Bachelor's Degrees The completion of a 4-year sports nutrition degree program is usually an educational requirement for a career in this field. Along with sports nutrition courses, you can also study physiology, kinesiology, and organic chemistry. There are many excellent schools of sports nutritionists. Sports and nutrition degree options usually include a degree in nutrition or sports nutrition.
A sports nutritionist degree program is ideal given the specialized nature of the field. Some schools offer a concentration on sports nutrition. If the school you plan to attend doesn't offer a specific education in sports nutritionist, the curriculum for earning a degree in nutrition will suffice. The education needed to become a sports nutritionist is usually a bachelor's degree.
Sports nutritionists usually study dietetics, nutrition and nutrition, or kinesiology. We found them by analyzing 106 curricula of sports nutritionists to investigate the topic of sports nutritionist education more precisely. The most common degree for sports nutritionists is a bachelor's degree. 64% of sports nutritionists earn that title.
The work of a sports nutritionist and a sports dietician can be very complicated and requires specific training and education. In fact, recently, the National University Athletics Association (NCAA) joined forces with the University Association of Professional Sports Dietitians (CPSDA) and the Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition Association (SCAN) to more actively promote nutritious lifestyles among their athletes. As sports performance increases and the appreciation for nourishing the body improves, so do job opportunities for nutrition professionals. Finding a job as a sports nutritionist The sports dietitian has guidelines similar to those of finding a job in any specific industry or field.
Since sports nutrition is not an occupation regulated by the federal government, each state is free to set its own certification and licensing standards. There are basic requirements and qualifications necessary to call yourself a sports nutritionist or sports dietician. Learn all about sports nutrition with 7 hours of online video content and start training smarter instead of harder. Some states currently require sports nutritionists to obtain a license or certificate from their Board of Nutrition in order to practice, while other states do not.
RD with a master's degree in an area such as exercise science or sports nutrition can receive credit for up to 300 hours of practical experience. The following example of a sports dietician job description comes from an actual job offer for the position of adjunct sports dietician at a large private university. Most employers hire sports nutritionists who have demonstrated their occupational competence by completing a degree in a career-related specialty, such as nutrition, exercise science, sports nutrition, kinesiology, food science, and dietetics. More than ever, professional and university sports organizations recognize the importance of exposing their athletes to more nutritionally conscious lifestyles.
Dietary internships and coordinated programs in dietetics may also meet sports nutrition education criteria.