Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Nutrition and Food Science

Option in Nutrition 

Our department offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Nutrition and Food Science with two different focus options: Nutrition or Food Science. 

Do you love food and health? The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Nutrition and Food Science, Option in Nutrition, prepares students for careers in health and wellness, research, public health, and industry and is suitable for students wishing to apply for graduate school, medical school, or other health-related programs. 

Students must complete a minimum of 74 units to receive a B.S. degree in Nutrition and Food Science with an option in Nutrition. The study is concentrated in the areas of anatomy/physiology, nutrition across life stages, nutritional science, metabolism, cultural foods, community nutrition, food science, food production, and research. Students also get to select multiple elective courses to allow them to focus on their personal areas of interest. See the Course Catalog Description for more details. 

Students who wish to use this major as a pre-professional degree (e.g., pre-med, physician assistant, etc.) should check with the appropriate programs to verify specific requirements.

Career Options

The Nutrition Option prepares students for diverse and rewarding careers* in both public and private sectors including:

  • supervising and/or providing education to the public through community nutrition programs
  • managing corporate wellness programs
  • conducting research to inform new discoveries in nutritional science and health
  • writing and developing nutrition-related media for educational websites, publishers, or media companies
  • working as a nutrition content expert for consulting firms
  • educating future nutrition professionals through teaching and mentoring
  • working in non-profit health promotion agencies
  • regulation of health and food policy in local, state, or federal government settings
  • a variety of opportunities in business/industry (food companies, medical technology, pharmaceutical sales, etc.)
  • healthcare policy and management

* Some career paths, such as becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), require continued education beyond an undergraduate degree.

 Ranked #11 in the United States for Best Bachelor's Degree Program in Nutrition!

Interested in becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)?

IMPORTANT CHANGE: This undergraduate program is not accredited by ACEND as a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), and B.S. graduates will not be eligible for a DPD verification statement, which is required by many Dietetic Internship (DI) programs. We have moved to a new RDN training model, the Graduate Program (GP) model, which does not require a Verification Statement. For students who are not admitted to our program or wish to pursue RDN training elsewhere, there are additional options which would require taking coursework at another institution, such as CSULA. For more information about pathways to becoming a RDN, please read About Accredited Programs. 

New Pathway: Blended BS-to-MS Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Program @ CSULB

Students who choose the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Nutrition and Food Science, Option in Nutrition are eligible to apply for the Blended Track for the RDN Graduate Program which results in an M.S. in Applied Nutrition and Dietetics during the summer prior to graduation. The MS in Applied Nutrition and Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the credentialing agency of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and prepares students for the requirements to sit for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) national credentialing examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

With the RDN credential, there are numerous career options which include: 

  • providing nutrition-related patient care in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, and long-term care facilities
  • overseeing large and small-scale foodservice operations (hotel, military, corporate, prison, catering)
  • supervising and planning feeding programs in school and childcare settings,
  • offering consultation for professional or collegiate athletes in sports nutrition programs
  • offering nutrition counseling through private practice

For all scheduling and course-related questions, the CHHS Academic Advising Center offers advising for general education courses (e.g. transfer credits) as well as major-specific advising. We encourage students to check in with CHHS advisors early in the semester and throughout their time at CSULB to ensure timely graduation.

Students are also assigned a Nutrition faculty advisor based on the first letter of their last name (see box to the right) who are available to answer career-related questions and help students explore opportunities for graduate education and employment upon graduation.

Extracurricular activities, various internships, and guest speakers provide students with knowledge about the many varied career opportunities in nutrition and dietetics. Activities include networking, attending professional meetings, and on-site tours of various industry facilities, plus more. In addition, students have the opportunity to become involved and take leadership positions in the Student Dietetic Association (SDA), CSULB Food Science Club, CSULB Hospitality Management Association, and Sustain U.