Nutrition and dietetics course syllabus typically cover topics such as Nutrition Science, Dietary Concepts, Family Meal Planning, Community Nutrition, Nutrition Principles, Food Microbiology, Food Service, Food Service Management, Chemistry, Biology, and Food Preservation. Nutrition and Dietetics syllabus has been designed in such a way that the students are exposed to a mix of both core and elective subjects. Nutrition and Dietetics courses are very high in demand among students of all levels such as Diploma, Undergraduate or Postgraduate courses. Nutrition and Dietetics syllabus is designed tactfully and attracts students because of increasing job opportunities in this field.
Nutrition and dietetics course syllabus can include a wide range of topics, such as:
Nutrition and dietetics course is necessary because almost everyone needs assistance from a nutritionist or dietician due to the increased awareness and consciousness of people's health conditions caused by a wide range of the media. Completing a Nutrition and Dietetics course opens up a plethora of private and public sector job opportunities. The course syllabus for nutrition and dietetics is very extensive, but some of the most popular topics covered include community nutrition, family meal management, principles of nutrition, food microbiology, food service, food service management, chemistry, biology, and food preservation.
One can pursue a bachelor's in Nutrition and Dietetics or an advanced diploma in nutrition and dietetics. Furthermore, one can pursue graduate study in a related field and continue their education beyond that. One of the best things about taking a nutrition and dietetics course is that you can become an entrepreneur by assisting people with the duty chart and getting a short-term certificate or diploma.
Students can get a quick overview about the Nutrition and Dietetics course. The Nutrition and Dietetics course offers major highlights, as listed below.
Particulars | Details |
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Course Name | Nutrition and Dietetics |
Degree |
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Course Duration |
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Eligibility Criteria |
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Admission Process |
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Top Entrance Exams: | CUET, LPU NEST, MDUCEE, etc. |
Nutrition and Dietetics Course Fee |
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Career Options |
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Average Salary | INR 2- 10 LPA |
Employment Area/Recruiting Companies |
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Specialisation Offered | UG or PG in Nutrition, Human Physiology, Food Science, Food Technology, Dietetics, etc. |
Also Read: Best Certificate Courses in India
Nutrition and Dietetics syllabus is designed in such a way that there is a combination of both theoretical and practical knowledge. Nutrition and Dietetics UG syllabus has been divided into six semesters and it is a mixture of theory classes, assignments, practical classes, internship, project work, and examination. Nutrition and Dietetics PG syllabus has been divided into 4 semesters. Listed below are the Nutrition and Dietetics syllabus for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Listed below in the table are the Nutrition and Dietetics course syllabus for 1st and 2nd semesters.
Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
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Introduction to Food and Nutrition | Maternal and Child Care |
Food and Nutrition | Personal Development |
Communication Skill | Nutritional Biochemistry |
Human Physiology | Public Health and Nutrition |
Food Chemistry | Human Nutrition |
Computer Fundamental |
Listed below in the table are the Nutrition and Dietetics course syllabus for 3rd and 4th semesters.
Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
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Food Microbiology | Food preservation |
Industrial management and Facility Planning | Basics of Bakery and Confectionary |
Food Quality and Analysis | Food Science |
Family Meal Planning |
Listed below in the table are the Nutrition and Dietetics course syllabus for 5th and 6th semesters.
Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
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Dietetics 1 | Food service Management |
Ethics and Environment | Food Biotechnology |
Food Packaging and Marketing Management | Dietetics 2 |
Diet and Patient Counselling | Internship |
Candidates can check the postgraduate Nutrition and Dietetics course syllabus below.
Listed below in the table are the Nutrition and Dietetics course syllabus for 1st and 2nd semesters.
Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
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Food Science | Diet therapy II |
Nutraceuticals and functional foods | Advanced Nutrition I |
Nutrition through developmental stages | Human Rights |
Diet Therapy I | Community Nutrition |
Listed below in the table are the Nutrition and Dietetics course syllabus for 3rd and 4th semesters.
Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
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Nutritional management safety for food science | Financial and food management |
Advanced Nutrition | Clinical Nutrition |
Computer Application | Dissertation |
Internship | Examination |
Nutrition and Dietetics subject lists differ from college to college but there are some major Nutrition and Dietetics course subject lists that are common in most of the Nutrition and Dietetics colleges and universities. The students can check the Nutrition and Dietetics subject list given below.
Nutrition and Dietetics Subjects | ||
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Principles of Nutrition | Quantity Food Service and Physical Facilities | Environmental Studies |
Community Nutrition | Food Science | Fundamental Computer Concepts and Windows |
Food Microbiology | Food Service Management | Human Physiology |
Post-Harvest Technology | Chemistry | Dietetics |
Family Meal Management | Biochemistry | Food Quality Control |
Food Preservation |
While the subject lists for nutrition and dietetics courses vary from college to college, most nutrition and dietetics colleges and universities share a few key lists. Below is a list of nutrition and dietetics courses for the convenience of the students.
Subject title | Subject Details |
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Principles of Nutrition | The definition of nutrition and the vital nutrients that make up our food and give us energy will be covered for candidates. As you read this chapter, you will gain knowledge about the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and practicing good habits and behaviours. |
Quantity of Food Service and Physical Facilities | Quantity food preparation is the process of preparing food in larger amounts than usual for a large gathering. It's widely used to serve patients in healthcare and assisted living facilities in addition to catering events. |
Food Microbiology | This course covers the features of microbial development along with extrinsic and internal influences. |
Environmental Studies | Environmental science encompasses the study of Earth's natural processes—physical, chemical, and biological—as well as the social, political, and cultural aspects of human activity that affect the environment. |
Fundamental Computer Concepts and Windows | Students will learn the fundamentals of computers, their role in society, and how to use word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, and Internet applications. |
Human Physiology | This field of study makes use of fundamental science to assess how individuals respond to both internal and external stimuli (such as changes in activity levels, various environmental conditions, and disease processes). It then applies this understanding to advance human well-being. |
Chemistry | Chemistry is the study of matter and its transformations. Science defines molecules, nanostructures, and extended solids and describes their properties, functions, and processes. |
Dietetics | Dietetics is the scientific study of how food and diet affect health. Degree programmes in this area teach you about disease, nutritional requirements, metabolism, and other topics by drawing on subjects like physiology and sociology. |
Post-Harvest Technology | Food storage systems; horticultural crops' maturation and senescence; Horticultural crops are treated to maintain quality and stop fruit and vegetable deterioration and decay after harvest. Fruit and vegetable processing (value-added products, dehydration, freezing, and canning). |
Family Meal Management | A family meal management strategy includes meal planning that meets each member's nutritional needs, food selection, accomodation of dietary preferences, age-appropriate healthy diets, and cost, energy, and time savings. |
Biochemistry | Biochemistry is the study of living things through the integration of chemistry and biology. It propels advances in science and medicine across a range of fields, including nutrition, forensics, and medicine. Understanding the universe and developing new uses for chemical reactions can be achieved through studying biochemistry, which studies chemical reactions at the molecular level. |
Food Quality Control | This subject typically covers topics such as nutrition and food commodities, food chemistry, food microbiology, sanitation & hygiene, preparation & packaging materials, food analysis, adulteration & testing, food toxicology, etc. |
Food Preservation | The process of eliminating or inhibiting the growth of germs in food in order to preserve it for consumption in the future is known as food preservation. |
Following are the elective subjects that the candidates need to opt for along with their core subjects.
