Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science at Colorado State University

    Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science at Colorado State University

    Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science at Colorado State University

    Colorado State University offers the Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science as a full-time degree delivered on campus at its main campus in Fort Collins , United States of America. Taught in English and completed over 4 years, the program equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for nutrition and food science and related professional fields. The next available intake begins on August 21, 2027.

    About Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science

    Public interest regarding the importance of nutrition to health and fitness is at a high level and increasing. The Major in Nutrition and Food Science involves integration of the biological, medical, and social sciences and their application to the improvement of human nutrition and fitness, prevention of chronic disease, and improved quality of life. The major is both science- and human service-oriented.

    Nutrition and Food Science graduates gain a scientific understanding of the principles of human nutrition, the role of nutrition in the prevention and management of disease, delivery of nutritional care, and the principles of nutrition assessment and food preparation. Additionally, graduates know the techniques of interviewing, counseling, information management, and effective communication.

    Four concentrations are currently available in this major: Dietetics and Nutrition Management, Nutrition and Fitness, Nutritional Sciences (Pre-Health), and Food Safety and Nutrition.

    Students will demonstrate:

    • Ability to identify nutrition-related public health problems, integrate information from basic nutrition sciences, critically analyze data, and develop appropriate conclusions
    • Discipline-specific knowledge, skills, and competencies needed in the field of dietetics and nutrition. Examples include knowledge of medical nutrition therapy; nutrition and metabolism; program planning, monitoring, and evaluation; management in school nutrition programs and long-term care; food safety; and the role of food in the promotion of health
    • Competent application of nutrition knowledge and skills in a work environment, including an ability to calculate and/or define diets for various health/disease conditions, screen individuals for nutritional risk, determine nutrient requirements across the lifespan, and calculate enteral and parental nutrition formulations; determine costs of services/ operations, interpret financial data, and prepare a budget

    (See the department's website for the Dietetics and Nutrition Management concentration for specific learning outcomes for the ACEND Accredited Dietetics Program). It is important to understand that to become a registered dietitian nutritionist, one must complete an 8-12 month internship AFTER completion of the degree at CSU.  Completing this concentration alone and earning the B.S. degree is not sufficient to become a dietitian. Also, as of 2024, to become a registered dietitian nutritionist, one must have a master's degree. Please review information on the department website. 

    Disciplines

    Food Science and Human Nutrition

    Requirements and Admission Criteria for Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science at Colorado State University

    Entry Requirements

    Personal Statement

    What we call a “personal statement” is called the “personal essay” in the Common Application. This short writing piece is your opportunity to help us understand what makes you unique, to share a talent or element of your identity that’s important to you, to describe what you are passionate about, or to highlight an accomplishment you’re proud of.

    Transcripts

    • Submit your most recent transcripts or mark sheets. We will ask for additional materials if necessary.
    • All decisions are provisional until a final, official transcript verifying graduation is received.
    • Only transcripts sent directly from the school or stamped and sealed are considered official.
    • If a record is not in English, a certified literal English translation must accompany the transcript.

    If you need a student visa, you must submit the following items in order to secure an I-20 or DS-2019:

    • Immigration Information Form
    • Copy of the identification page of your passport which must be valid for at least six months beyond the first day of classes.
    • Financial support documents demonstrating the ability to meet or exceed your estimated expenses. Because none of our institutional scholarships cover the full cost of attendance, you must be able to show outside funding.

    Immigration information is not considered in the admission decision.

    English Requirements

    • IELTSMin 6
    • TOEFLMin 72

    Career Opportunities after Completing Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science

    Participation in community outreach, internships, volunteer activities, or cooperative education opportunities is highly recommended to enhance career planning, skills, and development. Graduates who go on for advanced studies can attain more responsible leadership positions with the possibility of rising to top professional levels.

    Some examples of career opportunities include, but are not limited to: dietitian or nutritionist in health care, hospitals, long-term care, schools, state or county health agencies, health clubs, corporate wellness programs, grocery stores/food chains, or private practice; community nutritionist; biomedical scientist; restaurant manager; caterer; quality assurance specialist; food scientist; food inspector; food technologist, food plant manager; food service manager in hospitals, schools, or long-term care. As of March 2020, the average salary for registered dietitians is $51,291, and the salary range is $39,000-67,000.

    Students interested in teaching nutrition and/or food science content at the secondary education level should explore the interdepartmental concentration in Family and Consumer Sciences Education at the beginning of this college section. The Family and Consumer Sciences Education concentration allows students to combine their interests in nutrition, wellness/health, food science, culinary arts, and/or catering with teaching. Family and Consumer Sciences Education students take course work in the Departments of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Design and Merchandising, and Human Development and Family Studies. They also complete an education sequence that qualifies them for a secondary teaching license. The demand for secondary Family and Consumer Sciences teachers exceeds the supply in Colorado as well as nationally. Therefore, job placement is extremely high, with starting salaries in the $34,000-$37,000 range for a nine-month teaching position.

    Students may choose from among four concentrations under the Nutrition and Food Science major.

    Tuition and Fee Information for Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science at Colorado State University

    Application Fee 50

    How to Apply for Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science at Colorado State University

    Application Materials

    All applicants for admission must submit an online application, $50 application fee or fee waiver request, and academic transcripts. Freshman/first-year applicants are required to submit a personal statement. The application includes an optional Academic Explanation section for applicants to provide more context for their performance and/or enrollment history. Recommendations and ACT/SAT scores are not required. The Office of Admissions may request additional information before completing a full review of an applicant’s application file.

    Refer to the appropriate application guides for details.

    Application Fee or Fee Waiver

    An application fee is required as part of a complete application; a decision cannot be rendered without it. If payment of the application fee presents a financial hardship, applicants can request a fee waiver.

    Refer to the Office of Admissions website for the application fee refund policy.

    High School Transcript and proof of graduation (or equivalent)

    High school performance, as reflected on a student's transcript(s), is an essential component of the admission decision for all freshman/first-year applicants and for transfer applicants with fewer than 30 post-high school credits.

    High school transcripts for transfer applicants with more than 30 post-high school credits are considered only when needed to satisfy the admission requirement in mathematics.

    All freshman/first year applicants and all transfers with fewer than 60 post-high school college credits must submit proof of high school graduation or equivalent prior to the start of their first semester of enrollment.

    ACT/SAT results

    ACT or SAT test scores are not required. Our review process is individualized, includes a range of academic and personal factors and emphasizes students’ efforts and achievement demonstrated over 3-4 years. Test scores are not given much weight in the admission decision and are not considered at all for scholarships. Students who wish to have their scores considered in the admission decision should email [email protected] with this request.

    ACT or SAT results can be used for composition placement purposes and thus can be helpful to submit by any incoming student before orientation/registration.

    College Transcript(s)

    Freshman/first-year applicants typically are required to submit an official college transcript at the point of application only if college enrollment is being used as their full-time high school curriculum (such as early college, ASCENT and fifth-year programs, and some homeschool curricula). Refer to College-Level Courses Completed by High School Students for additional information.

    Transfer applicants must submit an official college transcript from each college attended, regardless of the type of institution, amount or type of credit earned, and age of the credential, even if the work will be reflected in transfer on another transcript. No part of the previous collegiate record may be disregarded. Failure to include all institutions previously attended may result in the rescinding of admission, loss of credit, or disenrollment. Transcripts reflecting courses taken at vocational-technical institutes or colleges that are not regionally accredited can be helpful documentation and may be required, though they do not qualify an applicant for transfer applicant status or advanced-standing credit. 

    Second Bachelor applicants are only required to submit an official transcript from the college/university from which they earned their first (or most recent) bachelor's degree. Official transcripts from other colleges/universities attended (if applicable) are encouraged if an applicant is seeking a competitive major or to demonstrate explicit pre-requisites for their new degree program.

    Advanced standing credit (transfer credit) is only awarded from an official transcript.

    International Applicants: Additional Requirements

    In addition to the documents outlined above, applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the US also may be prompted to submit the following:

    • A certified English translation of any academic credentials not in English
    • Evidence of English Proficiency to be considered for direct admission
    • An Immigration Information Form, financial support documentation and a copy of the passport identification page for immigration documentation

    Application Timelines 

    Students can begin their enrollment during fall semester (August start), spring semester (January start) or summer term (May/June start; not recommended for freshman/first-year students).

    Applicants are encouraged to apply 6-12 months prior to the start of the term. Freshman/first-year applicants must have completed at least 75% of their high school curriculum (through junior year equivalent) before a decision can be rendered; transfer applicants must have no more than one academic term in progress when a decision is rendered. Second bachelor’s/post-bachelor candidates must be finished with their first degree or in their final term of enrollment with degree pending for a decision to be rendered.

    Refer to the appropriate application guides for more detail about application dates and timelines.

    Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science at Colorado State University
    Colorado State University
    Colorado State University
    United States of America

    United States of America, Fort Collins

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