Nutrition and Food Science

BSMajor, Minor

A Nutrition and Food Studies student examines a bouquet of gray-topped mushrooms while standing in a walk-in freezer.

Have you thought about how to help to make a better, healthier world? There has never been a more important time to launch a career in Nutrition and Food Studies. As a Nutrition and Food Science student, you will be exposed to a wide variety of career opportunities. Our course offerings traverse the foodscape: Applied Nutrition and Wellness, Dietetics, Food Science and Sustainable Food Systems. You will learn where our food comes from, how it is produced and distributed, how our bodies process and digest food, clinical and community nutrition applications, food safety, innovative food product development, health and so much more. Our programs educate and prepare students as citizens and practitioners with understanding of social justice and food equity issues, both local and global.

Our academic programs, both graduate and undergraduate, emphasize applied experience, and offer a solid foundation of classroom and lab study, numerous opportunities for hands-on fieldwork and internships. You will be prepared for a variety of careers within the vast sphere of food, which, with its attendant industries (agriculture, manufacturing, distribution, R&D and more) is the largest contributor of gross domestic product worldwide and the largest provider of jobs and careers.

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Applied Nutrition and Wellness

Looking for a career in nutrition education, community wellness, or public health? This flexible, non-clinical concentration prepares you to design, manage, and evaluate group-based nutrition programs that promote healthy lifestyles across diverse populations.

Through hands-on coursework in nutrition assessment, health promotion and population-based wellness, you’ll gain the skills to work in settings like community health centers, wellness nonprofits, corporate wellness departments or government agencies.

Enhance your career potential by adding a minor in Public Health, Communication, Political Science or Psychology—ideal for fields such as nutrition communication, wellness policy or weight loss consulting.

Graduates are trained to lead with purpose, address health disparities, and collaborate across disciplines in today’s evolving health and wellness industry.

Prepare for a rewarding career in applied nutrition—where community impact meets real-world results.

See the curriculum.

Dietetics

Ready to turn your passion for nutrition into a professional career? Montclair State’s Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) is your first step toward becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). As a student in our Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)*-accredited BS/MS DPD program, you’ll complete the coursework required to meet national standards in dietetics. After graduation, you’ll be eligible to apply for a dietetic internship (1,200 supervised hours) and sit for the RDN exam—now requiring a master’s degree.

You can complete the DPD through either the BS/MS track or the AND Certificate Program. Whichever path you choose, you’ll gain the skills and credentials to work in clinical nutrition, public health, foodservice or wellness consulting.

Join a program with a long-standing reputation for excellence in dietetics education—and start building your future as a trusted expert in nutrition and health.

Note: Montclair State University is phasing out the DPD and Dietetic Internship programs and will not be seeking reaccreditation. The DPD will no longer accept any new students after June 15, 2025. The Dietetic Internship will take its last cohort in August 2026.

To replace these programs, Montclair State University has applied to the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) to open an ACEND accredited Graduate Program (GP) to prepare Registered Dietitian Nutritionists in Fall 2026.

See the curriculum.

Food Science

Interested in food innovation, safety, and sustainability? The Food Science concentration prepares you for in-demand careers in the food and beverage industry, agriculture and federal agencies like the FDA and USDA.

You’ll explore how food works—its chemistry, microbiology, processing, safety and sensory qualities—while developing skills in product development, food quality assurance, regulations and supply chain management. With many professionals retiring and new technologies emerging, food scientists are more essential than ever.

Career paths include product development, food chemistry, quality control, food safety inspection, research and development, and sensory evaluation—with growing opportunities in food tech, agricultural sustainability, and health-focused product design.

If you’re passionate about science, technology, and feeding the world safely and sustainably, this program gives you the tools to lead the future of food.

See the curriculum.

Sustainable Food Systems

Want to build a healthier, more sustainable future? This concentration prepares you to tackle global challenges like food insecurity, climate change and sustainable agriculture—while empowering communities and reshaping the food system.As a student, you’ll explore food policy, alternative food distribution, supply chain management, and more. You’ll gain practical, real-world experience and a strong foundation in nutrition, sustainability, and social justice.

Career paths include farm-to-institution networks, food education and outreach, nonprofit advocacy, food production, retail and wholesale and international development.

Customize your degree by adding a minor in areas like Public Health, Political Science, or Communication to deepen your impact and specialize in areas like food policy or sustainability communication.

If you’re passionate about creating lasting change through food, this program will prepare you to lead locally—and globally.

See the curriculum.

Minor in Nutrition and Food Science

A nutrition and food science minor provides you with basic knowledge about the chemical and biological components of food and the ways in which these ingredients affect human health. With national rates of obesity and related illnesses at an all-time high, outbreaks of food-borne illnesses regularly making headlines, and the social, economical and political aspects of the world food situation becoming ever more complicated, a minor in nutrition and food science is useful preparation for students pursuing careers in politics, business, economics, journalism or communications, psychology, education, medicine, nursing or health.

See the curriculum.

Questions? We’re Here to Help.

If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please contact Undergraduate Admissions.

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

The office of Undergraduate Admissions will guide you every step of the way on your journey from learning about the University and its offerings, to applying for a program through to acceptance and enrollment.

Nutrition and Food Studies Department

At Montclair's Nutrition and Food Studies department, we research, engage with the community and offer a dynamic and comprehensive curriculum. All in the mission to improve quality of life in the fields of food and nutrition.

Next Steps

Wherever you learn—on campus or online—Montclair State University offers the programs, community and support to help you reach your goals. Take the next step today.

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Learn on Campus

Immersive classes, vibrant campus life and hands-on experiences that put you at the center of it all.

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Learn Online

Montclair Online offers the same nationally recognized faculty, engaging coursework and supportive community as our on-campus classes - designed to fit your life. With multiple start dates each year, you can begin when the time is right for you.

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