Nutrition
Be a driver of optimal health for communities and individuals by learning about nutrition in wellness and disease.
Nutrition plays a critical role in the health and well-being of individuals and communities. The study of nutrition focuses on the actions, interactions, and balance of nutrients and bioactive components in relation to human health and disease. It also involves understanding special nutrient needs at different stages of life, and explores the social determinants influencing food consumption, food access, and health. Nutrition impacts outcomes in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, certain cancers, and other chronic diseases, as well as malnutrition and nutrient deficiency diseases. It plays a vital role in general wellness, fitness, athletics and healthy aging. Understanding the importance of nutrition in many other health conditions is an area of growth.
Nutrition faculty are engaged in many areas of research, including the molecular mechanisms of bioactive compounds, epigenetics in cancer prevention, dietary interventions to improve maternal health, health literacy, social determinants of health, and more.
Three Undergraduate Tracks
The UMass Amherst Department of Nutrition offers a bachelor’s degree with three distinct tracks: dietetics, nutrition and health science, and nutrition and society.
Graduate Degree Offerings
The UMass Amherst Department of Nutrition offers a 4+1 accelerated MS along with master’s and doctoral degree options and a full-time dietetic internship certificate program.
Explore our programs
Undergraduate
Dietetic Internship
The UMass Nutrition Association delivered over 850 pounds of donations to the Amherst Survival Center as part of its annual food drive.
Experiential Learning
Nutrition students have opportunities to develop the skills they will need to move on to the next step in their career. Follow the link to learn more about opportunities open to all nutrition students.
Small Class Sizes, Close-Knit Community
As a student in any of the UMass Amherst nutrition degree programs, you’ll benefit from small classes, personalized advising, and laboratory and community-engaged research experiences.
Cutting-Edge Research
You’ll find a wealth of opportunities in our faculty research labs. Research everything from nutritional epigenetics to the gut microbiome and health to food insecurity and the social determinants of health.
In the News
SPHHS Teams Receive Mutual Mentoring Team Grants
The Office of Faculty Development has announced the awarding of mutual mentoring grant projects in 2025-26, including teams featuring SPHHS faculty members.
In the Media: News Roundup (April 25, 2025)
SPHHS researchers comment in multiple media outlets on health-related topics.
Patton-Lopez Named 2025-26 TIDE Ambassador
Megan Patton-Lopez is among the UMass Amherst faculty selected for the Teaching for Inclusiveness, Diversity, and Equity (TIDE) Ambassadors program.