Health and Nutritional Sciences

Welcome to the Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences (HNS). The HNS Department provides undergraduate programs in Athletic Training, Nutrition & Dietetics, Exercise Science, Community & Public Health, Physical Education, and Sport and Recreation Management, as well as a number of supporting minors. The integration of academic programs, which focus on nutrition,  health, recreation, exercise, and human performance, provides students and faculty with unique opportunities to collaborate and to promote interaction among students in different majors with a common focus on promoting health through proper nutrition and physical activity.

The course offerings help develop students with a strong foundation of knowledge, skills, and abilities to enter graduate school or employment within the health care field, industry, or education. Students learn how to critique and analyze research within their designated field and apply that knowledge. Students have access to state-of-the-art teaching and research laboratories, nationwide internship programs, and study abroad experiences. Our faculty are nationally recognized as experts in their field and are dedicated to student success.

We encourage students to get involved in one the many student organizations associated with each of the major areas of study. Students are able to attend regional and national professional meetings, participate in service projects and research projects.

To indicate your interest in one of our programs, contact our department. We would be happy to visit with you personally about your interests and career goals. We can arrange a campus and department tour, visit a class, or visit with one of our current students or faculty members.

Pre-Professional Areas

Pre-AT, Pre-PT, Pre-OT

Undergraduate Programs

Community & Public Health (B.S.)

Exercise Science (B.S.)

Nutrition & Dietetics (B.S.)

Physical Education Teacher Education (B.S.)

Sport & Recreation Management (B.S.)

Graduate Programs

Athletic Training (M.S.)

Dietetics (M.S. - Online Only)

Nutrition & Exercise Sciences (M.S. & Ph.D.)

Sport & Recreation Administration (M.S.)

Student Achievement Showcase

Emily Berzonsky, a senior community and public health and track and field student, has been accepted into a very competitive internship with the Maternal and Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement-Undergraduate Program. Emily will have the opportunity to spend a week in Baltimore at the John Hopkins University for orientation and will then return to Sioux Falls to be paired with a public health organization of her interest. Her internship concludes with a weekend trip to the CDC in Atlanta to give a presentation on her work over the summer in public health.

Follow Emily in Track and Field Here

Student Achievement Showcase

Gabby Nowicki (2nd year MS+nutrition and dietetic intern), Kylie Serie (nutrition and dietetics senior) and Fatima Javid (nutrition and dietetics senior) collaborated with Delta Dental to present at the 2019 Dakota Land Child Care Conference located in Yankton, SD. The students presented information about sugar consumption (with an emphasis on children) for over 20 local child care providers.

Student Achievement Showcase

Senior exercise science student, Logan Ammons, threw his second personal-best reset of the 2019 outdoor campaign, adding a total of 5-09.00 so far this season, to earn his first career All-Summit League honor and move up to No. 2 on South Dakota State's all-time list (second, 198-04.00). Ammons' mark is 43rd in the NCAA West Preliminary performance list.

Follow Ammons Here

Student Achievement Showcase

Morgan Brower, a student in the College of Natural Sciences, completed her capstone research project with Dr. Lacey McCormack. Morgan's project, "Meal Planning in Young Adults," was presented at the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Day (URSCAD).

Student Achievement Showcase

Rachel Astleford, a senior nutrition and dietetic student, set a personal-best mark in the javelin (third, 134-05.00) and climbed to the No. 5 mark all-time for SDSU. She was previously seventh all-time before her sixth career top-three finish.

Follow Rachel Here