Nutrition and Dietetics

Nutrition and dietetics is the art of applying the science of human nutrition to help people understand the food and health relationships in their life. Dietitians have the opportunity to work with people of all ages within many settings, public and private. As a result of seeing a Dietitian, many people gain the knowledge they need to make good food and health choices in order to live a more successful life.

What will I study?

Our courses combine theoretical, scientific knowledge with practical learning, to ensure that you will be prepared to enter a successful career. Nutrition and Dietetics is offered at the Callaghan campus (Newcastle) over four years, full-time study, which includes over 1,000 hours of professional practice experience and problem-based learning.

You will study:

• Food
• Nutrition and dietetics
• Basic and applied science
• Social sciences.

You will also have the chance to study electives according to your area of interest, such as sports nutrition or paediatrics. An embedded Honours program is available in the fourth year of study.

You will experience a variety of professional practice settings, such as hospitals, community health and food services settings, where you will have the opportunity to practice and apply skills gained from a strong foundational knowledge. Professional practice settings may be anywhere in NSW, with at least one fieldwork placement in a rural area coordinated through the University Department of Rural Health.

Career opportunities

Dietitians experience contact with many people from different walks of life including individuals accessing the healthcare system in public and private hospitals, children in schools, whole communities, sports professionals, and professionals in the health and corporate sector. You need excellent communication skills to establish rapport with clients and co-workers in your field.

As a graduate in Nutrition and Dietetics, you could work in exciting fields such as:

• Clinical Dietitian in a public or private hospital setting
• Community and public health
• Food service management
• Health promotion
• Sports nutrition

You might even go on to do a Masters or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree if research appeals to you.

You may also have the opportunity to take your degree overseas. Australian qualifications in Dietetics are regarded very highly and you may be well on the way to fast-tracking your career abroad.

Overall, study with us will offer you the prospect of developing communication and problem-solving skills, integrating these with a sound knowledge of food, nutrition and dietetics.

Academic staff in Nutrition and Dietetics

To view more information about a staff member, including research interests, please select the "web" option to visit that staff member's profile.