Honors Study in Nutritional Sciences

Students introducing children to different fruits and vegetables.

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

In the Honors program, faculty who are recognized leaders in the field will will guide you through a cutting-edge nutritional science curriculum featuring practical applications that promote positive lifestyle changes in others. Upon completion of the program, you’ll be fully prepared for a leadership or management position in a number of healthcare, industry, government, and food science career fields.

Students in the Schreyer Honors College are, first and foremost, Penn State students and experience everything this great University offers

Benefits

As a student in the Schreyer Honors College, you will be empowered to make the most of your college years. There are distinct opportunities afforded to Schreyer Scholars, including academic enrichment — such as exclusive honors courses, study abroad programs, research placements, and production of an honors thesis — as well as dedicated housing, and the distinction of graduating with honors from Penn State.

Earning a degree in Nutritional Sciences from the Schreyer Honors College will allow you to realize the fullest potential of your academic skills, creativity, determination, and innovation, opening doors to limitless graduate school and career opportunities.

Can I do this? I’m scared about writing a thesis.: Yes. Most of us are scared to do something new and a thesis is a big (but rewarding) challenge. We’ll help you identify your interests early on in the program and help you identify a thesis supervisor. You will take small classes in research methods and developmental theory to help you build a strong foundation of knowledge before you start your thesis. And the rewards of completing a thesis are big. The skills and knowledge that you develop during the thesis process — critical thinking skills, analytic skills, strong writing skills, experience working with a thesis supervisor, and experience breaking a large task into manageable pieces — will help you in whatever career you choose.

Is the Honors College just for students who want to go into research?: No. The Honors College will give you a terrific head start on a career in any number of fields. The main benefits of the Honors College are help thinking about your career path and how to achieve your goals, access to many opportunities to gain in-depth knowledge, advanced skills, and practical experience, closer contact with the faculty through small classes, a thesis, and individualized advising. You can design a plan for how you want to achieve your goals whatever they are and participating in the Honors College will provide you with extra tools and opportunities to get there.

Can I still do an internship?: Yes. We strongly encourage honors students to get real-world experience through volunteering in the community, acting as teaching assistants, working in research labs, and doing internships. Most honors students have more than one real-world experience during their time in the Honors College.

Can I study abroad and still be in the Honors College?: Yes. The Schreyer Honors College strongly encourages study abroad, and so do we. We have set up the honors curriculum so that you can study abroad and still be well-prepared for your thesis.

I see a lot of extra requirements. Will I still graduate on time?: Yes. The Honors College requirements replace some of the typical requirements for your major. In fact, because of the flexibility the Honors College provides and the fact that many honors students have AP credits and occasionally take more than 15 credits per semester, some honors students actually graduate a semester early.

CONTACT

To learn more about the Schreyer Honors College or completing honors studies in Nutritional Sciences, contact:

The Schreyer Honors College

Atherton Hall

(814) 863-2635