Undergraduate Academic Programs

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science (BSAHS), Nutrition Science Major

Description of Program

Nutrition science blends the curriculum requirements for admission to medicine, dentistry, optometry, and physician assistant programs with a strong emphasis on nutrition and its role in the prevention and treatment of disease. The program also provides a thorough background in advanced biology and biochemistry courses, with laboratory components to prepare students for further study in related fields and research. The program integrates nutrition and the physical and life sciences, such as chemistry, biology, and physiology, to promote detailed understanding of the role of nutrients in metabolism.

Degree Requirements
  • completion of general education requirements.
  • completion of nutrition science major requirements.
  • a minimum of 120 successfully completed credit hours which count toward the degree program.
  • a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
  • a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in courses used to complete the portions of this degree entitled: Nutrition Science Core, Specialization Courses, Life Sciences Courses, and Communication Course.
  • No Pass/Fail except for free electives.
General Education (20 – 39 credits)

All undergraduate students must complete the IU Bloomington campus-wide general education common ground requirements. Such students must visit the 2021-2022 General Education Bulletin to view these requirements.

Major (91-93 cr.)

School Core (3 cr.)
Complete the following course with a minimum C– grade:

  • SPH-B 150 Introduction to Public Health (3 cr.) +S&H (or equivalent)

Nutrition Science Core (78-79 cr.)
A minimum grade of C– is required in each nutrition core course.
Complete each of the following courses:

  • SPH-N 120 Introduction to Foods (3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 231 Human Nutrition (3 cr.) +N&M
  • SPH-N 320 Food Chemistry (3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 325 Food Chemistry Laboratory (3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 430 Advanced Nutrition I (3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 431 Medical Nutrition Therapy (3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 432 Advanced Nutrition II (3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 492 Research in Nutrition/Dietetics (3 cr.) or SPH-H 494 Research and Evaluation Methods in Health and Safety (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 112 Introduction to Biology: Biological Mechanisms (4 cr.) +N&M
  • BIOL-L 113 Biology Laboratory (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 211 Molecular Biology (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-M 250 Microbiology (3 cr.) or BIOL-M 200 Microorganism in Nature and Disease (3 cr.)
  • CHEM-C 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry 1 (3 cr.) +N&M
  • CHEM-C 127 Chemistry and Biochemistry Laboratory 1 (2 cr.) +N&M
  • CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry Lectures 1 (3 cr.)
  • CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry Lectures 2 (3 cr.)
  • CHEM-C 343 Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1 (2 cr.)
  • CHEM-N 330 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry (5 cr.) or CHEM-C 118 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry II (5 cr.)
  • ANAT-A 215 Basic Human Anatomy (5 cr.) +N&M
  • PHSL-P 215 Basic Human Physiology (5 cr.) +N&M
  • PHYS-P 201 General Physics I (5 cr.) +N&M or PHYS-P 221 Physics I (5 cr.)
  • MATH-M 211 Calculus I (4 cr.) +N&M or MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus I (3 cr.) +N&M
  • SPH-Q 381 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 cr.) or STAT-S 303 Applied Statistical Methods for the Life Sciences (3 cr.) or MATH-K/PSY-K/SPEA-K 300 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.) or MATH-K/PSY-K 310 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.) (3 cr.) or STAT-S 300 Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods (3 cr.)
  • CLAS-C 209 Medical Terms from Greek and Latin (2 cr.)

Specialty Track (10-11 cr.)
A minimum grade of C– is required.
Complete one of following specialty tracks:

Specialty Track: Pre-Medicine (11 cr.)
A minimum grade of C– is required.
Complete each of the following three courses:

  • CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry (3 cr.) (recommended choice) -or- CHEM-C 383 Human Biochemistry (3 cr.) -or- BIOT-T 440 Structure, Function, Regulation of Biomolecules (3 cr.)
  • PHYS-P 202 General Physics II (5 cr.) +N&M or PHYS-P 222 Physics II (5 cr.)
  • PSY-P 101 Introductory Psychology 1 (3 cr.)

Recommended but not required: Pre-Medicine Recommended Electives (12 cr.)

  • ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.)
  • PHIL-P 140 Introduction to Ethics (3 cr.) +A&H
  • PSY-P 102 Introductory Psychology 2 (3 cr.) +S&H
  • SOC-S 100 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.) +S&H

Specialty Track: Pre-Dental (10-11 cr.)
A minimum grade of C– is required.
Complete each of the following three courses:

  • BIOL-M 380 Microbiology of Infectious Disease (3 cr.) -or- BIOL-L 321 Principles of Immunology (3 cr.)
  • CHEM-C 383 Human Biochemistry (3 cr.) -or- CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry (3 cr.) -or- BIOL-M 315 Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr.)
  • PHYS-P 202 General Physics II (5 cr.) +N&M or PHYS-P 222 Physics II (5 cr.)

Recommended but not required: Pre-Dental Recommended Electives (12 cr.)

  • ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.)
  • PHIL-P 140 Introduction to Ethics (3 cr.) +A&H
  • PSY-P 101 Introductory Psychology 1 (3 cr.) -or- COLL-P 155 Public Oral Communication (3 cr.) -or- ANTH-A 122 Interpersonal Communication
  • SOC-S 100 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.) +S&H

Specialty Track: Pre-Physician Assistant (11 cr.)
A minimum grade of C– is required.
Complete each of the following three courses:

  • BIOL-M 315 Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr.)
  • CHEM-C 383 Human Biochemistry (3 cr.) -or- CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry (3 cr.) -or- BIOL-L 321 Principles of Immunology (3 cr.)

Complete one of the following pairs of courses:(6 cr.)

