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Nutrition and Foods

Associate in Arts



Program Details

The Nutrition and Foods Associate in Arts Degree includes coursework that is applicable to a transfer program at selected universities and colleges in the field of Dietetics, Food and Nutrition. Within the field of Nutrition and Foods, professionals work in healthcare, education and research, business and industry. Careers are also available in government agencies, food service management, fitness, food companies and in private practice. This degree requires completion of 22-24 units, of which 14 are in required courses. Select 2 courses from the restricted electives below so that a minimum of 22 units are completed.

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Nutrition and Foods Pathways

Pathways listed below are for the catalog year 2025-2026. Maps for previous years are available on each pathway page. What is a catalog year?

Featured Careers

Find your calling. Explore high-earning careers with entry-level data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

  • Chefs and Head Cooks

    Associate's degree, Certificate after high school

    • Job growth: Rising
    • Low salary: 36,000
    • High salary: 96,030
    • Average salary: 60990
    Rising Job Growth $ 60,990 Average Salary $36,000 $96,030

  • Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    High school diploma/GED, Certificate after high school

    • Job growth: Stable
    • Low salary: 26,800
    • High salary: 48,320
    • Average salary: 36450
    Stable Job Growth $ 36,450 Average Salary $26,800 $48,320

  • Cooks, Restaurant

    High school diploma/GED, No high school diploma/GED

    • Job growth: Rising
    • Low salary: 28,010
    • High salary: 47,340
    • Average salary: 36830
    Rising Job Growth $ 36,830 Average Salary $28,010 $47,340

All Careers in Nutrition and Foods (24)

Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree, Doctoral degreeRising129,210
Clinical Nurse SpecialistsMaster's degreeRising93,600
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersBachelor's degree, Some collegeDeclining84,130
Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral degree, Master's degreeStable77,280
Social Work Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral degree, Master's degreeStable76,210
Recreation & Fitness Studies Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral degree, Master's degreeStable75,890
Dietitians and NutritionistsCertificate after college, Master's degreeRising73,850
Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral degreeStable72,090
Secondary School TeachersBachelor's degree, Master's degreeDeclining64,580
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree, Master's degreeDeclining63,620
Health Education SpecialistsAssociate's degree, Bachelor's degreeRising63,000
Chefs and Head CooksAssociate's degree, Certificate after high schoolRising60,990
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, & Forestry WorkersBachelor's degree, High school diploma/GEDStable59,330
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping & Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma/GED, Some collegeStable47,520
Cooks, Private HouseholdCertificate after high school, High school diploma/GEDDeclining44,530
Psychiatric TechniciansSome college, Bachelor's degreeRising42,590
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma/GED, No high school diploma/GEDRising42,010
Nursing AssistantsHigh school diploma/GED, Certificate after high schoolRising39,530
Dietetic TechniciansAssociate's degree, Certificate after high schoolStable37,040
Cooks, RestaurantHigh school diploma/GED, No high school diploma/GEDRising36,830
BakersHigh school diploma/GED, No high school diploma/GEDStable36,650
Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaHigh school diploma/GED, Certificate after high schoolStable36,450
Cooks, Short OrderHigh school diploma/GED, No high school diploma/GEDDeclining35,620
Food Preparation WorkersHigh school diploma/GED, Some collegeRising34,220

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes help you work towards your educational goals.

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of how the scientific method is used to evaluate diet and foods.
  2. Apply nutritional concepts in the planning of meals and the preparation of food.