Dietetics And Nutrition Courses

What we eat gets reflected on our bodies and this is the reason why people are now taking the utmost care of their eating habits and lifestyles. It is important to understand that having a disease-free body does not imply healthy living but also the ability to recover from diseases. If you aspire to build a career in a field where you can manage and guide people on how to live a healthy life then you can pursue a program from a range of Dietetics and Nutrition courses. From understanding nutrient requirements and human psychology to gaining knowledge about community nutrition and food preservation, these programs acquaint students with skills necessary for industry-specific roles. Often, people confuse a nutritionist with a dietician but there is one stark difference between the two. While the former advice on matters related to nutrition and food consumption, the latter studies the effects of a diet on the human body. In this blog, we will list some courses in this field and explain key details regarding the same. 

What are Nutrition and Dietetics?

Nutrition and dietetics is a discipline of science that deals with fitness, health, and eating well. People who are interested in this field of medicine might study it to pursue a rewarding profession as a nutritionist or dietician. It is offered as a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. After obtaining one of the two degrees, one can aid others in developing a healthy and fit physique and adhering to a healthy diet. A dietitian is one of the most common job possibilities after completing a nutrition and dietetics education.

How to Become a Dietician?

The dietician’s profession is governed by dietetic societies all over the world. Policymakers and dietary experts who are members of these dietary bodies create and enforce quality maintenance requirements since dieticians are such an essential part of the food and health system. To work as a qualified dietitian, you must have the Registered Dietician (RD) qualification. A post-graduate level dietician education is normally needed, as is some nutritional experience in hospitals. In India, the RD certification is given by the Indian Dietetic Association.

Dietician Course Syllabus

A dietetics course is an interdisciplinary program of study. It’s usually taught with several health and medicine-related subjects. The basic curriculum is generally covered in the first year, with the next two to three years devoted to more advanced topics in a Dietician program. Apart from Chemistry and Biology, Physiology, Foundational Mathematics, Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, and several important Social Sciences themes such as Health and Society, Population, and so on are all taught as part of a Dietician course’s core curriculum. Understanding the principles of the human body and the science underlying it requires knowledge gathered from the preceding topics.

Related Disciplines

As individuals have begun to appreciate the value of living a healthy life, there has been a major surge in the development of health-related sciences. Nutritional Communication, Public Health, Sustainable Food Systems and Management, Health and Poverty, Body Weight Regulation, Food and Diseases, International Nutrition, and Nutritional Psychology are just a few of the areas that have sprung out as a result of groundbreaking research. Any of the above-mentioned paths can lead to a fulfilling and well-received profession for a Dietician school graduate.

Types of Nutrition and Dietetics Courses

There are a plethora of courses available at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels which you can pursue and turn your career aspirations into success. Given below is a comprehensive summary of some of the leading Dietetics and Nutrition courses available:

Diploma/ Certificate

• Nutrition and Diet Diploma: With a duration of 24-31 weeks, this one of the most famous Dietetics and Nutrition courses equip students with entry-level knowledge about different aspects of a healthy lifestyle including food, wellness, weight loss, medical conditions, etc.   

• Dietetic Service Supervisor Certificate: Through this certificate program, the students learn about concepts related to the management of food services in community clinics, schools, etc. Apart from clinical nutrition, students also gain knowledge and acquire skills to handle the kitchen and healthcare industry. 

Undergraduate Courses

• BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: In this popular course, which generally runs for 3 years, the students can gain knowledge on topics like molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, etc. Further, they are acquainted with industry-relevant skills through holistic practical and theoretical teachings.

• BSc in Nutritional Biology: The candidates enrolled in one of the popular Dietetics and Nutrition courses are expected to acquire intricate knowledge of agri-food production through detailed lab research and performing the duties of nutritional surveillance. Candidates will be imparted through knowledge. The standard duration of the course is 3 years.

Postgraduate Programs

• Master of Dietetics: Usually, the course runs for 1.5-2 years. Under this program, the students get in-depth knowledge about community nutrition and health food service along with theories related to public health.

• MSc Nutrition: The curriculum of this program, which runs for 1-2 years, involves components of chemistry, medicine, and food. It is one of the most sought-after Dietetics and Nutrition courses that covers various aspects of public health and clinical nutrition through theoretical knowledge and practical training.

Doctorate Level Courses

• PhD in Nutrition and Public Health: Being a research-based program, this one of the popular Dietetics and Nutrition courses generally runs for 4 years. Students enrolled in the PhD program will study various aspects related to Community Nutrition, Policy and leadership, Nutritional Epidemiology and practices, etc. They will acquire skills in studying the impact of nutrition on diet, ways to measure the diet of the mass, and the relationship between chronic diseases and diet.

• Ph.D. in Food and Nutrition: This particular doctorate course generally runs for a duration of 4 years but can stretch to 6 years. Heavily inclined towards research, the course curriculum revolves around diet, nourishment, and practices which helps to understand the effects of food and nutrition on the human body. 

