A common degree course relating to nutrition is the Bachelor of Science in nutrition. In this varied course, students focus on human nutrition, life sciences, chemistry and biology. Depending on the program and university, students may also study dietetics, nutritional biochemistry, sports nutrition, food science and global nutrition. In the pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in nutrition, students have the opportunity to major in one of several disciplines, usually after the second year of study.
A Bachelor of Science in nutrition with a major in sports nutrition will put the graduate on a path toward working in a sports-related field. In this course, students learn about such nutrition-related topics as metabolism, food function and diet. Professional sports teams, depending upon their budgets, employ one or several sports nutritionists to work with elite athletes to develop meal plans and ensure the athletes remain healthy to perform at their peak. Graduates can also work in sports clinics and athletic centers.
Students with interest in helping people in developing countries may choose to major in global nutrition. This course is geared toward students who wish to travel around the globe to help educate people about nutrition or work as an aid worker. This major's curriculum includes courses on nutrition in developing nations, agriculture, global perspectives on food, toxicology and food chemistry.
Many universities offer graduate degrees in nutrition, including master's degrees and doctorates. These courses are available to students with undergraduate degrees related to nutrition. Programs include dietetics and human nutrition, human biology and nutritional sciences and community nutrition. Each of these courses expands on the teachings of an undergraduate degree in nutrition, focusing on such areas as nutrition's role in health and diseases such as diabetes and obesity, maternal and child nutrition, nutrition in developing countries and nutrition among indigenous people.