Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Public Health Nutrition

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Atlantic Technological University – Galway City

Program Overview

Public Health Nutrition at ATU focuses on how food, diet and lifestyle shape the health of individuals and entire communities. It’s ideal for students who are passionate about nutrition and want to work in health promotion, disease prevention, food policy and community wellbeing.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
You begin with a strong foundation in science and nutrition through subjects such as Human Biology, Food Science, Nutrition and Health and Professional Practice. You learn how the body uses nutrients, how food is produced and tested, and how nutrition supports health from the very start of life.

Year 2
In second year, you go deeper into how diet affects health at both an individual and population level. You study Human Nutrition and Metabolism, Nutrition Through the Life Cycle and Public Health Nutrition, learning how nutrition influences growth, disease prevention and long-term wellbeing.

Year 3
This year focuses on applying your knowledge through research and professional development. You take modules such as Nutritional Epidemiology and Food Safety and Quality and complete a research project, where you investigate a real nutrition or public health issue using scientific methods.

Year 4
Your final year is centred on professional experience and advanced practice. You complete a long work placement in a public health, nutrition or food-related organisation while studying advanced topics that prepare you to work confidently as a nutrition professional.

Focus areas

Public health nutrition, human nutrition, food science, diet-related disease, community health, nutritional research, food quality and safety.

Learning outcomes

A strong understanding of how diet affects health, the ability to analyse nutrition and health data, design and evaluate public health nutrition programmes, and communicate nutrition advice clearly and professionally.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

This is a Level 8 honours degree on Ireland’s National Framework of Qualifications and provides the academic foundation needed for professional nutrition registration and further postgraduate study.

Reputation (employability & recognition)

ATU nutrition graduates are highly regarded in health services, community organisations and the food and nutrition sector for their strong practical training and applied public health focus.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At ATU, Public Health Nutrition is designed so you learn by doing, not just by listening. From your first year, you’ll work in nutrition, food science and public health laboratories, gaining practical experience in how food is analysed, how diets are assessed and how nutrition data is used to improve health. As you move through the degree, this hands-on learning becomes more advanced, leading to research work and a professional placement that prepares you for real-world practice.

That practical experience includes:

Food and nutrition laboratories
You carry out food testing, nutrient analysis and quality checks, learning how professionals evaluate food safety and nutritional value.
Human nutrition and metabolism work
Through subjects like Human Nutrition and Metabolism, you study how the body processes nutrients and how diet influences health across different life stages.
Public health and epidemiology tools
In Nutritional Epidemiology and Public Health Nutrition, you work with population data to understand diet-related health trends and risk factors.
Research project
You complete a scientific research project where you investigate a real nutrition or public health issue, building skills in data collection, analysis and professional reporting.
Long professional placement
In your final year, you complete a work placement in areas such as community health, food policy, public health organisations or nutrition services, gaining full-time industry experience.
Health promotion and communication practice
You learn how to design nutrition education and health promotion materials to help communities make healthier food choices.
Team-based and case-study learning
Many modules involve group projects and real case studies, reflecting how nutritionists and public health teams work in practice.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the BSc (Honours) Public Health Nutrition at ATU move into careers where nutrition directly improves the health of individuals and communities. With your training in human nutrition, public health, food science and data analysis, you’ll be well prepared for roles such as Public Health Nutritionist, Health Promotion Officer, Nutrition Research Assistant or Food and Health Programme Coordinator in health services, NGOs, government agencies and the food sector.

That means this degree opens the door to meaningful and in-demand careers:

Strong demand for nutrition professionals
Governments and healthcare organisations increasingly rely on nutrition experts to address obesity, diabetes, heart disease and food security.
Industry-ready skills
You graduate with experience in food analysis, nutrition research, epidemiology and health communication — the core skills needed in modern public health and nutrition roles.
Wide range of career paths
Graduates work in community health programmes, hospitals, food safety, public health agencies, research organisations and health-focused NGOs.
Professional recognition
Your Level 8 honours degree provides the academic foundation for professional nutrition registration and long-term career development.
International career opportunities
Public health nutrition is a global field, giving you opportunities to work or continue your studies in many countries.

Further Academic Progression

After completing this degree, you can progress into postgraduate study in areas such as Public Health, Nutrition, Dietetics, Epidemiology, Global Health or Food Policy. Many graduates go on to Master’s and PhD programmes, leading to careers in research, senior public health roles and international health organisations.