Nutrition (Pre)

Why study Pre-Nutrition at AU?

As a Pre-Nutrition student at Aurora University, you will major in Biology, Chemistry, Exercise Science, or Health Science, acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in the ever-changing field of healthcare. You will also enroll in the Pre-Nutrition program, which offers a curated collection of prerequisite courses necessary to pursue advanced studies toward one of two careers:

• Clinical Nutritionists, who formulate nutrition and lifestyle plans that complement other medical treatments to assist with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic diseases and conditions.
• Registered Dietitians, who help people manage a variety of pathological conditions, such as diabetes, eating disorders, heart disease, obesity, and food allergies and intolerances.

To help you navigate your academic career and prepare for advanced studies in nutrition and dietetics, AU provides individualized attention. You will be paired with a student success advisor and a faculty member who are experts in helping you achieve your goal of becoming a clinical nutritionist and/or registered dietitian.

You will complete a 200-hour internship at a location of your choice to gain meaningful, hands-on experience in the field prior to attending nutrition and dietetics school. You will also have the opportunity to gain meaningful, hands-on experience in the field prior to pursuing an advanced degree in nutrition or dietetics. Through experiential learning opportunities coupled with the Pre-Nutrition curriculum, you will develop the technical, intellectual, and soft skills needed to succeed.

To become a clinical nutritionist, you will need to earn a master’s degree in clinical nutrition, which can typically be completed in two years. Upon graduating from an accredited program and completing your practice hours, you will likely have the prerequisites required to sit for certifications, such as:

• Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)
• Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN)
• Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition (DACBN)
• Diplomate of the Chiropractic Board of Clinical Nutrition (DCBCN)

Qualified Pre-Nutrition students can benefit from AU’s agreement with Rush University's College of Health Sciences. Please visit our academic affiliations page to learn more.

To become a clinical dietitian, you will need to complete specific coursework and internship requirements outlined by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics to prepare you to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians. Clinical dietitians also have the opportunity to earn specialty certifications to earn the right to practice different disciplines within the field, such as:

• Geriatric
• Obesity and weight management
• Pediatric critical care nutrition
• Pediatric nutrition
• Sports dietetics