Degree | Subject title | Subject Detail |
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UG | Analytical Skills | Analytical skills are the application of basic mathematical concepts to the efficient analysis of data by prioritising tasks and managing time. |
Bakey Technology | Provide details on how hygienic and safety measures are used in bakery operations, along with an introduction to basic baking terminology. | |
Baking Technology Laboratory | Give students hands-on experience in physio-chemical analysis and food preservation. | |
Cereal and Millets: Preparation and Utilization | Describe the steps involved in grinding grains and millets, the various applications for them, and the uses for their byproducts. | |
Cereal and Millets: Preparation and Utilization Laboratory | Provide students with hands-on training in food preservation and physio-chemistry analysis. | |
Confectionary Technology | Teach culinary products, such as chocolate, confections, and compound coatings, the fundamentals of physical chemistry and its laws of motion. | |
Confectionary Technology Laboratory | Provide students with hands-on instruction in food preservation and physio-chemical analysis. | |
Food Hygiene and Sanitation | This course focuses on how food safety protects consumers from foodborne illnesses. Food safety includes all methods of removing physical, chemical, and biological hazards. | |
Food Hygiene and Sanitation Laboratory | Provide students with hands-on experience conducting the tests necessary to protect food and food ingredients from contamination by pests, chemicals, microorganisms, and other unwanted substances during handling, storage, and transportation. | |
Fruits and vegetables: Preparation and Utilization | It is emphasised how important it is to use fruits and vegetables when preparing food and processing goods. | |
Fruits and vegetables: Preparation and Utilization Laboratory | Provide hands-on instruction in the production and preservation of products made from fruits and vegetables. | |
Health Foods | The course will cover the recently emerging field of nutraceuticals, including types, mechanisms of action, manufacturing processes, product development, clinical testing, and toxicity considerations. | |
Health Foods Laboratory | The course will cover the recently emerging field of nutraceuticals, including types, mechanisms of action, manufacturing processes, product development, clinical testing, and toxicity considerations. | |
Milk and milk products: Preparation and utilization | Focus on the processing, handling, and consumption of milk and milk products | |
Milk and milk products: Preparation and utilization laboratory | Process milk and milk products by hand and test their quality. | |
Pulses and Oilseeds: Preparation and utilization | Outline the requirements for grain quality, the grain composition of key grains, pulses, and oilseeds, as well as how to grow and use cereals and pulses. | |
Pulses and Oilseeds: Preparation and utilization laboratory | Provide hands-on experience with physico-chemical analysis of oil seeds and pulses. | |
PG | Clinical Nutrition | The prevention, diagnosis, and management of nutritional changes in people with chronic illnesses and disorders constitute the main foci of clinical nutrition. |
Clinical Nutrition Laboratory | In this lab course, students will learn how to design dietary plans for therapeutic purposes. | |
Food Microbiology | In addition to the characteristics of microbial growth and the relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic factors and microbial growth, this course covers topics such as pathogenic microorganisms, infection, and intoxication. The principles of food fermentation and the role of beneficial microbes are also covered. | |
Food Microbiology Laboratory | In this lab course, students will learn how to test specific foods and their microbiology. | |
Food Product Development | Provide knowledge about various technologies used in the production of food products. | |
Food Product Development Laboratory | This course focuses on the skills required to create innovative food products. |
The Nutrition and Dietetics Course is becoming popular and students are willing to pursue this course in multiple specializations. Most of the universities are offering specializations in the field of nutrition and dietetics looking at the popularity of the course. The course is being offered at undergraduate and postgraduate level and there are many specializations under both the categories. One can choose specializations as per their interest and choice. Some of the common types of specializations that are offered by most of the private and government colleges are mentioned in the table given below.
Specialization courses at graduate level | Specialization courses at postgraduate level |
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Clinical Nutrition | Public Health Nutrition |
Applied Nutrition | Clinical Nutrition |
Renal Nutrition | Gerontological Nutrition |
Home Science | Sports Nutrition/Dietetics |
Nutrition and Dietetics | Pediatric Nutrition |
Food Science and Nutrition | Food Science/Technology |
Dietetics |
Nutrition and Dietetics admission also takes place through various entrance examinations conducted by the colleges and universities. There is no single or specific examination conducted for nutrition and dietetics courses. The students take admission on the basis of marks obtained in class 12th for graduation courses and marks obtained at graduate level for postgraduate courses.
