Undergraduate Academic Programs

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science (B.S.A.H.S.), Nutrition Science Major

Description of Program

Nutrition science prepares students to understand nutrition and its role in the prevention and treatment of disease and use this knowledge in academia, industry, and health care as well as in government and non-govermental organizations.  Nutrition Science is an excellent foundation for other professional degrees.  The curriculum requirements are suitable for admission to medicine, dentistry, optometry, and physician assistant programs.  The program integrates chemistry, advanced biology, biochemistry, physiology courses; with laboratory components 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 General Education Common Ground Requirements. Visit gened.indiana.edu to review them.

Major (91–93 cr.)

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

  • SPH- N150 Nutrition and Public Health (3 cr.) 

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.) (P: Dietetics or NS major)
  • SPH-N 231 Human Nutrition (3 cr.) (+N&M, R:CHEM-C 101 or equivalent and a course in biology)
  • SPH-N 301 Methods of Nutritional Assessment (3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 320 Food Chemistry (3 cr.) (P: CHEM-C 117, R: SPH-N 320)
  • SPH-N 325 Food Chemistry Laboratory (3 cr.) (R or C: SPH-N 320)
  • SPH-N 430 Advanced Nutrition I (3 cr.) (P: SPH-N 321 -AND- CHEM-C 341 or CHEM-R 340)
  • SPH-N 431 Medical Nutrition Therapy (3 cr.) (P: ANAT-A 215 -AND- PHSL-P 215)
  • SPH-N 432 Advanced Nutrition II (3 cr.) (P: SPH-N 430)
  • 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.) (P: BIOL-L 112 and CHEM-C 117)
  • BIOL-M 250 Microbiology (3 cr.) or BIOL-M 200 Microorganism in Nature and Disease (3 cr.)
  • CHEM-C 341/ J 341 Organic Chemistry Lectures 1 (3 cr.) (P: CHEM-C 117)
  • CHEM-C 342/ J 342 Organic Chemistry Lectures 2 (3 cr.) (P: CHEM-C 341 with C- or better)
  • CHEM-C 343/ J 343 Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1 (2 cr.) (P: CHEM-C 127 with C- or better and CHEM-C 341/J 341; R: CHEM-C 342/ J 342
  • CHEM-C 383 Human Biochemistry (3 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.)
Major Electives (10–11 cr.)
A minimum grade of C– is required.
Complete (10-11 cr.) from the following courselist
  • 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-N 416 Nutritional Counseling and Education (3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 441 Readings in Nutrition and Dietetics (1-3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 480 Mechanisms of Nutrient Action in the Body (3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 491 Readings in Nutrition (1-3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 492 Research in Nutrition (1-3 cr.)
  • SPH-N 496 Field Experience in Nutrition (1-3 cr.)
Suggested Electives (7-9 cr.)
A minimum grade of C– is required.
Complete (7-9 cr.) from the following courselist:
  • ANTH-A 122 Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-M 315 Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 321 Principles of Immunology (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 311 Genetics (3 cr.) and BIOL-L 319 Genetics Laboratory (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L 312 Cell Biology (3 cr.) and BIOL-L 313 Cell Biology Laboratory (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-L321 Principles of Immunology (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-M 380 Microbiology of Infectious Disease (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-M 315 Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr.)
  • BIOT-T 440 Structure, Function, Regulation of Biomolecules (3 cr.)
  • CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry (3 cr.)
  • COLL-P 155 Public Oral Communication (3 cr.)
  • ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.)
  • PHIL-P 140 Introduction to Ethics (3 cr.) +A&H
  • PHYS-P 201 General Physics I (5 cr.)
  • PHYS-P 202 General Physics II (5 cr.) +N&M or PHYS-P 222 Physics II (5 cr.)
  • PHYS-P 221 Physics I (5 cr.)
  • PSY-P 101 Introductory Psychology 1 (3 cr.)
  • PSY-P 102 Introductory Psychology 2 (3 cr.) +S&H
  • SOC-S 100 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.) +S&H
  • SPH-B 310 Health Care in Diverse Communities (3 cr.)
  • SPH-H 263 Personal Health (3 cr.) +S&H
  • SPH-E 311 Introduction to Epidemiology (3 cr.)
  • SPH-H 351 Complementary and Alternative Approaches to Health (3 cr.)
  • SPH- K 409 Basic Physiology of Exercise (3 cr.)
  • SPH-V 442 Introduction to Toxicology (3 cr.)

+ Courses followed by an A&H notation apply to both the major requirements and to the general education, arts and humanities requirement.
+ Courses followed by an N&M notation apply to both the major requirements and to the general education, natural and mathematical sciences requirement.
+ Courses followed by an S&H notation apply to both the major requirements and to the general education, social and historical studies requirement.

 

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 academic faculty, research scientists, doctors, dentists, physicians' assistants, and other health professionals. Graduates are well prepared to pursue research-intensive advanced degrees in nutrition, food science or health-related fields.  Graduates can work in any number of environments, including agencies 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, and contract research organizations. 

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