Undergraduate Study

Careers

Are you passionate about finding a career in the food, agriculture, nutrition, or hunger relief sectors? These sectors are changing in exciting ways, creating a need for professionals who can navigate the complex interconnections between food systems, natural resources, policy, economic opportunities, social equity, public health, and nutrition. At the University of Washington, our Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health (FSNH) undergraduate degree will equip you with the skills to become an innovative problem-solver, prepared for a diverse range of food-related careers. Graduates will be academically prepared for further graduate studies in various disciplines and equipped to apply their core skills to different fields of work. 

Employment 

Types of places you might work

Government agencies (including local, state, and federal agencies); multilateral agencies (such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization); healthcare settings; nonprofit organizations; academic and research institutions; and private sector companies. 

Types of work you might do

Food or nutrition education; health promotion; food and nutrition policy; hunger relief; food system research; food and worker advocacy; food sustainability; food business; and entrepreneurship. 

Example job titles for food systems graduates:

  • Community nutrition organizer
  • Farm to fork coordinator
  • Food systems manager
  • Food and nutrition research associate
  • Sustainable food systems youth educator
  • Cooperative extension food systems advisor
  • Sustainability coordinator
  • Farm-to-school coordinator
  • Food access manager
  • Food systems information specialist
  • Youth food programs assistant
  • Research coordinator
  • Food, nutrition, or agriculture policy assistant or associate
  • Community kitchen coordinator
  • Food security and agriculture specialist
  • Anti-hunger policy and advocacy specialist
  • Food corps service member

Skills 

Graduates of the FSNH major at the University of Washington School of Public Health develop the expertise needed to drive sustainable change. Employers value the diverse set of skills and experiences you gain during your studies, making you valuable in various career paths.  

The major will equip graduates with the skills to: 

  • Analyze and compare food systems across diverse contexts and scales, identifying key components, challenges, and interconnections. 
  • Critically evaluate scientific evidence, lay literature, and data resources related to food systems, public health, and nutrition. 
  • Apply solutions-based thinking, systems frameworks, and public health approaches to assess the impacts of food systems on nutritional, population, and environmental health factors. 
  • Develop and implement strategies to create and shape food systems that are more healthful, resilient, and sustainable.  
  • Manage projects effectively, work collaboratively in teams, and communicate complex information clearly and persuasively. 

Connect with us 

To learn more about FSNH careers and alumni, join our LinkedIn main page, our LinkedIn student & alumni group, or check our alumni page.