  • BIOL-L 311 Genetics (3 cr.) -and- BIOL-L 319 Genetics Laboratory (3 cr.)
  • or
  • BIOL-L 312 Cell Biology (3 cr.) -and- BIOL-L 313 Cell Biology Laboratory (3 cr.)

Recommended but not required: Pre-Physician Assistant Recommended Electives (12 cr.)

  • ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.)
  • PHIL-P 140 Introduction to Ethics (3 cr.) +A&H
  • PSY-P 101 Introductory Psychology 1 (3 cr.)
  • PSY-P 102 Introductory Psychology 2 (3 cr.) +S&H

Specialty Track: Pre-Optometry (10 cr.)
A minimum grade of C– is required.
Complete each of the following three courses:

  • BIOL-M 315 Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr.)
  • CHEM-C 383 Human Biochemistry (3 cr.) -or- CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry (3 cr.)
  • PHYS-P 202 General Physics II (5 cr.) +N&M or PHYS-P 222 Physics II (5 cr.)

Recommended but not required: Pre-Optometry Recommended Electives (12 cr.)

  • ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.)
  • PHIL-P 140 Introduction to Ethics (3 cr.) +A&H
  • PSY-P 101 Introductory Psychology 1 (3 cr.)
  • PSY-P 102 Introductory Psychology 2 (3 cr.) +S&H

Specialty Track: Exploratory (11 cr.)
A minimum grade of C– is required.
Complete each of the following three courses:

  • BIOL-M 315 Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr.)
  • CHEM-C 383 Human Biochemistry (3 cr.) -or- CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry (3 cr.) -or- BIOT-T 440 Structure, Function, Regulation of Biomolecules (3 cr.)

Complete two of the following courses (6 cr.):

  • SPH-E 311 Introduction to Epidemiology (3 cr.)
  • SPH-K 409 Basic Physiology of Exercise (3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 305 Applied Sports Nutrition (3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 331 Life Cycle Nutrition (3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 336 Public Health Nutrition (3 cr.)
  • SPH-V 442 Introduction to Toxicology (3 cr.) (P: ANAT-A 215 and PHSL-P 215) or MSCI-M 115 and BIOL-L 112 and BIOL-L 113 and CHEM-C 117 and CHEM-C 127 and (SPH-V 235 or BIOL-L 211). Open only to Environmental Health majors or minors

Recommended but not required: Exploratory Recommended Electives (12 cr.)

  • COLL-P 155 Public Oral Communication(3 cr.) -or- ANTH-A 122 Interpersonal Communication
  • ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.)
  • PHIL-P 140 Introduction to Ethics (3 cr.) +A&H
  • PSY-P 101 Introductory Psychology 1 (3 cr.) +S&H
+ Courses followed by a A&H notation apply to both the major requirements and to the general education, arts and humanities requirement.

+ Courses followed by a N&M notation apply to both the major requirements and to the general education, natural and mathematical sciences requirement.

+ Courses followed by a S&H notation apply to both the major requirements and to the general education, social and historical studies requirement.

Recommended Electives

Suggested electives in School of Public Health - Bloomington include:

  • SPH-B 310 Health Care in Diverse Communities (3 cr.)
  • SPH-H 263 Personal Health (3 cr.) +S&H
  • SPH-N 305 Applied Sports Nutrition (3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 441 Readings in Nutrition and Dietetics (1-3 cr.)
  • SPH-H 494 Research and Evaluation Methods in Health and Safety (3 cr.)

Pre-health professional (medical/dental) students should take at least 5 credit hours of their electives in the College of Arts and Sciences, none of which should be under the Pass/Fail option. (The IU School of Medicine requires at least 90 credits of courses from the College of Arts and Sciences. To meet that requirement, students need at least 5 credits of electives from the College of Arts and Sciences.) Premed and predental students should also choose courses that will give them a breadth of knowledge. Medical and dental schools look for students who excel in a variety of disciplines. In addition, premed and predental students should look for courses that will expand their knowledge of diversity issues (SPH-H 310 Health Care in Diverse Communities, and courses in Social Work, Sociology, and Criminal Justice). Finally, students may want to use their electives to complete a minor.

Suggested Nutrition Science Courses for the First-Year Student
Fall Semester
CHEM-C 117/127 or 103 (5 cr.) or MATH-M 211 (3 cr.) or MATH-M 119 (3 cr.)
ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition 1 (3 cr.) or equivalent
SPH-N 120 Introduction to Foods (3 cr.)
Arts and Humanities /World Languages and Cultures Elective (3 cr.)
Free Elective (3 cr.)

Spring Semester
BIOL-L 112 Introduction to Biology: Biological Mechanisms (4 cr.)
CHEM-C 117/127 or 103 (5 cr.) or MATH-M 211 (3 cr.) or MATH-M 119 (3 cr.)
COLL-P 155 Public Oral Communication (3 cr.) or ANTH-A 122 Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.)
SPH-B 150 Introduction to Public Health (3 cr.)
Free Elective (3 cr.)

Special Opportunities

Special opportunities include individualized research with faculty members, laboratory experiences, and volunteer opportunities in nutrition education.

Careers

The study of nutrition science lays a solid foundation for future academics, researchers, doctors, dentists, physicians' assistants, and other health professionals. Graduates with a bachelor's degree can work in government agencies or NGOs, NPOs that focus on nutrition; research and clinical laboratories; clinical sales; the food and nutrition industry; trade associations and commodity groups; health professional organizations and societies; communication and consulting firms; contract research organizations; and other nutrition or health related jobs. Graduates are also well prepared to pursue research-intensive advanced degrees in nutrition, food science, or health-related fields.

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