Nutrition Sciences (BS)
The Nutrition Science Bachelor of Science degree has two sub-plans to choose from: the Science track or the Applied track. The Science curriculum is designed for those students with an interest in graduate school or post-graduate training in a human health profession for which physics and 4 semesters of chemistry are required. The Applied curriculum is designed for those interested in health-related jobs immediately after graduation, obtaining further training to become a Registered Dietitian after graduation, or going on for post-graduate training in a human health profession for which no physics courses and only 3 semesters of chemistry are required.
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation | ||
| ³¢³§°äÌý103 | Exploring Opportunities in the Life Sciences | 1 |
| Communication | 3 | |
| Public Speaking | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Communication for Science and Research | ||
| Mathematics & Sciences | ||
| µþ±õ°¿Ìý181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 1 | 4 |
| µþ±õ°¿Ìý183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 1 | 4 |
| °ä±áÌý101 &²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| °ä±áÌý201 &²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý202 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| °ä±áÌý221 &²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý222 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab 1 | 4 |
| °ä±áÌý223 &²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý224 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| ±Ê³ÛÌý211 | College Physics I | 4 |
| ±Ê³ÛÌý212 | College Physics II | 4 |
| ²Ñ´¡Ìý121 | Elements of Calculus | 3 |
| ´Ç°ùÌý²Ñ´¡Ìý131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | |
| ³§°ÕÌý311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| ±Ê³§³ÛÌý200 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Required Courses | ||
| ³¢³§°äÌý101 | Critical and Creative Thinking in the Life Sciences 1 | 2 |
| ¹ó³§Ìý201 | Introduction to Food Science 1 | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý301 | Introduction to Human Nutrition 1 | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý302 | Introduction to Nutrition Research, Communication, and Careers 1 | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý401 | Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism 1 | 3 |
| ³Ò±·Ìý311 | Principles of Genetics | 4 |
| ²ÑµþÌý351 &²¹³¾±è;Ìý²ÑµþÌý352 | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý490 | Senior Capstone Experience in Nutrition 1 | 4 |
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Restricted Nutrition Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Application Electives | 6 | |
| ´Ü°¿Ìý250 | Animal Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| Nutrition Electives 1 | 9 | |
| GEP Courses | ||
| ·¡±·³ÒÌý101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts) | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| GEP U.S. Diversity (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Free Electives | ||
| Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 2 | 6 | |
These electives cannot be remedial nor can they be taken at an elementary level after you have taken comparable coursework at a more advanced level. They can be taken S/U unless they are being used to fulfill the requirements for a minor. | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 2
Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.
Restricted Nutrition ElectiveÌý
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ´¡±·³§Ìý454 | Lactation, Milk and Nutrition | 3 |
| ´¡±·³§Ìý554 | Lactation, Milk and Nutrition | 3 |
| ¹ó³§Ìý555 | Exercise Nutrition | 3 |
| ¹ó³§Ìý557 | Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý320 | 3 | |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý330 | Public Health Nutrition | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý410 | Maternal and Infant Nutrition | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý419 | Human Nutrition and Chronic Disease | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý454 | Lactation, Milk and Nutrition | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý510 | Maternal and Infant Nutrition | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý555 | Exercise Nutrition | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý557 | Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods | 3 |
Application Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Application Electives I | ||
| ´¡·¡°äÌý360 | Ecology | 4 |
| ´¡·¡·¡Ìý230 | Introduction to Cooperative Extension | 3 |
| ´¡·¡·¡Ìý325 | Planning and Delivering Non-Formal Education | 3 |
| ´¡·¡·¡Ìý478 | Advanced Issues in Extension Education | 3 |
| ´¡±·³§Ìý415 | Comparative Nutrition | 3 |
| ´¡±·³§Ìý515 | Comparative Nutrition | 3 |
| ´¡±·°ÕÌý374 | Disease and Society | 3 |
| ´¡¸é·¡Ìý201 | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3 |
| ´¡¸é·¡Ìý201A | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3 |
| µþ°ä±áÌý351 | General Biochemistry | 3 |
| µþ±õ°¿Ìý414 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| µþ±õ°¿Ìý424 | Endocrinology | 3 |
