The bachelor's and master's degrees are the two primary degrees for practice in this field. At the undergraduate level, you can pursue studies working towards a bachelor's degree, usually the bachelor of science. Each school has different emphases. For instance, Mansfield University offers a dietetics degree and a degree in sports nutrition. Iowa State University also offers a dietetics degree, but it also offers one in exercise and diet. Areas of study in most undergraduate programs include fields such as introductory nutrition, nutrition counseling and education, food ingredients, interactions and formulations, community nutrition, the scientific study of food, and food service organization and management.
If you plan on simply pursuing a nutritionist degree without becoming a registered dietitian, numerous options are available for you to choose from. Master's degree work in the field of nutrition is offered by various schools with various emphases. For instance, the University of Pittsburgh offers a master's degree in sports medicine and nutrition. Sports nutrition differs somewhat from regular nutrition in that diet planning is geared towards athletic performance. Courses in this line of study might include exercise physiology, dietary supplements and performance, and diet and exercise in chronic disease management. Other schools like Penn State University that confer master's degrees in nutrition with no specific emphases offer courses in areas like the regulation of nutrient metabolism, statistics and readings in nutrition.
At the master's degree level, you can also pursue dietetic nutritional studies that prepares you for the licensing exam. Many states also require internships. Many different schools offer coursework leading to the registered dietitian credentials. For instance, Eastern Michigan University offers a dietetics program that requires master's level coursework in nutrition therapy, nutrient metabolism, food systems and food and culture. The University of Pittsburgh is another good example of master's degree courses that are offered in this type of program. The school's master's degree program requires coursework in advanced nutrition counseling, advanced medical nutrition therapy, food service management and professional trends and issues in nutrition.