Bachelor of Science in Nutrition (B.S.)

Nourish Your Passion and Build a Career in Nutrition

Food fuels our bodies and minds and affects our overall health and well-being. If you'd like to make a real difference in the world, the nutrition major at West Chester University is a great place to start. You'll impact communities by promoting healthy lifestyles and disease prevention to help people live longer, happier lives.

WCU's Nutrition program will train you as an expert in food science, micro- and macronutrients, nutrition management, and more, including interdisciplinary courses in psychology and exercise physiology.

Thanks to specialized tracks in dietetics and lifestyle nutrition, with our Nutrition degree you can pursue your passion while gaining the knowledge and skills for a variety of careers in the nutrition and healthcare industries.

Tracks in the Nutrition Degree Program

Dietetics

WCU's ACEND-accredited dietetics concentration is the perfect springboard for a successful career as a Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN). Our rigorous coursework and internship requirement will prepare you for the challenges and rewards of graduate school and the RD/RDN credential.

In addition to your coursework, you'll complete a supervised internship program to gain real-world experience working with clients and developing your skills as a practitioner.

Upon graduation, you'll be eligible to take the RD/RDN exam, which will allow you to practice dietetics in a variety of settings.

Lifestyle Nutrition

The lifestyle nutrition track combines nutrition with business, management, and exercise science to prepare you for a successful career in health and wellness. You'll learn best practices for promoting healthy lifestyles to diverse individuals and groups. You may also pursue certification as a health coach or personal trainer, providing you with additional skills and qualifications to make you even more impressive in the competitive job market.

Benefits of Earning Your Nutrition Degree at West Chester University

Accreditation and Reputation for Quality

Our Nutrition degree in dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The rigorous accreditation process means our program meets the highest standards for quality. It also means that WCU graduates are eligible to take the RD/RDN exam, are well prepared for a future career in nutrition, and will stand out in the job market.

Clubs and Organizations for Nutrition Majors

We offer plenty of ways for you to get involved and connect with students who share the same passion for nutrition, including:

• Diabetes Awareness Club
• Food & Nutrition Systems
• Lifestyle Nutrition Club
• Phi Epsilon Kappa Honor Society Fraternity for Health Science Majors
• Slow Food Club
• Sports Nutrition Club
• Student Nutrition Association

Accelerated B.S. in Nutrition Dietetics to M.S. in Community Nutrition

If your future plans include becoming a registered dietitian, you may be interested in our accelerated degree program. As of January 2024, you will need to hold a master's degree to become an RD/RDN. Through this accelerated program, you can earn both your Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Dietetics and your Master of Science in Community Nutrition in just five years, rather than six. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to sit for the registration examination for dietitians to earn your RD/RDN credentials.

What Can You Do With a Nutrition Degree?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for dieticians and nutritionists are expected to increase by 7 percent through 2032. There are many roles available within the field of nutrition, with a variety of salary ranges based on industry, education, and experience. Health education specialists, for example, earned an average of $59,990 in 2022. Nutritionists and dietitians earned an average of $66,450 in the same period.

Our Nutrition degree graduates can be found working in a variety of roles and fields, including:

• Health coach
• Nutrition educator
• Nutrition/wellness coach
• Weight loss counselor
• Health program coordinator
• Foodservice director
• Certified dietary manager
• Medical nutrition therapy
• Sports nutrition
• Corporate wellness
• Private practice
• Research

Additionally, many of our dietetics graduates have pursued other career pathways and professional schools after graduation, including medical school, nursing school, physician assistant school, and physical therapy school, to name a few.

Where are our graduates?

What Will You Study as a Nutrition Major?

Regardless of your concentration, as a nutrition major you will learn how to improve the health and well-being of populations through food.