Nutrition, Dietetics and Wellness (B.S.)
Why Study Nutrition, Dietetics and Wellness at NIU?
There’s a science and psychology behind nutrition, dietetics and wellness. It’s the relationship between nutrition, healthy eating, health maintenance, disease prevention and chronic illness development.
Our major offers two study tracks:
- Dietetics DPD: After graduation, you’ll be prepared to apply for the dietetic internship program necessary to become a registered dietitian and/or continue on to graduate studies.
- Nutrition, Health and Wellness: You’ll focus on how nutrition and healthy eating play a role in health maintenance and prevention of chronic disease. This also prepares you for graduate studies.
Careers with a Nutrition, Dietetics and Wellness Degree
Your course work will teach you how to work with people, families and the community in careers such as:
- Nutrition and Wellness: Community educators, corporate wellness, wellness counseling
- Food Services and Systems: Hospital food service, school food service, food processing operations, research, farm-to-table programs
- Food Sciences: Flavor chemistry, food inspection, food product development, food scientist, food technologist, agricultural food scientist, quality assurances
More good news is that the job outlook for dietitians and nutritionists is growing much faster than average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nutrition, Dietetics and Wellness Faculty
Our award-winning faculty conduct research in diverse areas such as:
- Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases among adolescents.
- Lifestyle factors affecting nutrition.
- The role of nutrition and physical activity in children and adolescents in prevention of chronic disease.
Hands-on Learning Opportunities
You’ll have the unique opportunity to learn while working in our student-run campus restaurant, Ellington’s where you’ll be part of a team that plans, prepares and serves three-course meals to paying customers. You can also participate in our student-run Chandelier Catering Corps., a full-service catering operation.
Outside the classroom, you can join the Student Dietetic Association that works on nutrition-based community service projects among other activities. There is also a chapter of Bread for the World, a nationwide Christian movement that seeks justice for the world’s hungry by lobbying our nation’s decision-makers.