Nutrition Sciences

Students who complete the Bachelor of Science in nutrition sciences degree program will be prepared to pursue advanced degrees in nutrition, food science or bio-molecular sciences. The degree is also excellent preparation for admission to professional schools, such as medicine or dentistry. They are prepared for many career paths including as a nutrition specialist and/or research scientist in the food, nutrition and pharmaceutical industry in areas of research and development, quality assurance, and sales and marketing.

Admission Information

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Quality classroom experiences

Laboratory experiences are an integral part of the nutrition sciences major. Students in Nutrition Sciences have many opportunities to gain experience with laboratory instrumentation and to develop research skills in a variety of settings. Students also have the opportunity to use a sensory analysis laboratory to conduct taste tests for their course projects and consult with regional food business and organizations.

Opportunities are available for students to conduct research with food and nutrition faculty, as well as with faculty in related disciplines such as biology, chemistry, exercise science and public health at BGSU. Students also interact with professionals in the field working in community/public/clinical nutrition and the food industry.

Stand Out in courses like

Fundamentals of Food Science
Life Cycle Nutrition: Pregnancy to Adolescence
Experimental Foods
Research Methods in Nutrition, Foods & Dietetics

Curriculum

Core course requirements in nutrition sciences feature human nutrition and food science. Students also earn a minor in both chemistry and biology through completion of coursework such as organic chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology. Other supporting discipline courses include statistics, mathematics, physics and physiology. The nutrition sciences degree program is designed to be completed in eight semesters. Students interested in graduate school or research careers may choose both dietetics and nutrition sciences

Opportunities to gain experience with laboratory instrumentation and to develop research skills in a variety of laboratory settings.

Internships and Careers

The Bachelor of Science in nutrition sciences prepares students to pursue advanced degrees in nutrition, food science, biology and bimolecular sciences. The degree is also excellent preparation for admission to professional schools, such as medicine or dentistry. They are prepared for many career paths including as a nutrition specialist and/or research scientist in the food, nutrition and pharmaceutical industry in areas of research and development, quality assurance, and sales and marketing. They are also prepared to pursue scientific research positions in government and other agencies.

GO FAR in your career

Laboratory research careers in the food, nutrition and pharmaceutical industries
Research and development
Quality assurance

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Students have the chance to research and present with faculty at national professional meetings in areas including food safety, body composition and health, and sensory science.

The Nutrition Sciences program is part of the Department of Public & Allied Health in the BGSU College of Health & Human Services

Admissions Information

Students in nutrition sciences should have a strong preparation in English composition, mathematics, biology and chemistry. Additional coursework in science and math are strongly encouraged.

Completing the requirements for high school graduation is necessary for admission to BGSU, but only finishing the minimum coursework will leave you unprepared for college. Consider taking four years of mathematics instead of the three that are required. Two, three or even four years of the same foreign language is excellent preparation for college. You will also benefit from competency in computer use. Courses that provide exposure to or training in the visual and performing arts are excellent choices.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in nutrition sciences are expected to:

Demonstrate knowledge of biological, chemical and physical-sciences concepts and apply these concepts to food and nutrition science;
Use critical thinking and quantitative analysis skills to investigate food and nutrition science problems;
Demonstrate effective oral and written scientific communication skills;
Use a variety of laboratory techniques and instruments to investigate food and nutrition science problems.

Accreditation

Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012 - 2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The Nutrition Sciences program will undergo its next Program/Cluster Review during the Academic Year 2019-20. For more information on the review, click here.

Professional Licensure

Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Nutrition Sciences program does not lead to professional licensure.

Gainful Employment

Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Nutrition Sciences program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.

* Job placement and salary information was compiled by the Office of Academic Assessment through the Graduation Survey from AY2015-2018. The data are gathered around the time of Commencement and a follow-up survey six months post Commencement. For the salary question, data for programs with fewer than fifteen responses are not included. Salaries for those programs are from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2019 Survey. For questions regarding the data, contact assessment@bgsu.edu.

Updated: 06/09/2023 08:56AM