| µþ±õ°¿Ìý488 | Neurobiology | 3 |
| µþ±õ°¿Ìý588 | Neurobiology | 3 |
| °ä°¿²ÑÌý332 | Relational Communication | 3 |
| °ä°¿²ÑÌý362 | Communication and Gender | 3 |
| °ä°¿²ÑÌý441 | Ethical Issues in Communication | 3 |
| °ä°¿²ÑÌý466 | Nonprofit Leadership & Development | 3 |
| °ä³§Ìý224 | Seeds, Biotechnology and Societies | 3 |
| °ä³§Ìý230 | Introduction to Agroecology | 3 |
| °ä³§Ìý430 | Advanced Agroecology | 4 |
| ¹ó³§Ìý330 | Science of Food Preparation | 3 |
| ¹ó³§Ìý402 | Chemistry of Food and Bioprocessed Materials | 4 |
| ¹ó³§Ìý403 | Analytical Techniques in Food & Bioprocessing Science | 4 |
| ¹ó³§Ìý405 | Food Microbiology | 3 |
| ¹ó³§Ìý416 | Quality Control in Food and Bioprocessing | 3 |
| ¹ó³§Ìý421 | Food Preservation | 3 |
| ¹ó³§Ìý502 | Chemistry of Food and Bioprocessed Materials | 4 |
| ¹ó³§Ìý505 | Food Microbiology | 3 |
| ¹ó³§Ìý516 | Quality Control in Food and Bioprocessing | 3 |
| ¹ó³§Ìý521 | Food Preservation | 3 |
| ³Ò±Ê±áÌý201 | 3 | |
| ±á·¡³§²ÑÌý478 | Exercise Physiology and Sports Science | 3 |
| ±á±õÌý360 | U.S. Agricultural History | 3 |
| ±á±õÌý380 | History of Nonprofits, Philanthropy, and Social Change | 3 |
| ²ÑµþÌý405 | Food Microbiology | 3 |
| ²ÑµþÌý505 | Food Microbiology | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý415 | Comparative Nutrition | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý515 | Comparative Nutrition | 3 |
| ±ÊµþÌý213 | Plants and Civilization | 3 |
| ±ÊµþÌý215 | Medicinal Plants | 3 |
| ±ÊµþÌý360 | Ecology | 4 |
| ±Ê±á±õÌý325 | Bio-Medical Ethics | 3 |
| ±Ê±á±õÌý420 | Global Justice | 3 |
| ±Ê°¿Ìý415 | Comparative Nutrition | 3 |
| ±Ê°¿Ìý515 | Comparative Nutrition | 3 |
| ±Ê¸é°ÕÌý200 | Health, Wellness and the Pursuit of Happiness | 3 |
| ±Ê³§Ìý203 | Introduction to Nonprofits | 3 |
| ±Ê³§Ìý231 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| ±Ê³§Ìý236 | Issues in Global Politics | 3 |
| ±Ê³§Ìý312 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| ±Ê³§³ÛÌý311 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| ±Ê³§³ÛÌý312 | Applied Psychology | 3 |
| ±Ê³§³ÛÌý360 | Community Psychology Principles and Practice | 3 |
| ±Ê³§³ÛÌý376 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| ±Ê³§³ÛÌý410 | Learning and Motivation | 3 |
| ±Ê³§³ÛÌý411 | The Psychology of Interdependence and Race | 3 |
| ±Ê³§³ÛÌý420 | Cognitive Processes | 3 |
| ±Ê³§³ÛÌý430 | Biological Psychology | 3 |
| ±Ê³§³ÛÌý431 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| ³§°¿°äÌý241 | Sociology of Agriculture and Rural Society | 3 |
| ³§°¿°äÌý241A | Sociology of Agriculture and Rural Society | 3 |
| ³§°¿°äÌý311 | Community Relationships | 3 |
| ³§°¿°äÌý342 | International Development | 3 |
| ³§°¿°äÌý350 | Food and Society | 3 |
| ³§°¿°äÌý351 | Population and Planning | 3 |
| ³§°¿°äÌý381 | Sociology of Medicine | 3 |
| ³§°¿°äÌý404 | Families and Work | 3 |
| ³§°¿°äÌý440 | Social Change | 3 |
| ³§°Õ³§Ìý323 | World Population and Food Prospects | 3 |
| ³§°Õ³§Ìý325 | Bio-Medical Ethics | 3 |
| °Â³Ò³§Ìý200 | Introduction to Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | 3 |
| °Â³Ò³§Ìý330 | Women and Health | 3 |
| °Â³Ò³§Ìý362 | Communication and Gender | 3 |
| Application Electives II (Max: 3 Units ) | ||
| ³Ò±Ê±áÌý425 | 6 | |
Nutrition Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ´¡±·³§Ìý454 | Lactation, Milk and Nutrition | 3 |
| ´¡±·³§Ìý554 | Lactation, Milk and Nutrition | 3 |
| ¹ó³§Ìý555 | Exercise Nutrition 1 | 3 |
| ¹ó³§Ìý557 | Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods 1 | 3 |
| ±õ¶Ù³§Ìý211 | Eating through American History | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý220 | Food and Culture in Italy 1 | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý320 | 1 | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý330 | Public Health Nutrition 1 | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý410 | Maternal and Infant Nutrition 1 | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý419 | Human Nutrition and Chronic Disease 1 | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý420 | 1 | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý421 | 1 | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý454 | Lactation, Milk and Nutrition 1 | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý510 | Maternal and Infant Nutrition | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý521 | 3 | |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý555 | Exercise Nutrition 1 | 3 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý557 | Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods 1 | 3 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ³¢³§°äÌý101 | Critical and Creative Thinking in the Life Sciences 1 | 2 |
| ³¢³§°äÌý103 | Exploring Opportunities in the Life Sciences | 1 |
| µþ±õ°¿Ìý181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 1 | 4 |
| °ä±áÌý101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| °ä±áÌý102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| ²Ñ´¡Ìý121 or ²Ñ´¡Ìý131 | Elements of Calculus or Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Ìý | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| µþ±õ°¿Ìý183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 1 | 4 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý301 | Introduction to Human Nutrition 1 | 3 |
