A direct correlation exists between diet and disease, per the University of Maryland Medical Center. A threat to longevity, poor nutrition can lead to cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Clinical nutritionists study the science behind food and help their patients develop healthy eating and wellness goals. The Clinical Nutrition Certification Board sets forth the core requirements for professional licensure, although the courses in clinical nutrition will vary per school.
Core Science
Six core science courses must be completed in clinical nutrition. Each course is worth three credit hours for a total of 18 hours of science. Anatomy and Physiology, or A & P, takes the student through all functions of the human body starting at the cellular level. Three chemistry courses are needed starting with basic chemistry. Once completed, the student takes organic then biochemistry to complete the degree requirement. Two biology courses are needed: micro and human. Microbiology builds upon the A & P course, teaching the cellular effects of viruses, bacteria and fungus to name a few.
Core Nutrition
Students entering the core nutrition section of their coursework finally get to the real meat and potatoes of their studies. Five core nutrition classes are required by the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board, each class providing three credit hours. Introduction to Nutrition I and Nutrition II provide the integration of the core science theories with the nutritional components. Nutrition and Disease course content will stimulate critical thinking on the student's part --- learning how to link food science with the etiology of diseases. The courses of Nutrition Assessment and Nutritional Counseling Strategies provide a professional practice foundation for those desiring a career in nutrition. Nutrition and Supplementation, Herbology and Nutrition and Aging offer advanced studies in highly evolved subcategories of nutrition science.
Post Grad Work
Courses in clinical nutrition must be paired at least with a bachelor's in science, either during the course core studies or in another field altogether, such as nursing. Those with a comparative bachelor's degree, meaning non-nutrition but in the art of science, must take core clinical nutrition courses to be eligible for practice. Bachelor's degree courses vary depending upon the degree sought. Professionals with a master's degree, Ph.D or D.Sc. do not have to take any courses in clinical nutrition to sit for the licensure examination as long as their degree is in the human nutrition field.
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