Food Science and Human Nutrition Career Opportunities

Registered Dietetic Technician (DTR)

• • Salary range: $26,000-$44,000
  • Who’s Hiring: Rehabilitation Centers, Hospitals, WIC Clinics, Corporations, Non-profit agencies, Food Industries
  • Preparation:
    • Earn a bachelor’s degree with completion of an ACEND Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)
    • Complete an accredited Dietetic Technician supervised practice program
    • Complete the Registration Examination for Dietetic Technicians administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration
  • General Responsibilities: Screen, evaluate and prepare nutrition plans for client

Registered Dietitian (RD)

• Salary range: $38,000-$71,000
• Who’s Hiring: Healthcare Facilities, Food Industries, Government, Academia & Research
• Preparation:
  • Earn a bachelor’s degree with course work approved by the Academy’s Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.
  • Complete an accredited, supervised practice program at a health-care facility, community agency or foodservice corporation.
  • Pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
  • Complete continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.
• General Responsibilities: Assess and develop nutrition care plans and counsel clients, provide patients with nutrition support

Certified Dietary Manager (CDM)

Sports/Athletics

Medical/Dental/PA

• Salary range: $58,000-$207,000
• Who’s Hiring: Hospitals, Clinics, Private Practice, Academia & Research
• Preparation:
  • Earn a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science with a concentration in nutritional sciences. Receive guidance from nutrition and pre-med advisors.
  • Gain healthcare experience in hospitals, clinics or other healthcare environments while earning your degree
  • Medical: Take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), attend medical school, complete a residency program and fellowship, obtain a state license
  • Dental: Take the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and attend a dental school
  • PA: Attend an accredited PA program, pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), and obtain a state license
• General Responsibilities: Diagnose and treat injuries/illnesses; maintenance of physical wellness

Laboratory

Retail Food Inspector

Chef

• Salary range: $24,000-$74,000
• Who’s Hiring: Food Industries, Hospitals, Schools, Resorts, Private sector
• Preparation:
  • Earn a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management with a concentration in food safety/food science
  • Work as an apprentice through a culinary school or association
  • Obtain certification through ACF (American Culinary Federation)
• General Responsibilities: Oversee daily food prep, direct kitchen staff and handle all food related concerns

Entry-Level Supervisors and Managers

• Food/Beverage Manager, Service/Bar Manager, Kitchen Manager
• Salary range: $23,000-$54,000
• Who’s Hiring: Food Industries, Resorts
• Preparation:
  • Earn a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management with a concentration in food safety/food science
  • Gain experience in the hospitality industry while earning your degree
• General Responsibilities: Customer service, oversee daily operation of restaurant including staff management and administrative duties

Entry-level Supervisory and Managerial Positions

• General, Sales/Marketing
• Salary range: $23,000-$84,000
• Who’s Hiring: Hotels, Resorts
• Preparation:
  • Earn a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management with a concentration in food safety/food science
  • Gain experience in the hotel industry while earning your degree
• General Responsibilities: Responsible for day-to-day operations; planning, organizing and directing hotel services

For exciting internship and job opportunities, visit our job board.

Fermentation Specialist

• Salary range: $33,000-$69,000
• Who’s Hiring: Food, Agricultural and Healthcare Industries
• Preparation:
  • Earn a bachelor’s degree in Fermentation Science and Technology
  • Gain work experience in a lab while earning your degree
• General Responsibilities: Develop healthy, safe and palatable food products, research new food sources

Product/Process Specialist

• Salary range: $40,000-$83,000
• Who’s Hiring: Food, Agricultural and Healthcare Industries
• Preparation:
  • Earn a bachelor’s degree in Fermentation Science and Technology
  • Gain work experience in a lab and/or the food industry while earning your degree
• General Responsibilities: Ensure products and processes are safe and efficient in the food industry, incorporate ideas/methods to improve supply and sustainability

Brewer

• Salary range: $23,000-$52,000
• Who’s Hiring: Breweries, Producers of Brewing Ingredients, Restaurants
• Preparation:
  • Earn a bachelor’s degree in Fermentation Science and Technology
  • Gain work experience in a brewery while earning your degree
• General Responsibilities: Create, produce and package beer

Production Manager

For exciting internship and job opportunities, visit our job board.

Academics

Our program prepares graduates to pursue a doctoral degree in nutrition or a related discipline.

Industry

Our program prepares graduates for a wide range of career opportunities in the Food Industry. Many are employed in areas of product development, research, quality assurance, food safety, food biotechnology, marketing, or public relations.

Clinical

Opportunities include work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, HMO’s or other health care facilities. Typical in this setting, job responsibilities include patient nutrition education and/or medical nutrition therapy as part of a health care team. Specialties can include diabetes, eating disorders, cancer, pediatrics and cardiac rehabilitation.

Community and Public Health

Community and Public Health opportunities allow RD’s to teach, monitor and advise the public on quality of life through healthy eating habits. Specialties can include working with families, children, the elderly and pregnant women.

Consulting-Private Practice

Consulting-Private Practice opportunities allow RD’s to work under contract with heath care, food companies, or in their own business. Specialties can include restaurants, food vendors, athletes, nursing homes, companies or individual counseling.

Nutrition Business Industry

Nutrition Business Industry opportunities include supermarkets, food and nutrition marketing, and product development.

University

The goal of graduate education is to prepare students for outstanding scholarly and professional achievement by educating them in the skills of a discipline and in the intellectual and ethical foundations of research, instilling in each student the capacity for independent critical judgment, and inspiring students to use their knowledge and training for the betterment of society. Our graduates are prepared to become university faculty and/or research specialists.

Industry

The goal of graduate education is to prepare students for outstanding scholarly and professional achievement by educating them in the skills of a discipline and in the intellectual and ethical foundations of research, instilling in each student the capacity for independent critical judgment, and inspiring students to use their knowledge and training for the betterment of society. Our graduates are prepared for positions in research and development, product development, consultants, marketing, science policy and science writing. http://phdsatwork.com/