Online and Distance Degrees > Degree Programs > BS in Food and Nutrition

Bachelor of Science (BS) in
Food and Nutrition

Online

Program Overview

Combine your love of science with a desire to learn and educate others about the importance of human nutrition. By earning your Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition online from The University of Alabama, you’re taking the first step toward becoming a registered dietitian or taking other paths in food and nutrition. Through this program you will gain an understanding of the relationship between nutrition and human health and be able to apply that knowledge in your career.

Program Format
Online
Credit Hours
120
Tuition Per Hour
$385

Turn Your Love of Nutrition into a Career

This program is one of only 11 distance learning programs in the United States accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), and since it’s 100% online, it’s perfect for working adults.

Graduates of this program could pursue a variety of potential careers, including working in medical centers, small hospitals, public health departments, community agencies, private consulting firms, and business and industry environments.

Master’s Requirement to Become a Registered Dietitian

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requires a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). To be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR’s Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central time on Dec. 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR’s website.

In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) program at The University of Alabama are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.

Application DeadlineApplications accepted year round
RankingNo. 2 among the best bachelor’s in Nutritional Sciences degree programs by TheBestSchools.org for 2019
AccreditationACEND (Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics)
Other Program SpecificsMajor satisfies part of the requirements leading to the registered dietitian credential, a didactic program in dietetics, to which students must apply after 60 credit hours
Are test scores required?ACT and SAT scores are not required through the Fall 2024 entry term

Curriculum

The bachelor’s in Food and Nutrition requires the successful completion of 120 hours. The program requires 59 hours of major courses, 20 hours of science courses and 44 hours of general education courses. Please note that courses are subject to change.

NHM 101 Introduction to Human Nutrition
NHM 195 Introduction to Dietetics and Nutrition
NHM 201 Nutrition in the Life Cycle
NHM 253 Food Science
NHM 295 Introduction to Research in Food and Nutrition
NHM 340 Community Nutrition
NHM 345 Nutrition Counseling
NHM 346 Nutrition Education: Theories and Practice
NHM 361 Nutritional Biochemistry
NHM 362 Nutrition at the Cellular Level
NHM 363 Applied Nutrition
NHM 365 Medical Nutrition Therapy I
NHM 372 Introduction to Food Service Management
NHM 373 Purchasing, Design and Risk Management in Food Service Systems
NHM 374 Quantity Food Production and Service
NHM 454 Experimental and Functional Food Science
NHM 465 Medical Nutrition Therapy II
NHM 475 Management of Food Service Systems
NHM 491 Directed Professional Independent Study
HES 103 Freshman Compass Human Environmental Sciences
PY 101 Introduction to Psychology
BER 345 Educational Statistics

Students are required to complete the following five science courses. Each course has a 3-credit-hour lecture with a 1-credit-hour lab. Please note that CH 104 and CH 105 are not offered by distance at UA.

CH 104 Introduction to Chemistry
CH 105 Introduction to Organic Chemistry
BSC 215 Anatomy and Physiology I
BSC 216 Anatomy and Physiology II
Choose one: BSC 108, BSC 109, BSC 114 and BSC 115, BSC 116 and BSC 177, or BSC 242

Learn more about the course curriculum, steps to become a registered dietitian, advising, student organizations and experiential learning from the Nutrition by Distance website.

To become a registered dietitian you must:

Complete the minimum of a bachelor’s degree
Complete the requirements of an ACEND-accredited didactic program in dietetics (DPD) to earn a Verification Statement
Apply and complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program such as a dietetic internship (DI), a coordinated program (CP), or an individualized supervised pathway (ISPP)
Beginning in 2024, students must have earned a master’s degree in order to sit for the RDN exam.
Pass the national registration examination for dietitians

The Food and Nutrition major at UA satisfies part of the requirements that lead to the registered dietitian credential: a bachelor’s degree and a didactic program in dietetics Verification Statement.

Read more about becoming a dietitian by visiting eatright.org.

Once a student has been admitted to UA and when basic requirements have been completed, the student must submit a DPD Declaration Form.

To complete and meet all the DPD requirements for a Verification Statement, a student:

Must earn a C- or higher in all DPD science courses and PY 101 (or equivalent)
Must earn a B- or higher in all DPD professional courses (NHM designated and BER 345) or equivalent
Must maintain a combined GPA of 3.0 or higher in the DPD science courses and DPD professional courses
Must complete the courses required for the DPD
Must earn at the minimum a bachelor’s degree
Must complete 24 credit hours of DPD courses, including the DPD capstone courses (NHM 340, NHM 465 and NHM 475) from The University of Alabama

Admission

To apply for formal admission to any of the undergraduate degree programs offered through UA Online, you must complete an admissions application and submit transcripts from all colleges previously attended (and a high school transcript if you have less than 24 semester hours of college coursework). Transfer students considering admission should review UA’s transfer information and policies.

Applicants must meet one of the following admission requirements:

If you have earned more than 24 college-level credit hours at the time of your application to the University, you will need to meet the transfer student admission requirement of a minimum 2.0 overall college GPA.

If you have earned less than 24 college-level credit hours at the time of your application to the University, you will need to meet both the 2.0 overall college GPA required for transfer students, as well as Admission Requirements for Freshmen Students. If high school graduation was more than four years ago, ACT/SAT scores are not required.

Find more information and learn about restrictions related to this degree program that may exist regarding licensure in the state in which you reside.