If you are interested in health, wellness, and learning the science behind disease prevention and treatment through nutrition, join us in the Department of Nutrition Sciences in one of our flexible online degrees or registered dietitian training programs.
About Nutrition Sciences
The Department of Nutrition Science creates a flexible and supportive environment for students to learn about nutrition and dietetics. Programs include an online B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics, the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)*, an online M.S. in Nutritional Sciences, and the Future Education Model (FEM) graduate program (GP)* for students who are interested in becoming a registered dietitian/nutritionist (RDN).
*Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
Affordable Online Degrees (B.S. and M.S.)
Accredited Programs Training Registered Dietitians
Pass Rate on the Registered Dietitian Exam
Faculty members offer many students opportunities to be involved in their research projects or develop projects. Some areas of current research include food insecurity, exercise and blood glucose, diabetes, inborn errors of metabolism, and diversity in dietetic education, among others. Please see the faculty profiles for more details on their research.
The Department of Nutrition Sciences offers an online B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics with DPD verification. At the graduate level, we offer an M.S. in Nutritional Sciences with a choice of concentration in community nutrition educator, gerontological nutrition, obesity and weight management, pediatric nutrition or sports dietetics. For students who want to be registered dietitians, we offer an M.S. in Nutritional Sciences (dietetics concentration) or the FEM dietetics graduate certificate, which is an accredited Future Education Model graduate program.
The Department has approximately 30 undergraduate students and 80 graduate students. The department’s faculty consists of three tenure-track faculty, one clinical faculty, one fixed-term faculty and three adjunct faculty who provide education in the dietetic specialization. Six of our eight faculty members are registered dietitians/nutritionists. The faculty is committed to providing student-focused instruction and training through relevant courses, internships and research experiences.
The Future Education Model graduate program focuses on integrating didactic learning with hands-on experience. Courses focus on the application of didactic knowledge in real-life settings. Students practice in our simulation lab, Eagle General Hospital, and participate in interdisciplinary training with other health professional students. The Department offers a choice of over 50 supervised experiential learning sites in the professional areas of clinical nutrition, community nutrition and food service. Community rotations allow for training in specialty areas such as sports nutrition, eating disorders, wellness centers, public health, community outreach, women, infants and children (WIC), and others.
This online B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics with DPD verification provides a foundation in foods and nutrition and preparation for entry-level positions in dietetics and nutrition.
This online M.S. in Nutritional Sciences provides advanced training in nutritional sciences, education and research with concentrations in community nutrition educator, gerontological nutrition, obesity and weight management, pediatric nutrition or sports dietetics.
In this graduate program, students earn an M.S. in Nutritional Sciences (dietetics concentration) and complete supervised experiential learning to be eligible for the registered dietitian credentialing exam over two academic years.
This one-year certificate program for students with a master’s degree and graduate work in nutrition through the Future Education Model GP provides didactic training and supervised experiential learning to make students eligible for the registered dietitian credentialing exam.
Two student organizations exist in the department: the Student Nutrition Association (SNA) and Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society. Plus, NCCU offers over 100 student organizations that offer opportunities for a wide range of student interests.
For more information about the undergraduate program, please contact the DPD director:
Dr. Jason O’Briant
For more information about the graduate programs, including the FEM GP, please contact the graduate/GP director:
Dr. Kimberly Powell
Allen, Katenia
Administrative Support Associate
Nutrition Sciences
Powell, Kimberly
Program Director, Assistant Professor
Human Sciences
Apply for the B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics or the M.S. in Nutritional Sciences (non-RD path) through NCCU application portal.
Apply for the Future Education Model graduate program (M.S. or certificate) through the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS) application service.
Dent Human Sciences Building, Room 1061 
919-530-6477