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What can I do with a minor in nutrition?
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SUNY Oswego - Career Services
- Career Communities
- Major And Career Exploration
- Resumes and Cover Letters
- Networking, Personal Branding and LinkedIn
- Job and Internship Searching
- Graduate School
- Online Career Tools
- Affinity Group Resources
- Compensation Negotiation
- Events
- Graduate Outcomes
- Information for
- Resource Center
- Connect with us
View videos of professionals describing a day on the job
Join a student organization today
Health Promotion and WellnessGet involved in a professional organization
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics American Society for Nutrition Commission on Dietetic Registration National Association of Nutrition ProfessionalsSearch for opportunities
- Public health nutritionist
- Food labeling specialist
- Health Educator
- Food Scientist
- Medical Manager
Search for employers hiring graduates in your minor
Explore the numerous career fields related to your major
Clinical Nutrition
Areas
- Assessment
- Planning and implementation of nutrition programs
- Evaluation and reporting
- Consultation with healthcare professionals
Employers
- Hospitals
- Nursing care facilities
- Outpatient care centers
- Health centers and clinics
- Home health providers
- Health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
- Dialysis centers
- Diabetes care clinics
- Exercise and fitness centers
Sample occupations
- Volunteer in hospitals or nursing homes to gain experience working with patients or the elderly.
- Develop excellent communication skills and learn to work well on a team.
- Plan to earn the Registered Dietitian credential.
- Several years of experience and a graduate degree are required for specialties such as pediatrics, renal nutrition, or oncology.
Community and Public Health Nutrition
Areas
- Health promotion
- Education
- Program planning and implementation
- Administration
- Counseling
- Consultation
- Non-profit
- Emergency relief
Employers
- Public health departments
- Home health agencies
- Social service agencies
- Community centers
- Federal, state, and local government
- Daycare centers
- Health and recreation clubs
- Health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
- Community health organizations
- Congregate nutrition programs
- Cooperative extension
Sample occupations
- Participate in campus health promotion or wellness education programs.
- Earn a master’s degree in nutrition, public health, or related field to increase job opportunities.
- Develop strong presentation and public speaking skills.
- Learn to work well with people of varying socioeconomic and racial backgrounds.
- Seek experiences in the public health arena.
- Research government application procedures.
Food Service Management
Areas
- Menu planning
- Budgeting
- Purchasing
- Food preparation
- Personnel management
- Food safety management
- Food processing
Employers
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Colleges and universities
- Company cafeterias
- Correctional facilities
- Camps
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Nursing homes
- Airlines
Sample occupations
- Obtain work experience in any large-scale food service operation such as campus cafeterias.
- Move into supervisory positions if given the opportunity.
- Take business courses and develop strong computer skills.
- Get involved in campus organizations and seek leadership roles.
- Learn how to relate to a wide variety of people and to work well in a team environment.
Federal Government
Areas
- Clinical dietetics
- Nutrition education and teaching
- Administration
- Program management
- Research
- Health care reform
- Supplement Labels
- Regulation
- Inspection
Employers
- Army
- Navy
- Air Force
- National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
- Food and Drug Administration
- National Center for Health Statistics
- Maternal and Child Health Bureau
- National Institutes of Health
- Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Veterans’ Health Administration
- Peace Corps
- AmeriCorps VISTA
Sample occupations
- Pursue internships in government agencies.
- Research federal government application procedures.
- Maintain a strong grade point average.
- Earn a master’s degree for advancement in research, administration, or public health nutrition.
- Assist a faculty member with nutrition research.
Consulting
Areas
- Nutrition consulting
- Menu development
- Food preparation and safety
- Nutrition counseling
- Weight management: Adult and pediatric
- Teaching
- Health promotion and programming
- Writing
- Food photography
Employers
- Private practice
- Physicians’ offices
- Weight loss clinics
- Nursing homes
- Health clubs and spas
- Corporate wellness programs
- Restaurants and chefs
- Catering services
- Food vendors and distributors
- Grocery stores
- Food manufacturers
- Food service managers
- Sports teams and athletes
- Health-related magazines and internet sites
- Newspapers
Sample occupations
- Gain experience and expertise in a specialty area of nutrition.
- Earn additional certifications in fields such as fitness and athletic training or adult and pediatric weight management.
- Find a need in the community and fill it.
- An entrepreneurial spirit is required!
- Be prepared to work in several areas at one time.
- Develop excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Learn how to promote oneself.
Industry
Areas
- Research
- Product development
- Sensory evaluation
- Quality assurance
- Marketing
- Sales
- Customer service
- Consumer food science
- Consumer affairs
- Medical equipment
- Food service equipment
- Pharmaceuticals
- Nutraceuticals
Employers
- Food manufacturers
- Food vendors and distributors
- Special food services
- Trade associations
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Health-related businesses
- Weight loss programs
- Restaurant and hotel chains
- Public relations firms with food industry accounts
Sample occupations
- Supplement curriculum with courses in business administration, marketing, or advertising.
- Develop strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Get involved in research and gain technical experience.
- Seek leadership roles in campus organizations.
Education
Areas
- Teaching
- Research
Employers
- Colleges and universities
- Community and technical schools
- Nursing, medical, dental, and health sciences schools
- Teaching hospitals
- Culinary schools
Sample occupations
- Earn a master’s degree for instructor positions or a doctorate for tenure track professorships.
- Serve as a tutor or peer mentor on campus.
- Learn to work well with a variety of people.
- Gain research experience by assisting professors.
- Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations.
General information and strategies
- Most positions require the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential.
- Become an RDN through an accredited bachelor’s or master’s program followed by an approved, supervised internship.
- RDNs must also pass the Registration Examination for Dietitians.
- Research individual state requirements for licensure or certification to practice dietetics.
- Scientific aptitude is required to successfully earn a degree in nutrition.
- One should enjoy helping people, working with healthcare professionals, and have an interest in good health, nutrition, and fitness.
- Get involved in campus wellness or peer health educator programs to gain experience.
- Volunteer in hospitals or nursing care centers to test interests.
- The ability to work independently and as part of a team is important in this field.
- Learn the fundamentals of human relations and group dynamics.
- Strong communication skills are necessary to interact effectively with patients and healthcare professionals.
- Develop good interviewing and counseling techniques.
- Over half of dietitians and nutritionists work in hospitals, nursing homes, or physicians’ offices.
- Research, public health, and advanced clinical positions require a graduate degree.
- Consider pursuing further education.
- Consider gaining specialized certifications in areas such as pediatric or renal nutrition, nutrition support, and diabetes education.
- Assist a faculty member with nutrition research.
- Earn additional certifications in fields such as fitness and athletic training or adult and pediatric weight management.
- Find a need in the community and fill it.