Also Read: All You Need to Know About a Nutritionist Course

Apart from the above-mentioned degree programs, here is a table that presents some other nutritionist courses and dietetics courses that you can pursue abroad:

Education Level	Dietetics and Nutrition courses
Graduate Diploma	1. Dietetics 2. Nutrition and Dietetics 3. Advance Dietetics Practice 4. Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Public Health
Undergraduate	1. BSc Food With Nutrition 2. BSc Nutrition and Human Health 3. Bachelors of Food and Nutrition 4. BSc in Food Technology 5. BSc Applied Human Nutrition 6. BSc in Nutritional Biology 7. BSc(Hons) in Human Nutrition and Dietetics
Postgraduate	1. Masters in Human Nutrition and Food-Related Behaviours 2. Master of Food Technology 3. MA in Food Studies 4. MSc Dietetics Masters in Public Health 5. Masters in Novel Foods
PhD	1. Nutrition, Food, and Health 2. One Health  3. Food and Nutritional Sciences 4. Food and Nutrition (Research)

Dietician Courses After 12th

• Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition
• Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education
• Diploma in Dietetics
• Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics
• Diploma in Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition
• Diploma in Nutrition and Food Technology
• BSc Nutrition and Dietetics

Also Read: Food Technology Courses

Eligibility Criteria of Nutrition and Dietetics Courses

Here is the eligibility criteria to pursue Nutrition and Dietetics Courses:

UG Courses

• Candidates who desire to enroll in a B Sc. in any of the nutrition and dietetic programs must have a minimum of 10+2 from any state of the central board, with a combination of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
• If you wish to take an undergraduate program in dietetics and nutrition, you must have a minimum of 45 percent in 10+2 with a PCB combo.
• Candidates may also be needed to take an entrance test administered by several universities and colleges to be admitted to nutrition and dietetic programs.

PG Courses

• Candidates who want to take a postgraduate program in nutrition and dietetics must first complete a bachelor’s degree program.
• To pursue an MSc or postgraduate diploma in nutrition and dietetic specialty, they must achieve a minimum of 45 percent in the BSc degree.
• Several colleges and universities have entrance tests to admit students; applicants must take the entrance examination and pass it to enroll in the program.

Nutrition and Dietetics Course Fee

Here is the average cost of studying Nutrition and Dietetics Course:

Course Level	Minimum Fees	Maximum Fees
UG	17.73 K	6.74 Lakhs
PG	25.80 K	6.27 Lakhs
Doctoral	—	—
Diploma	8.00 K	1.20 Lakhs

Top Universities for Dietetics and Nutrition Courses

Deciding on a university to pursue higher education is a crucial step as it holds the power to shape the career and provide enrolled students with life-changing experiences. Here is a list of some top-notch universities where you can study Dietetics and Nutrition courses:

• The University of Queensland
• University of Nottingham
• University of Texas- Austin
• Deakin University
• Virginia Polytechnic and Institute & State University 
• University of Leeds
• Sheffield Hallam University 
• University of Surrey
• Monash University 
• Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology 
• University of Canberra 
• University of Wollongong 
• The University of Newcastle 

Discover unique ways to make a Career in Health and Physical Education

Top Universities for Dietetics and Nutrition Courses in India

In India, various colleges provide dietician programs. For your convenience, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten colleges:

Name of the Colleges	Locations
Chandigarh University	Chandigarh
Lovely Professional University	Jalandhar
Shoolini University	Himachal Pradesh
Mount Carmel College	Karnataka
RVS College of Arts and Science	Tamil Nadu
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University	Telangana
Institute of Yoga and Naturopathy	Maharashtra
Institute of Home Economics	Delhi
NIMS University	Jaipur
Amity University	Noida

Nutrition and Dietetics Career Scope

People are growing increasingly worried about their health as their lifestyles change. They desire to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Nutrition plays an essential part in people’s life nowadays to attain the same goal. The industry is very important in the market, and it is growing at an alarming rate now that the pandemic has hit our lives. As a result, applicants will benefit from pursuing a career in nutrition and dietetics. In hospitals and clinics, a person with a degree in nutrition and dietetics can work as a Nutritionist, Management Dietician, Consultant Dietician, and Dietician. Working as a professional in the sector, they make a good living.

Job Opportunities

Once you get equipped with the strategies and skills in this field through the above-listed Dietetics and Nutrition courses, you can work in an array of job profiles spread across public and private organizations. Here are some popular job profiles in this field:

• Clinical Dietitian 
• Food Scientist
• Food Psychologist 
• Community Dietitian 
• Medical Sales Representative
• Management Dieticians
• Consultant 
• Child and Maternal Dieticians 
• Animal Nutritionist 
• Public Health Professional 
• Researcher

Salary

Here is the average salary per annum for different job roles:

Job Profiles	Salary (per annum)
Dietitian	Rs. 2,65,167 (payscale.com data)
Consultant Dietician	Rs. 2,80,000 (glassdoor data)
Nutritionist	Rs. 3,00,023 (payscale.com data)
Food Inspector	Rs. 3,62,884 (salaryexpert.com)
Food Scientist	Rs. 750,000 (payscale.com)

FAQs

Thus, the career opportunities after perusing Dietetics and Nutrition courses are immense. If you want to study these programs abroad but are not sure about how to get started with it then the experts at Leverage Edu will guide you throughout the process. From completing admission-related formalities to preparing for visa interviews, the experts will assist you in securing admission to your dream university.