BS in Nutrition: Nutrition and Health Sciences Track
Nutrition and health sciences track.
In addition to a strong background in core sciences and nutrition, the nutrition and health sciences track provides further training in laboratory skills and advanced understanding of the scientific basis of nutrition.
The nutrition and health sciences track satisfies most requirements for admission to medical and dental school. It prepares students well for medical school, physician assistant programs, dentistry, osteopathy, naturopathic medicine, pharmacy, and other advanced health science degrees. Students interested in these career paths should visit our Pre-Health Profession Nutrition Majors page.
This track is also well-suited for students interested in careers and graduate study involving research in nutrition science or other biological or biomedical sciences. Gaining research experience by assisting a faculty member, in the nutrition or another department, is very valuable for students wanting to pursue a career involving research. You should talk with your primary advisor for ideas on how to go about this.
Follow us: @umassamherst_nutrition
Course requirements for the Nutrition and Health Sciences track
Core science and social science courses:
Biology 151 - Introductory Biology
Chem 111 - General Chemistry I
Chem 112 - General Chemistry II
Chem 261 - Organic Chemistry I
Chem 262 - Organic Chemistry II
Chem 269 - Organic Chem lab
Kin 270 - Anatomy & Physiology I
Kin 270 - Anatomy & Physiology II
Microbio 310 & 265 - General Microbiology and lab
Biochem 320 - Elementary Biochemistry
Biochem 321 - Biochemistry lab
Psych 100 - Introductory Psychology
SPHHS 150 - Great Challenges in Public Health and Health Sciences
Nutrition courses:
130 - Nutrition for a Healthy Lifestyle
201 - Intro to the Professions
230 - Fundamentals of Nutrition Science
210 - Scientific Principles of Food Preparation
352 - Nutrition in the Life Cycle
372 - Writing in Nutrition
430 - Nutrition and Metabolism
577 - Nutrition Problems in the U.S.
Typical course sequence (Pre-med, no gap year)
NOTE: Nutrition major requirements in bold.
Semester 1:
Chem 111 (4 credits)
Bio 151 (4 credits)
Nutrition 130 (4 credits)
Math 127 (3 credits)
First Year Seminar (1 credit)
Total Credits: 16
Semester 2:
Chem 112 (4 credits)
Bio 152 (3 credits)
Bio 153 (2 credits)
SPHHS 150 [DU, SB] (4 credits)
Englwrit 112 ( credits)
Total Credits: 16
Semester 3:
Chem 261 (3 credits)
Physics 131 (4 credits)
Nutrition 230 or Stats 240 (3-4 credits)
Psych 100 (4 credits)
Nutrition 201 (1 credit)
Total Credits: 15-16
Semester 4:
Chem 262 (3 credits)
Chem 269 (2 credits)
Physics 132 (4 credits)
Nutrition 230 or Stats 240 (3-4 credits)
Sociology 100-level (4 credits)
Total Credits: 16-17
Semester 5:
Biochem 320 (3 credits)
Kin 270 (4 credits)
Nutrition 352 or 372 (3 credits)
Elective (3-4 credits)
Total Credits: 13-14
Semester 6:
Biochem 321 (2 credits)
Microbio 310 (3 credits)
Kin 272 (4 credits)
Nutrition 210 (4 credits)
Gen Ed [AT/AL or HS, DG] (4 credits)
Total Credits: 17
Semester 7:
Nutrition 352 or 372 (3 credits)
Microbio 265 (2 credits)
Nutrition 577 (3 credits)
Gen Ed [AT/AL or HS, DG] (4 credits)
Elective (Nutrition 580: Medical Nutrition Therapy highly recommended) (3 credits)
Total Credits: 15
Semester 8:
Nutrition 430 (3 credits)
Phil 164 or other Elective (4 credits)
Elective (3-4 credits)
Elective (3-4 credits)
Total Credits: 13-15
Note: Additional credits can come from field experience and research.
Typical course sequence (Pre-med with gap year)
NOTE: Nutrition major requirements in bold.
Semester 1:
Chem 111 (4 credits)
Bio 151 (4 credits)
Nutrition 130 (4 credits)
Math 127 (3 credits)
First Year Seminar (1 credit)
Total Credits: 16
Semester 2:
Chem 112 (4 credits)
Bio 152 (3 credits)
Bio 153 (2 credits)
SPHHS 150 [SB, DU] (4 credits)
Englwrit 112 (3 credits)
Total Credits: 16
Semester 3:
Chem 261 (3 credits)
Kin 270 (4 credits)
Nutrition 230 (3 credits)
Psych 100 (4 credits)
Nutrition 201 (1 credit)
Total Credits: 15
Semester 4:
Chem 262 (3 credits)
Chem 269 (2 credits)
Kin 272 (4 credits)
Nutrition 210 (4 credits)
Sociology 100-level (4 credits)
Total Credits: 17
Semester 5:
Biochem 320 (3 credits)
Stats 240 (4 credits)
Gen Ed [AT/AL or HS, DG] (4 credits)
Physics 131 (4 credits)
Total Credits: 15
Semester 6:
Biochem 321 (2 credits)
Microbio 310 (3 credits)
Nutrition 372 (3 credits)
Physics 132 (4 credits)
Total Credits: 12
Semester 7:
Microbio 265 (2 credits)
Nutrition 577 (3 credits)
Nutrition 352 (3 credits)
Gen Ed [AT/AL or HS, DG] (4 credits)
Elective (Nutrition 580: Medical Nutrition Therapy highly recommended) (3 credits)
Total Credits: 15
Semester 8:
Nutrition 430 (3 credits)
Phil 164 or other Elective (4 credits)
Elective (3-4 credits)
Elective (3-4 credits)
Total Credits: 13-15
Note: Additional credits can come from field experience and research.
Typical course sequence (Pre-PA)
NOTE: Nutrition major requirements in bold.
Semester 1:
Chem 111 (4 credits)
Bio 151 (4 credits)
Nutrition 130 (4 credits)
First Year Seminar (1 credit)
Total Credits: 13
Semester 2:
Chem 112 (4 credits)
Bio 152 (3 credits)
Bio 153 (2 credits)
Englwrit 112 (3 credits)
SPHHS 150 [SB, DU] (4 credits)
Total Credits: 16
Semester 3:
Chem 261 (3 credits)
Kin 270 (4 credits)
Nutrition 230 (3 credits)
Psych 100 (4 credits)
Total Credits: 14
Semester 4:
Chem 262 (3 credits)
Chem 269 (2 credits)
Kin 272 (4 credits)
Nutrition 210 (4 credits)
Total Credits: 13
Semester 5:
Biochem 320 (3 credits)
Nutrition 352 (3 credits)
Stats 240 (4 credits)
Nutrition 201 (1 credit)
Gen Ed [AT/AL or HS, DG] (4 credits)
Total Credits: 15
Semester 6:
Biochem 321 (2 credits)
Nutrition 430 (3 credits)
Nutrition 372 or Elective (3 credits)
Phil 164 (4 credits)
Gen Ed [AT/AL or HS, DG] (4 credits)
Total Credits: 16
Semester 7:
Nutrition 577 (3 credits)
Microbio 310 (3 credits)
Microbio 265 (2 credits)
Nutrition 372 or Elective (3 credits)
Elective (Nutrition 580: Medical Nutrition Therapy highly recommended) (3 credits)
Total Credits: 14
Semester 8:
Elective (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)
Elective (3-4 credits)
Elective (3-4 credits)
Total Credits: 12-14
Note: Additional credits can come from field experience.