Most of the top colleges in India take admission to different specializations through merit based and the marks obtained in the qualifying examination decide the selection process. The cut off marks for talking admission in nutrition and dietetics ranges from 50% to 80-90% in top colleges. However, there are many colleges that take admission through entrance examinations. Some of the entrance examinations conducted for taking Nutrition and Dietetics admission are mentioned below which students can check and prepare for the same accordingly.
Entrance Exam | Details | Syllabus |
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CUET | The Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG 2024) is an all-India test for admission to courses at 45 Central Universities in India. It is also accepted by other State Universities and Deemed universities in India. | Syllabus of CUET UG 2024 |
LPUNEST | Lovely Professional University conducts National Entrance and Scholarship Test annually for admission to different courses at undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered by the university. | Syllabus of LPUNEST |
MDU CEE | MDU CEE entrance exam is conducted by Maharshi Dayanand University. It stands for Maharshi Dayanand University Common Entrance Test conducted at the University level for taking admission in different courses offered at undergraduate and postgraduate level by Maharshi Dayanand University. | Syllabus of MDU CEE |
KCET | KCET stands for Karnataka Common Entrance Test which is conducted annually by Karnataka Examination Authority. KCET provides admission to different courses including nutrition and dietetics in different colleges and universities that come under Karnataka Common Entrance Test. | Syllabus of KCET |
Books play a very important and significant role in the development of a candidate as an individual. It also helps them to grab the right information without any confusion. Nutrition and dietetics is an emerging course and the students are willing to pursue this course from many leading organizations. They must have an idea about the important books of the Nutrition and Dietetics course subjects so that they not only excel during the duration of the course but also perform well for different competitive examinations related to nutrition and dietetics.
There are hundreds of books available in the market that deal with nutrition and dietetics courses but students must choose their books wisely after consulting their faculties so that they don’t make mistakes in selecting the appropriate book. The students can also prepare for higher education and subsequently plan to do PhD especially if they want to explore their career in academics. Books play a significant role in shaping prospects and honing research skills among different levels of students who wish to pursue courses related to Nutrition and dietetics. Some of the common, popular, and recognized books of Nutrition and Dietetics courses subjects are listed below.
Important Books | Authors |
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The Lifestyle Diet | Rohini Patil |
Alive | Rachna Chhachhi |
The Science of Nutrition: Debunk the Diet Myths and Learn How to Eat Responsibly for Health and Happiness | Rhiannon Lambert |
Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food | Catherine Shanahan |
Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism | Jack Smith, Sareen Gropper |
Nutrition and Dietetics for Health Care | Helen M. Barker |
The Nutrition and Dietetics Course syllabus is structured as per the requirements of the industry. The structure of the course mainly depends on the level of the course which the students desire to do. Overall, the course is designed with a perspective to give exposure to students about both core and elective subjects. While core subjects are compulsory subjects, elective subjects can be opted by the students as per their interest. The aspirants of this course are trained in a real life atmosphere along with the regular classroom lectures. The course allows the students to do an internship during their summer break if they are pursuing this course at graduate or postgraduate level. The course is divided into 6 semesters for a 3 years duration if one takes admission at the graduate level.
Further, the same course is split into four semesters for postgraduate students. The duration of the diploma courses vary from 1-2 years depending upon the institute. The course is also structured keeping in mind the interest of the students and all important nutrition and dietetics syllabus has been taken into consideration for defining the course structure at different levels. The basic overview of Nutrition and Dietetics course is mentioned below:
In recent years, there has been a surge in demand in Food Nutrition and Dietetics, with numerous reputable colleges starting this course due to the increased employment prospects for those who complete a BSc or MSc in the field. Each college offers different nutrition and dietetics courses. The top dietetics and nutrition colleges are listed below for the students to take a look at.