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Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources School of Agriculture and Food Systems

Human Nutrition and Foods, BS

Nutrition is essential for good health and quality of life for everyone of all ages, races, and athletic abilities (or lack thereof). While there are professions that focus on helping some, nutrition is an area that can help all.
This pre-professional program will prepare you to become a registered dietitian, nutritionist, food scientist, or health educator, and can help meet pre-requisite requirements for professional schools in other areas, such as medical or physician assistant school.

Your Degree Plan

Prepare to become a registered dietitian or attend professional programs, such as medical, nursing, or physician assistant school, or get an advanced degree in public health, psychology, or social work.

The Human Nutrition and Foods Program focuses on dietetics, but it also serves as a launching pad for students interested in graduate work or professional school for health-related fields, as well as research and community roles.

The curriculum provides a strong foundation in:

  • Basic sciences
  • Food and nutritional sciences
  • Social sciences
  • Medical nutrition therapy
  • Disease management

Students who wish to pursue a registered dietitian nutritionist pathway should declare the area of emphasis in dietetics during their sophomore year.

Tailor this major to your interests by focusing your coursework in 1 of these areas:

Dietetics

Ideal for students interested in a career as a registered dietitian. A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required to be eligible for this emphasis area and to receive a Didactic Program in Dietetics Verification Statement.

 

View in Catalog
Take advantage of special options related to this major:

Honors

Expand your curiosity and enhance your curriculum through the WVU Honors College. Two programs are offered: Honors Foundations and Honors in Action.

The WVU Difference

What sets this program apart?

  • Real-world sports nutrition experiences available through partnership with WVU Athletics.
  • 100% placement rate for graduate dietetic internship programs.
  • Volunteer and internship experiences available with local organizations and businesses.
  • Work with researchers to gain experience in the lab and with people in the community seeking nutrition services.
  • Animal Science Research, Education, and Outreach Center includes service dog training facility and state-of-the-art poultry feed mill.
  • Morgantown facilities include the 190-acre Agronomy Research, Education and Outreach Center, 175-acre Organic Agriculture Research, Education, and Outreach Center, and the 408-acre Animal Science Research, Education, and Outreach Center.
  • Find your passion in food safety, nutrition counseling, sports nutrition, and more.
  • Small-school environment with all the resources of a large university. You’ll benefit from 1-on-1 faculty interactions and develop a close relationship with your faculty and peers.

Learn by Doing

Get involved outside the classroom.

  • Conduct undergraduate research focused on the prevention of chronic diseases in the Lifestyle Intervention Lab.
  • Conduct undergraduate research focused on the prevention of foodborne illnesses in collaboration with the WVU Extension Small Farm Center.
  • Work with Human Nutrition and Foods professors as an undergraduate teaching assistant.
Connect with other students who share your academic interests as a member of:

View all of the student organizations you can join.

Careers and Outcomes

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Medical and Health Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

Has a Bright Outlook

Median Salary: $117,960

Possible Job Titles: Clinical Director, Health Information Management Director (HIM Director), Health Information Manager (HIM Manager), Nursing Director

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Food Scientists and Technologists

Use chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and other sciences to study the principles underlying the processing and deterioration of foods; analyze food content to determine levels of vitamins, fat, sugar, and protein; discover new food sources; research ways to make processed foods safe, palatable, and healthful; and apply food science knowledge to determine best ways to process, package, preserve, store, and distribute food.

Has a Bright Outlook

Median Salary: $85,310

Possible Job Titles: Food Scientist, Food Technologist, Research Food Technologist, Research Scientist

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Community Health Workers

Promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors. Serve as an advocate for the health needs of individuals by assisting community residents in effectively communicating with healthcare providers or social service agencies. Act as liaison or advocate and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. May deliver health-related preventive services such as blood pressure, glaucoma, and hearing screenings. May collect data to help identify community health needs.

Has a Bright Outlook

Median Salary: $51,030

Possible Job Titles: Community Health Outreach Worker, Community Health Program Coordinator, Community Health Promoter, Community Nutrition Educator

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Dietitians and Nutritionists

Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease. May supervise activities of a department providing quantity food services, counsel individuals, or conduct nutritional research.

Has a Bright Outlook

May Require Graduate Degree

Median Salary: $73,850

Possible Job Titles: Clinical Dietitian, Dietitian, Nutritionist, Registered Dietitian

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Dietetic Technicians

Assist in the provision of food service and nutritional programs, under the supervision of a dietitian. May plan and produce meals based on established guidelines, teach principles of food and nutrition, or counsel individuals.

Median Salary: $37,040

Possible Job Titles: Diet Tech (Dietetic Technician), Diet Technician Registered (DTR), Dietary Aide, Nutrition Technician

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Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the Human Nutrition and Foods major, first-time freshmen must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.

Tuition and Aid

How much does Human Nutrition and Foods at WVU cost? And how can you save?

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates are available on our tuition website. Anyone who is not a current West Virginia resident, including international students, will be charged non-resident rates.

Scholarships

Estimate your eligibility for merit scholarships at WVU Morgantown.

Ways to Save

Beyond scholarships, here are other ways to reduce your cost of attending WVU.

Financial Aid

The most important step toward funding your future with financial aid for the Human Nutrition and Foods, BS is submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

How to Complete the FAFSA

Ohio Tuition Reciprocity

As the result of a special agreement, students from Ohio who are fully admitted to Human Nutrition and Foods can enroll at WVU and pay in-state tuition rates. Students must be admitted to both the University and this major.

More About Ohio Tuition Reciprocity

Start at Another WVU Campus

You can start your career with WVU at another campus and transfer to WVU Morgantown.

Explore WVU System

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU.

Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Learn How to Transfer Course Credits

Request Info

Want to know more about Human Nutrition and Foods at WVU? Fill out our request form to receive more information.

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