Applied Sport And Exercise Nutrition

Overview

Within the past decade, there has been a marked growth in the career opportunities available for sport and exercise nutritionists as well as an enhanced interest in nutrition to complement other job roles in the sport and exercise science field. 

All students of the Applied Sport And Exercise Nutrition program from the Atlantic Technological University will complete a sport and exercise nutrition work placement and a hypothesis driven research project.

Employment opportunities exist at a local, regional, national and international level. 

Unique in Ireland

There is no course in Ireland currently specialising in Sport and Exercise Nutrition.  The course is offered as a conversion programme for students that have previously completed science or health-based undergraduate degrees. It therefore gives students the opportunity to specialise in Sport and Exercise Nutrition. 

Flexible Learning

The blended nature of the delivery of the programme (i.e. some face-to-face sessions and some online lectures) means that the programme is suitable for students both nationally and internationally.

What is a Sports and Exercise Nutritionist?

Sport and Exercise Nutrition is the application of scientific and nutritional principles in order to understand and enhance sport and exercise performance and health and well-being.

Job Opportunities

The career opportunities available to sport and exercise nutritionists in Europe are expanding all the time and this expansion appears likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

Most sports now recognise nutritional science as an integral part of their sport’s development and success and most athletes consider the application of sport and exercise nutrition as an important part of everyday preparation for training and competition.

Examples of careers from AfN-accredited and SENr-accredited degree programmes in the UK include:

• Sports Nutritionist

• Exercise Nutritionist

• Exercise Physiologist

• Health Promotion Specialist

• Lecturer in Higher Education

• Performance Nutritionist

• Researcher

• New product development technologist

• Sports Development Officer

• Self-employment (as a consultant, contractor or entrepreneur)

In the UK typical employers include:

• Food standards agency

• Government advisory groups

• Government agencies

• Local authorities

• National disease prevention initiatives

• National research groups and health promotion initiatives

• National sporting associations, governing bodies and other related sporting agencies

• Private health and fitness clubs, spas and public sports and recreation facilities

• Professional sports clubs

• Schools, further education and higher education institutions

• The health sector, including the National Health Service (NHS)

Similar job opportunities are available throughout Europe and the US.