Nutritional Sciences at Penn State examines how humans gain energy from food and how nutrition choices affect our health over time.
Solidly rooted in chemistry, biology, physiology, psychology, neuroscience, behavior, and development, our body of work covers the effects of nutrition at all levels, from the molecule to the organism, to the population at large. Our programs aim to nurture a new generation of leaders in bench and behavioral sciences who will push the limits of our understanding of nutrition as it relates to human health.

Start your undergraduate journey
Start your undergraduate journey
Explore this undergraduate degree for students interested in how the human body transforms food into usable energy that fuels our daily lives.
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Learn about graduate training
Learn about graduate training
Discover how research and graduate training provides students with the knowledge needed to contribute to the field of nutritional sciences.
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Explore research areas
Explore research areas
Understand the variety of research areas and current projects that push the boundaries of knowledge in the field.
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The Diet Assessment Center
The Diet Assessment Center
Explore how the department collects and analyzes dietary data to help researchers understand what, how, and when people are eating.
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Spotlight
Faculty Spotlight
Barbara Rolls has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Distinction by The Obesity Society. She is recognized for her research in ingestive behavior, public service, and mentorship throughout her career.