This bachelor’s program provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to move into a range of employment opportunities in community nutrition or food service industries or continue your education in a dietetics-focused graduate program.
Throughout this program, you’ll explore the fundamentals of nutrition, including macro and micronutrients and developing nutrition care plans. Additionally, you’ll delve into food sustainability, cultural aspects of food and health, food safety, and food and health policy, all of which prepare you to apply nutrition expertise to a variety of careers. You’ll also engage in experiential learning with community partners specializing in food and nutrition to gain real-world experience, develop professional relationships and establish a foundation for your future goals.
Focus your studies to fit your career path with one of three focus areas
This applied nutrition and health degree provides you with the opportunity to hone your passions, interests and career goals with your choice of one of three specialized focus areas. Each focus area includes 18 credits, or six classes, that emphasize each topic respectively. Available focus areas include:
- Community nutrition: Graduates are equipped with strategies for promoting health and wellness within communities and evidence-based social media tactics to address critical public health issues.
- Food service operations: Graduates develop the knowledge and skills needed to stay ahead of changing consumer demands, technological advancements and innovative dining concepts in the dynamic field of food service operations. Featured topics include management, strategy, supply chain management and entrepreneurship in food and nutrition.
- Pre-dietetics: For those interested in becoming registered dietitians, this focus offers the additional science and leadership courses required for dietetics-focused graduate programs.
- In-person lab experiences are required for this track. Learn what to expect and how to prepare for the on-campus sessions.
Who’s a good fit for an applied nutrition and health degree?
If you’re interested in pursuing a career path in the nutrition and health industry, with a particular focus on community work, food service operations or working as a registered dietitian, this degree may be a great fit for you. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
- Community nutrition and public health.
- Management of food service and sustainable food systems.
- Marketing and development of food products.
- Nutrition consulting.
- Nutrition and health communication and promotion.
Please note, the BS in applied nutrition and health doesn’t provide a direct pathway to become a registered dietitian (RD) or dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and doesn’t result in a DPD verification. If you’re interested in becoming a registered dietitian, please ensure that you meet the advanced degree requirements, including specific courses and internship hours, needed to pursue a graduate program in dietetics. Students can review the ACEND website to review advanced degree programs to consider.

Are you hungry to help individuals and communities improve their health through nutrition? Gain practical skills and prepare for diverse, high-demand careers in nutrition and health with Arizona State University’s Bachelor of Science in applied nutrition and health. Upon graduation, you’ll be equipped with knowledge of nutrition principles, along with essential skills in communication, leadership and community engagement, to develop and apply innovative solutions to health concerns across populations.
Throughout this program, you’ll cover a wide range of topics, such as human nutrition, food safety, cultural foods, community health, agriculture and more. Coursework provides you with the opportunity to deepen your understanding of these topics and develop transferable skills for a variety of careers in the nutrition and health industry.
The College of Health Solutions faculty displays a high level of research expertise, focused on creating a better future for all. Our faculty are lifelong learners dedicated to improving health outcomes for the communities we serve. Some of their research focuses on:
- Discovering the impact of the environment and policy on food security and community health.
- Exploring mechanisms involved in the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
- Harnessing big data to improve patient outcomes.
- Incorporating advanced technology to monitor and promote healthy lifestyles.
- Using state-of-the-art cognitive, behavioral and neuroscience techniques to study the components of human communication.
In the College of Health Solutions, students learn and prepare to become the health workforce of the future. Faculty and students also collaborate to research solutions to pressing global health challenges. Partnerships with the medical community offer students access to professional resources and networking opportunities with Mayo Clinic, Banner Health, HonorHealth, Dignity Health and more.
students.
Barrett honors scholars.
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ASU's academic programs that prepare you for professional licensure or certification are designed to meet Arizona's requirements. Completing an ASU program may not fulfill educational requirements for licensure or certification in other states. For additional information, visit the professional licensure webpage.

No, Arizona State University’s diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person. All diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.”