Nutrition Science: What Do You Really Study?
Food, metabolism and health — understand how nutrition affects the body and translate science into practical recommendations.
What Do You Study in Nutrition Science? Core Subjects, Year by Year
What do the degree courses cover?
Open a course to learn about its main topics and see what the work looks like in practice.
What do you learn in the course?Chemistry for Nutrition?
Build a foundation for understanding food composition, chemical reactions, acidity and solubility that affect digestion, processing and quality.
Main topics
- structure and connections
- reactions and equilibrium
- Basic organic chemistry
What does it look like in practice?
Explain how acidity affects the stability of a food component and mineral absorption.
What do you learn in the course?Biology for Nutrition?
You study the principles of life from the cell to the body systems to understand growth, heredity, microorganisms and the response to the environment.
Main topics
- Cell structure and function
- genetics
- systems and ecology
What does it look like in practice?
A link between a genetic change in an enzyme and difficulty digesting a nutrient.
What do you learn in the course?Anatomy and Physiology?
Know the structure of the body's systems and the control between them, with an emphasis on digestion, absorption, transport, storage and evacuation of food components.
Main topics
- the digestive system
- Heart, kidneys and liver
- Hormonal and neural control
What does it look like in practice?
Tracking fat from a meal through the intestine and blood to storage or utilization in the tissue.
What do you learn in the course?Introduction to Nutrition?
You get an evidence-based picture of the food components, the body's needs, energy balance and the relationship between eating patterns and health.
Main topics
- carbohydrates, fat and protein
- vitamins and minerals
- Recommendations and energy balance
What does it look like in practice?
Assessing a day's eating and checking which food groups and components may be missing.
What do you learn in the course?Nutritional Biochemistry?
Learn how enzymes and molecular pathways break down, build and regulate food components inside the cells.
Main topics
- Enzymes and coenzymes
- energy pathways
- Hormonal control
What does it look like in practice?
Explain how insulin changes the entry of glucose into the cells and its storage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nutrition Science
Is a degree in Nutrition Science difficult?
There is no single answer — difficulty depends on your background, the institution, and your chosen study pace. According to this site's estimate, The degree has a relatively small quantitative component, so mathematics is usually not the main obstacle, and a large share of the reading material is in English. A good way to assess fit is to review the course map on this page: if most of the subjects interest you, the effort will usually feel worthwhile.
How long does a degree in Nutrition Science take?
Usually 3–4 years (Science and applied studies; Training is required in clinical tracks). Exact duration varies by institution and depends on course load and the track you choose.
Nutrition Science or Pharmacy — which is right for me?
The degrees most closely related to Nutrition Science are Pharmacy, Medicine, and Nursing. Their differences are usually in emphasis rather than the overall subject, so the fastest way to decide is to compare their course maps — what you actually study in each program, year by year. You can also open the degree comparison tool to view the differences side by side.
How do you become a clinical dietitian?
A recognized bachelor's in nutrition, a six-month internship and the Ministry of Health licensing exam. Clinical dietetics is regulated by law — all three steps are mandatory.
Where do dietitians work?
HMOs and hospitals, the IDF, the food industry (product development and regulation), sports and private clinics. The private market — personal and athlete coaching — is many dietitians' main income engine.
What do you study?
More science than most expect: biochemistry, physiology, microbiology — alongside clinical and community nutrition. Those arriving to ‘help people eat healthy’ discover a full scientific degree.
Where can you study this?
Nutrition sciences are taught at the Hebrew University (Faculty of Agriculture in Rehovot), Ariel and at Tel-Hai, Hadassah and Haifa colleges. The degree is a prerequisite for the dietitian license.