| ·¡±·³ÒÌý101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| °ä±áÌý221 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| °ä±áÌý222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| Ìý | Hours | 15 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý302 | Introduction to Nutrition Research, Communication, and Careers 1 | 3 |
| °ä±áÌý223 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| °ä±áÌý224 | Organic Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| ³§°ÕÌý311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| ±Ê³§³ÛÌý200 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Free/Minor Elective | 3 | |
| Ìý | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ¹ó³§Ìý201 | Introduction to Food Science | 3 |
| Nutrition Elective | 3 | |
| Application Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| Physiology Elective | 4 | |
| Ìý | Hours | 16 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý401 | Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism 1 | 3 |
| Nutrition Elective | 3 | |
| Application Elective | 3 | |
| Writing/Speaking Elective | 3 | |
| Free/Minor Electives | 3 | |
| Ìý | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ³Ò±·Ìý311 | Principles of Genetics | 4 |
| Restricted Nutrition Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts) | 3 | |
| °ä±áÌý201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science | 3 |
| °ä±áÌý202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| Ìý | Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ±Ê³ÛÌý211 | College Physics I | 4 |
| ²ÑµþÌý351 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| ²ÑµþÌý352 | General Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| Nutrition Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Ìý | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ±Ê³ÛÌý212 | College Physics II | 4 |
| ±·°Õ¸éÌý490 | Senior Capstone Experience in Nutrition 1 | 4 |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Ìý | Hours | 14 |
| Ìý | Total Hours | 120 |
- 1.
A grade of C- or better is required
Career Opportunities
Consumer demand for safe, high quality, nutritious foods and biopharmaceutical products, as well as for educational programs designed to promote healthy eating, creates a variety of career opportunities in the food, pharmaceutical and the allied health industries. Industrial opportunities include management, research and development, process supervision, quality control and assurance, procurement, distribution, and sales. Public health opportunities include educational program development, delivery, and assessment. In addition, graduates hold positions with government agencies and many with advanced degrees have teaching and/or research positions in colleges and universities.
Nutrition Sciences
Nutrition professionals provide evidence-based guidance on what we should eat, study relationships between diet and health, assess eating behavior, design and evaluate community nutrition programs, teach nutrition and healthy eating skills, and advocate for policies that support good nutrition.
Nutrition students gain a strong foundation by studying chemistry, statistics, genetics, physiology and psychology. They develop skills for applying that knowledge through research, internships and service-learning programs.
Graduates are prepared to tackle health challenges head-on, with a sound understanding of nutrient functions, nutrition in disease processes, life cycle and exercise nutrition, research methods, principles of nutrition education and public health.
Our students have the flexibility to choose between two options when pursuing their B.S. in Nutrition Science. TheÌýNutrition ScienceÌýoption is designed to fulfill the prerequisitesÌýfor medical school and other health professional programs, such as dentistry, physical therapy and pharmacy.
TheÌýApplied NutritionÌýoption helps students become qualified to consult or develop programming for public health initiatives on healthy eating and other health-related activities to improve quality of life and lower health care costs. It is also designed for students planning to pursue post-graduate programs to become a nurse, physician assistant or registered dietitian.
Graduates in nutrition are competitive job and professional school applicants because of their deep understanding of the physical, social and life sciences as they relate to human health. They stand out due to the many opportunities to apply their knowledge to the major health challenges facing our country and the world today.
- Note: Only entering freshmen studying Biochemistry, Nutrition Sciences, or Plant Biology participate in the .
Scholarships
The department provides both merit and financial need scholarships to encourage and assist students preparing for careers in Food, Bioprocessing, or Nutrition Science.
Career Titles
- Biology Professor
- Clinical Dietitian
- Dietetic Technician
- Dietitian and Nutritionist
- Food & Drug Inspector
- Food Science Technicians
- Food Technologist
- Home Health Aide
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