Nutrition is an integrative science with the overall objective of improving the health and well-being of individuals and groups. Nutritional inquiry encompasses not only the roles of electrons, atoms, molecules, genes, cells, organs, and complex organisms in biological life processes but also the links between life science and health, behavior, education, population, culture, and economics. The Bachelor of Science in Nutrition degree program includes five options, including an opportunity to complete an honors thesis within the options, as described below.

For students pursuing careers in dietetics, courses in behavioral and clinical nutrition and food systems management provide the academic preparation required for dietetics practice. The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD, Option I) meets the coursework requirements that qualify graduates to apply to a dietetic internship, which leads to the Registered Dietitian credential. Completion of the Didactic Program in Dietetics requirements qualifies a graduate to apply for a dietetic internship or to practice as a Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR).

The Nutritional Sciences option (Option II) requires courses in science and research in order to prepare students for graduate study or professional school. Graduates may seek employment in private or publicly funded research programs or, upon completion of graduate study, may engage in college or university teaching or nutrition research. This option also allows students to fulfill requirements for postgraduate study in medicine, dentistry, and other health professions.

The Public Health Nutrition option (Option III) is designed to prepare students for positions in public health and nutrition at state and other health departments, in research, and in industry. It will equip them for entry into graduate programs in nutrition or other public health disciplines at schools of public health, at graduate schools in the biomedical sciences, and for entry into medical or other health professional schools as well as for those who pursue health and research careers.

Students who plan to follow Option IV must be admitted to the Dean’s Scholars Honors Program. In addition to taking a core of research, writing, and seminar courses in the College of Natural Sciences, students in this option consult with the departmental honors advisor to develop a coherent individual program of rigorous and challenging courses from across the University.

In addition to the four Options leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, students may apply to Option V, the Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD), which leads to simultaneous completion of the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and the Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences. The ICPD includes both the coursework and the supervised practice necessary to be eligible to write the examination to become a registered dietitian. The DPD and ICPD are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) 120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago IL 60606, (800) 877-1600.

Students in the DPD, Nutritional Science, and Public Health Nutrition options are eligible to apply for the Honors in Advanced Nutritional Sciences (HANS). This program is designed for students with a commitment to research that is focused on the intersection between nutrition and health processes. From their first semester to their last, HANS students meet regularly in small groups with some of the university’s most gifted teachers and researchers. In the upper division courses, HANS students develop research projects in their field of study and write a substantial thesis on a related topic under the supervision of a nutrition faculty mentor.

Prescribed Work Common to All Options

Additional Prescribed Work for Each Option

Option I: Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)

Students who complete the DPD with at least four upper-division nutrition courses completed in residence will receive a verification statement that qualifies them to apply for an accredited supervised practice program. DPD graduates who complete an accredited supervised practice program and a master’s degree (as of January 1, 2024) may become active members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and are eligible to write the examination to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

Option II: Nutritional Sciences

Option III: Public Health Nutrition

Option IV: Nutrition Honors: Dean’s Scholars Honors Program

Option V: Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICPD)

Students interested in the Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics must apply for admission after completing 60 semester hours of prerequisite coursework. Applicants to the ICPD must meet the requirements for admission to the Graduate School. Upon completing the ICPD, which includes approximately 1,200 hours of supervised practice and required graduate level course work, graduates will attain both a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and a Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences and are eligible to write the examination to become a Registered Dietitian.

Students who are admitted to the ICPD should consult the faculty advisor each semester regarding order and choice of work. During the fourth year, the following courses must be taken in the indicated term: fall semester: Nutrition 245C; spring semester: Nutrition 345M, 372C, 372F, 373S; summer session: Nutrition 374C and 374P. Because these courses are taught only once a year, a student who does not take them at the indicated time may be unable to complete the program.

6. At least three semester hours chosen from Psychology 301, Sociology 302, Anthropology 302, Economics 304K, 304L, and Human Development and Family Sciences 313 or 313H and 113L
7. Nutrition 380K(Topic 3: Experimental Design and Statistics)
8. Management: Management 320F, Foundations of Management and Organizational Behavior
9. Option-specific nutrition coursework:
   1. Nutrition Biochemistry: Nutrition 390 (Topic 1: Advances in Nutritional Sciences I) and Nutrition 390 (Topic 7: Advances in Nutritional Sciences II), which will replace Nutrition 342 and Nutrition 343 and be reserved for graduate credit.
   2. Behavioral and clinical nutrition: Nutrition 315, 330, 332, 370 and 371.
   3. Food systems management: Nutrition 334 and Nutrition 234L
   4. Research: Nutrition 373S
   5. Professional development:Nutrition 245C
10. An additional 15 semester hours of supervised practice: Nutrition 345M, 372C, 372F, 374C, and 374P.
11. Enough additional coursework to make a total of 120 semester hours.

Special Requirements

Students in all options must fulfill both the University's General Requirements for graduation and the college requirements. They must also earn a grade of at least C- in each mathematics and science course required for the degree, and a grade point average in these courses of at least 2.00. More information about grades and the grade point average is given in the General Information Catalog.