Prepare for a career in health and wellness, dietetics, research or industry.

With a B.S. in nutritional science, you can help people live healthier lives. While in our program, you will explore the various disciplines within the field of nutritional science to turn your passion for health into a fulfilling career.

What is Nutritional Science?

Career Options

Students who graduate from the B.S. in Nutritional Science program find jobs right away in the fields of wellness, business or as nutritionists. Many students decide to build on their undergraduate degree and are well prepared for master's or doctoral programs and go on to become registered dietitians, physicians, dentists, physician assistants, epidemiologists, and nutrition scientists.

A variety of nutritional foods including fresh meats and poultry, fruits, vegetables, grains, bread, nuts, legumes, eggs and olive oil.

Recent UMass Lowell graduates have worked in:

Health Care

  • Walden Behavioral Care
  • Dana Farber
  • Next Step Healthcare
  • Healthcare Services Group, Inc
  • CHI Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center
  • Boston Children’s Hospital 
  • Lowell General Hospital
  • Tufts Medical Center
  • Uphams Corner Health Center
  • Tewksbury Hospital
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
  • Army National Guard Medical Command
  • Sodexo
  • Atrius Health
  • Lahey Hospital and Medical Center
  • Functional Forward Nutrition (Private Practice)

Sports Nutrition

  • University of North Carolina Athletic Department
  • InnerStrenth Coaching LLC
  • Lifetime Inc.
  • Rutgers, Sports Dietitian
  • The Executive Health and Sports Center

Industry

  • ZOLL Medical Corporation
  • Astellas Gene Therapies
  • NourishRX
  • Innovive Health
  • Covestro
  • Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk
  • Cell Line Development, AbbVie
  • MilliporeSigma
  • HelloFresh

Public Health & Policy

  • Hudson Public Schools, Methuen Public Schools, Acton Boxborough Reginal School District
  • Greater Lawrence Community Action Council
  • North Andover Water Treatment Plant
  • Women, Infant and Children

Choose an option that fits your career goals

We offer three options in Nutritional Science:

Dietetics Option

Students who graduate from the accredited Dietetics Option degree are eligible to take the national Dietitian Technician Registered (DTR) exam. Upon graduation, students are prepared to work as a DTR in healthcare, as a nutritionist in other industries, or to continue to graduate school in other areas of health science. The most popular pathway for those in the dietetics option is to go on to graduate school and supervised practice to be eligible for the credentialing exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN).

Nutrition and Wellness Option

Take a combination of courses to gain knowledge in nutrition, fitness, and public health. You will graduate prepared for positions such as health educator, community nutritionist and wellness coordinator.

General Science Option

Gain a strong science background and hands-on laboratory experience to prepare you for careers in nutrition research and for graduate school. You will graduate prepared for positions such as senior scientist, product developer, director of nutrition programming, or biomedical researcher. Apply to physician’s assistant and medical school or master’s and Ph.D. programs.

Courses you'll take

The B.S. in Nutritional Science begins with core courses, including anatomy and physiology, human nutrition, wellness, public health and psychological science. 
Check out our degree pathways—a suggested four-year schedule—for a possible pathway toward your B.S. in Nutritional Science.
View degree pathways for:
View all degree pathways, including those from prior enrollment years.

  1. Apply analytical and critical thinking to solve problems in laboratory and clinical settings.
  2. Demonstrate leadership skills of accountability, delegation, education, and supervision.
  3. Clearly communicate scientific information both orally and in writing.
  4. Interpret research results and apply to the general understanding of nutritional science and health.
  5. Earn admittance and be successful in graduate/professional programs.
  6. Secure a bachelor’s-prepared position in their preferred profession.
  7. Disseminate evidence-based information related to nutritional science and health.

Why study nutritional science at UMass Lowell?

Three young children smile and hold carrots above their heads.

Real-world Experiences

Participate in experiential learning opportunities and community-engaged research under the supervision of faculty. Potential sites include:

  • Girls Inc.
  • Granite State Fit Kid
  • Lowell Public Schools
  • Lowell Boys & Girls Club
  • U.S. Air Force ROTC
Two female dietetics students help a ROTC student compare labels on jars of nut butter.

Research Opportunities

Work alongside faculty and graduate students to master practical research skills. Examples of research projects led and authored by students:

A student presenting her nutritional science project.

Path to Graduate School

Nutritional science provides a strong foundation for health profession graduate degree programs.

Assorted fruit with a measuring tape, stethoscope, and person taking notes in the background.

Become a Registered Dietitian

The Nutritional Science Dietetics and General Options satisfy all prerequisite courses for the UMass Lowell Master of Public Health (MPH) in Dietetics program.

  • The MPH program is accredited by ACEND for both coursework and internship requirements.
  • Upon successful completion of the MPH program, you will be qualified to take the Registered Dietitian exam.

Meet Our Students and Alumni

Kyle Mehan at his desk
Kyle Mehan '21
Nutritional Science

Kyle Mehan began researching nutrition when trying to heal his own injuries. Now he promotes a plant-based diet.

I knew that fitness and nutrition go hand in hand, so I thought if I wasn’t going to go into sports medicine, I’d go into the nutrition side of it.
Read More About Kyle Mehan 
Bryanna Ippolito sitting on a bench outside working on her laptop
Bryanna Ippolito '20
Nutritional Science

After working with Alzheimer’s patients while in high school, Bryanna Ippolito is pursuing her bachelor's in nutritional science and developed a program for students who someday may be working with Alzheimer’s patients to understand what it’s like to live with the disease.

I fell in love with UMass Lowell when I toured here. It's close to my home in Billerica, and South Campus was the homelike feeling that I wanted to find in a school.
Read More About Bryanna Ippolito 
Jeremy Duford and other student talk over table with laptop
Jeremy Duford '23
Nutritional Science

A first-generation college student, Jeremy Duford was nervous about starting college. He says the River Hawk Scholars Academy was a tremendous support.

The RHSA provided a solution to every single thing. It’s a bridge into college.
Read More About Jeremy Duford 
UMass Lowell student Rabia Haider
Rabia Haider '21
Nutritional Sciences and Master of Public Health

Knowing how cultural differences make an impact on health, Rabia Haider is pursuing a Master of Public Health degree.

There is so much work to be done related to nutrition and health care, especially for historically overlooked populations.
Read More About Rabia Haider 

Contact Us

Kelsey Mangano, PhD, RDN
Associate Professor, Undergraduate Nutrition Program Director
Email: Kelsey_Mangano@uml.edu