes a rigorous academic approach to examining how the human body transforms food into usable energy, with an immersive exploration of how our nutritional needs change throughout our lifetime.

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Degree options to fit your interests

The Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences offers two program options that will allow you to tailor your academics for your desired career pathway.

Health Sciences

The Health Sciences option is a flexible and customizable pathway that allows students to align their nutrition coursework with their interest in public health and social services and prepares them for graduate and professional study in clinical disciplines, including medicine, nursing, dentistry, physician assistant programs, and more. Students are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for addressing complex health challenges through a nutrition-focused lens.

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Nutrition and Dietetics

The Nutrition and Dietetics option provides a strong foundation in science, food, and nutrition with a diverse curriculum to meet the accreditation standards of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. Students who enter this option aim to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), which qualifies an individual as a food and nutrition expert to address today’s complex food and nutrition issues.

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