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Fuel Your Future with a Career in Dietetics or Nutrition

At USI, students in the Food and Nutrition Program are prepared for career success with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities using advanced nutrition technology in our state-of-the-art kitchens, food science lab and counseling and assessment simulation rooms.

Where Food Meets the Future of Health

USI student and faculty working in a food science labWith the growth of obesity and related illnesses and the desire to understand healthy aging, graduates with a degree in food and nutrition will have many new employment opportunities, including corporate wellness programs, weight management programs, community and public health programs and the nutrition and fitness industry.

Students in Food and Nutrition participate in practicums and service-learning projects on campus and in the community. Faculty encourage students to enhance their leadership skills by teaching them how to educate clients about food and nutrition while incorporating concepts of psychology and counseling to encourage healthy eating behavior.

Approximately 90% of our graduates are employed in the state of Indiana. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, dietitians and nutritionists is projected to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.

A degree in food and nutrition is excellent preparation for careers in a wide variety of settings, including:

  • Medical centers and hospitals
  • Food and pharmaceutical companies
  • Community and public health settings
  • Schools
  • Sports nutrition
  • Research
  • Corporate wellness
  • Weight management programs
  • Fitness industry
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Catering services 

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Applications for Fall 2028 open August 2027

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The Science to Change Lives

USI student Emilie Vincent takes inventory at the student food pantry

Emilie Vincent '26, Dietetics Major

"I chose USI because I loved the small and nurturing community, and its strong programs, professors and administrators that produce great students. When I first started USI, I bounced around in a couple of different majors but eventually chose dietetics because I wanted to be able to utilize nutrition as medicine and as the science it is to change lives.”

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Optional Certificates
Food and nutrition students stock Archie's Pantry

Real-World Experience at Archie's Pantry

As part of a partnership with the USI Student Affairs, Food and Nutrition students are actively involved with stocking, inventory management and food safety education at Archie’s Pantry, a free, confidential campus resource that provides food, personal hygiene products, and nutrition education and resources for students and employees during challenging times.

  • Faculty and student work together on a food and nutrition project
  • Food and nutrition students conduct a lab experiment
  • Students and faculty prepare meals in the USI test kitchen
  • Students and faculty wash vegetables in the test kitchen
  • Students Measure Body Weight On A Traditional Scale

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Why Choose USI?

USI offers a wide array of resources and people dedicated to helping you succeed:

  • Dedicated advising center in the Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions
  • Opportunity for connection with classmates in the Kinney College Themed Learning Community
  • Career guidance and job and internship opportunities through the Career Success Center

USI boasts a vibrant campus and community with many activities on offer.

  • A full calendar of student events and athletic competitions by USI's 19 NCAA Division I teams
  • Clubs and organizations, including the Food and Nutrition Student Organization specifically for students studying dietetics, nutrition, and wellness
  • Opportunities to put your classroom knowledge to the test with Southern Roots Student Growers and What's Cookin' organizations

USI offers a quality education you can afford that provides a great return on your investment.

  • $20+ million in annual scholarships from the USI Foundation and several scholarship opportunities specifically for students of the Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions
  • Typically, 100% of USI Dietetics graduates are accepted into internships (national average is 65%).
  • After completion of the internship program, the graduate is eligible to take the national registration exam to become a Registered Dietitian (RD).
  • Since the program started in 2001, 88% of all USI Dietetics graduates who have taken the RD exam have passed within one year following first attempt.

USI provides a healthy and secure environment for your education.

  • A recently remodeled Recreation, Fitness, and Wellness Center, with cardio and strength training areas, recreational courts, a running track, and climbing wall.
  • Support for your physical and mental health through USI's on-site medical clinic and counseling and psychological services
  • Safe spaces monitored 24/7 by USI's Public Safety department and local law enforcement, with access to the Screagle Watch safety app

Your future awaits at USI. We can't wait to meet you!

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