Nutrition

About this opportunity

The Nutrition programs in the College of Health Solutions prepare students to help individuals and communities improve their health through nutrition. Students will gain practical skills and prepare for diverse, high-demand careers in nutrition and health.

Undergraduate programs provide students with foundational knowledge of the psychological, neurobiological, social, and cultural aspects of food and nutrition. A degree program in nutrition provides students with critical foundational knowledge: how nutrition affects health and how diet can be used to manage chronic disease. Coursework and research opportunities span various disciplines, including medical nutrition, anatomy, physiology, chemistry and microbiology. 

For students who want to become a registered dietitian (RD) or a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), our accredited bachelor’s degree program in dietetics is the first step on the path to a dietetic internship and sitting for the registration exam. 

Explore ASU's degree programs in nutrition:
Applied Nutrition and Health: The BS program in applied nutrition and health introduces students to nutrition principles, along with essential skills in communication, leadership and community engagement, to develop and apply innovative solutions to health concerns across populations.

Nutritional Science Program: The BS in nutritional science provides students with a well-rounded foundation in nutrition, biological sciences, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, as well as the prevention and treatment of health conditions. Integrative and functional health courses also establish a strong foundation for individualizing health interventions across the life span.

Career opportunities for dietitians and nutritionists are available with federal, state and county agencies. Educator dietitians teach healthy eating and nutrition science in school settings and teaching hospitals around the country. Career options for graduates from the Nutrition Programs include, but are not limited to, clinical nutrition, food service and hospitality management, long-term care clinical management, weight loss consultants, community nutritionist, sports nutrition, corporate wellness programs, marketing and public relations, health and nutrition communication, school nutrition and food service, correctional food service director, health coaching, entrepreneurship, and college and university professors.

Thesis

The honors thesis is an excellent opportunity to gain experience conducting research under the advisement of a nutrition faculty member. A topic for your thesis may emerge from an aspect of an introductory course that sparks your interest, and then becomes more refined as a depth of knowledge is furthered by taking other classes in the related area. 

We strongly encourage Nutrition majors to begin planning their thesis project by the fall of their junior year, particularly if you would like to be engaged in research during the summer before your senior year. After completing the information session, the following steps are required:

1. Meet with the Faculty Honors Advisor to discuss your areas of interest.
2. Consult with an faculty to confirm a thesis director.
3. Form a Barrett Thesis committee with a minimum of two members; the director (who must be an ASU faculty member) and one other committee member with expertise in the area of interest, after consultation with the director. 
4. Develop a brief prospectus in collaboration with your thesis director and submit within the timelines identified by Barrett.
5. Complete the thesis project with collaboration from the committee. Expectations regarding what constitutes a thesis will vary among faculty members and will be conveyed by your advisor. Typically the thesis will include either independent development of a project with written documentation of the project rationale, method of development and evaluation of the project or completion of a research study and analysis of the results. 
6. The thesis defense must be scheduled and held according to Barrett timelines and all committee members must be present at the defense. Defenses may be held in-person or virtually. 

Please review the description of the nutrition program faculty as potential honors advisors. You may also freely explore other relevant ASU faculty members in other programs.

Tips:

• Read through the Thesis Guidebook. 
• Explore Barrett Resources: Barrett has excellent online resources outlining the Honors Thesis projects. 
• Attend a Thesis Workshop: Barrett also arranges several workshops throughout the semester to help you get started with your thesis and to de-mystify the thesis process.
• Talk to CHS Faculty: faculty have experience mentoring students on the Honors Thesis and can guide you through the process and advise you on what they might expect.
• Review past thesis documents: Barrett Honors College has a digital library of completed projects by Honors students. These are an excellent resource to help plan the structure of your document. To view past projects see “Examples and Past Projects.”
• Attend thesis defenses: Every student publicly presents thesis outcomes as part of a defense. Attending a defense before you do your own will help you prepare and give you a sense of how to present your outcomes as well as the kinds of questions you might expect. Visit the Barrett Defense Calendar to view upcoming defenses
• Talk to other CHS Honors students: If they are currently going through the thesis process, or preparing for it, talking to other students can help plan for your thesis.
• Talk to CHS Faculty Honors Advisors or Advising Staff.

Academic Preparation

Students may enroll in 3 credits of NTR 492: Honor's Directed Study and 3 credits of NTR 493: Honor's Thesis for work with a Nutrition faculty member. Questions about registering for NTR classes should be directed to the CHS Undergraduate Academic Success Advisor.

In order to register for NTR 492, we need at least an email of approval from the faculty director and a short paragraph that describes the thesis project. A copy of the student's prospectus is also required before he or she can receive an override to register for NTR 493. You can send these materials to your Faculty Honors Advisor Karen Sweazea at [email protected].

All Barrett Honors students must complete a thesis workshop prior to enrolling in thesis credit (492 or 493). The session is designed to make certain each student has been informed about the process, expectations, and deadlines.

Recommended Timeline

Example Honors Thesis schedule:

JUNIOR YEAR
End of Spring Semester:

• Find a faculty member to advise you on your Honors Thesis (the Thesis Director); begin discussing possible projects
• Enroll in 492 for 3 credits for the next term 
• Prepare your Prospectus and submit to Barrett.

SENIOR YEAR
Start of Fall Semester:

• Work with your Thesis Director to further define your project and formulate an action plan for the project.

   

Fall Semester:

• Complete background review for project

End of Fall Semester:

• Enroll in 493 for 3 credits

Beginning of Spring Semester:

• Continue working on project and begin preparing thesis document

Before Spring Break:

• Complete first draft of the thesis document and submit to Thesis Director for initial review
• Schedule your thesis defense with your committee. 
• Note that a draft of the thesis should be sent to the entire committee for review at least two week before your defense

After Spring Break:

• Prepare for your defense
• Hold defense

• Make any necessary changes to the thesis document based on feedback from committee

   

Early April:

• Upload your final, approved thesis project to the Barrett Digital Collection.

Other Honors Opportunities

Students are encouraged to ask about honors enrichment contracts, which can be developed with  faculty members their courses. Honors contract projects should be determined jointly by the student and faculty member. The honors contract should ideally increase student understanding of course topics and provide a benefit to the faculty. It is also recommended that students pursue research and projects directed by faculty in order to develop research ideas and further career opportunities prior to starting an honors thesis/creative project.