About Nutritional Sciences
Nutrition emphasizes the metabolic aspects of how organisms use food. It includes knowledge of how food is digested, absorbed and used for energy and growth as well as how and why nutrient requirements change over the live span and under stress. The field of nutritional sciences encompasses all aspects of an organism's interaction with food. It includes biochemical, physiologic, molecular, psychological, and cultural aspects of food choice and nutrient metabolism.
View all the exciting career paths in our Nutritional Sciences major below!
Options in the Nutritional Sciences Major
Program Goals
Through completion of the program in Nutritional Sciences, graduate will be prepared for supervised practice in dietetics, graduate school, or employment by mastering the biological, psychosocial, and community principles of food and nutrition coursework tailored to their option.
Depending on their program, graduates will be able to:
- Differentiate biology, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, and physiology and how they apply to digestion, absorption, and metabolism of food and nutrients.
- Integrate biological, behavioral, and environmental factors and explain how nutrition impacts human health and disease.
- Evaluate the implications and limitations of nutrition research by using critical thinking and analytical skills.
- Describe how food and nutrition community programs are important in helping to improve public health across the lifespan.
- Use a range of current technologies to demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills.
Beyond these program goals, each option has specific goals.
Independent Study
All students are encouraged to pursue independent research projects with faculty members.
What Graduates From Our Program Are Saying:
I am so grateful for the experiences I had in the undergraduate program. I had transferred into SEBS after my first year at Rutgers and did not understand all the different paths I could take with an interest in nutrition, but the program was super responsive to all the questions and doubts I had.
— Nutritional Sciences DPD Student, 2025
I felt that all faculty were always supportive of students, were great role models, and pushed us enough to be prepared for the next steps in dietetics.
— Nutritional Sciences DPD Student, 2025
The professors are very easy to talk to and always try to offer advice when asked. Dr. Quick has been incredibly helpful with career guidance and academic advice, and was an overall very supportive person throughout my time at Rutgers.
— Nutritional Sciences DPD Student, 2025
The faculty members to a good job at fostering a safe and encouraging environment for us to thrive. I am grateful for them and the friendships that I have created throughout this journey. There are the reason I am here today.
— Nutritional Sciences DPD Student, 2025
I have had many positive experiences while enrolled in the undergradaute Dietetics program, ranging from talking to peers and the instructors before class to attending national conferences to present research.
— Nutritional Sciences DPD Student, 2025
Rutgers has provided me with amazing mentors and friends that I will continue to be in contact with post-graduation. I could not be more grateful for my time at Rutgers
— Nutritional Sciences DPD Student, 2025
I felt that the environment was very supportive, and the staff were always willing to help. The students were also very nice, and any bigger projects where there was a lot of teamwork required were always extra fun.
— Nutritional Sciences DPD Student, 2025
I really enjoyed my courses, learning from my professors, and making friends within the courses.
— Nutritional Sciences DPD Student, 2025