Nutrition Program

Students in the Southern Utah University nutrition program choose between the pre-dietetic track or the allied health track depending on their specific career goals. The nutrition program at SUU prepares students for graduate dietetic and medical programs. All through the four-year program, SUU nutrition professors are deeply invested in their students’ success and advise them on career plans, mentor them, and support them in their passion to enter this growing career field. By graduation day, students are well prepared to take the next step in their nutrition career, be that graduate school or an entry-level position in the field.

• Human Nutrition - Allied Health Emphasis (B.S.)

• Human Nutrition - Pre-Dietetics Emphasis (B.S.)

• Human Nutrition (Minor)

Nutrition Studies at SUU

The SUU nutrition program is highly experiential and students have many opportunities to use skills learned in the classroom in the real world. The Nutrition Assessment class provides students with the experience of having a nutrition assessment completed on themselves while providing that service to others. Students take measurements of body fat, calorie intake, and other such calculations to devise nutrition care plans tailored to individuals’ specific needs. The Community Nutrition course provides students with opportunities to learn from and serve local nutrition programs, such as homeless shelters, food pantries, and other human service organizations. The Food Preparation and Food Science classes provide students cooking experiences in SUU kitchen labs.

Why Choose SUU for Nutrition Studies?

• Every professor in the Southern Utah University Nutrition program is a Registered Dietitian. Students learn from experienced professionals who are active in the Nutrition field.
• Nutrition students have opportunities to plan and implement expansive Nutrition projects in the local Cedar City and regional Southern Utah area.
• SUU’s nutrition program has high graduate, dietetic, and pre-med program placement.

Career and Salary Potential for Nutrition Graduates

Although positions such as Registered Dietitians, Certified Diabetes Educators, private practice dietitians, and any professional in the allied health field, such as physicians, dentists, physical therapists, and pharmacists need advanced education beyond the bachelor’s degree, there are some entry-level positions open to nutritionist with an undergraduate degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nutritionists and Dietitians can anticipate an 11 percent increase in available positions through 2030, which is faster than the average growth across all occupations. The median annual salary for Dietitians in the U.S. is $63,090 (Utah: $57,050), and nutritionists $35,000-$45,000. It is projected that more dietitians and nutritionists will be needed to provide care for patients with medical conditions, the elderly, and the increasing number of people who want to improve overall health and wellness.

Entry-level positions that may be available to those holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition include: