Graduate
Degrees
Master of Science
Clinical Nutrition
Understanding the Power of Food
Mounting scientific evidence is demonstrating
the role of quality nutrition in preventing and
managing many chronic diseases and helping
people achieve optimum health. It is also
documenting the destructive impact of
poor nutrition.
In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO)
advocates putting nutrition at the forefront of
public health policies and programs to combat
chronic conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, dental
issues and osteoporosis.
This growing understanding of the health
impact of sound nutrition, along with concerns
about an aging population, food safety, and
rise in nutrition-related disorders is fueling
demand for nutrition experts. As a dietetics
graduate student at LIFE, you’ll be surrounded
by students and faculty who share your
passion for health and wellness.
Career opportunities in nutrition are especially
strong for individuals who hold the advanced
credential of Master of Science in Clinical
Nutrition.
Nutrition professionals with a master’s
degree are most often considered by
employers for sought-after specialized positions (in pediatrics, critical care, geriatrics
and other fields) and for management roles
well ahead of candidates with a B.S. only.
Employers also assign strong value to the
master’s degree in lieu of extensive work
experience for individuals at the start of
their careers.
Key Health Care Team Members
Registered dietitians are highly skilled clinicians who
translate the science of nutrition into real-world solutions
to improve the health of their communities. Registered
dietitians who have earned a graduate degree in the field
are especially valued team members due to their extensive
knowledge, understanding of specialized patient needs
and extensive field experience.
Registered dietitians work in hospitals, nursing care
facilities, correctional facilities, and outpatient settings and
with individual patients to meet specific needs. A registered
dietitian may see a wide variety of patients or specialize in
one area, such as pediatric nutrition, renal medical nutrition
therapy, or nutritional support in critical care.
Registered dietitians provide pre-surgical nutritional
assessments and plans, develop diet plans for individuals
with diabetes, cancer, kidney and liver disease, and
specify intravenous nutrition regimens as needed. They
may also provide outpatient nutrition counseling as an
independent consultant, often via referrals from physicians.
Registered dietitians also help healthy people use quality
nutrition to promote ongoing wellness.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects demand to be
particularly high for dietetics professionals who specialize
in renal, diabetic and gerontological nutrition and for
employment of registered dietitians in outpatient settings,
physician’s offices and contract providers of food services.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also predicts
growth in the areas of complementary care and dietary
supplements (such as herbal remedies), food supply and
biotechnology issues.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employ
registered dietitians to monitor food production
and nutrient content and to develop food-related
legislation and nutrient intake recommendations.