Pre-Health Profession Nutrition Majors
Nutrition majors interested in pre-health studies.
The foods we consume, and the nutrients and other bioactive compounds they provide, play a central role in our health and well-being. Our most common chronic health conditions are strongly linked to nutrition. In addition, we are gaining ever greater understanding of the profound impact that nutrition status has on recovery from illness. A solid understanding of nutrition science, including nutrient actions and interactions, changing needs across the human life cycle, and factors that affect access to nutritious foods, is a great asset to the work of health professionals. The nutrition major provides this understanding while fulfilling required coursework for entry to medical, dental, PA, and nursing school.
Students planning on going to medical, dental, or osteopathy school satisfy most requirements following the nutrition and health sciences track. Students planning on applying to PA school satisfy most requirements following the nutrition and health sciences or nutrition and society track. Students planning on applying to post-grad nursing programs, such as the accelerated BS in nursing or nurse practitioner programs, as well as other types of professional medical programs, do well following the nutrition and society track.
Suggested course sequences for pre-med/pre-dental and pre-PA/nursing can be found here.
Other medical professions that nutrition majors can consider:
- Pharmacist
- Acupuncturist
- Biomedical researcher
- Athletic trainer
- Chiropractor
- Naturopath
Essential Resources
Pre-Health Professions Advising: All pre-health students should meet with a pre-health advisor regularly (at least once a semester), as well as their primary advisor in the Nutrition Department:
The Pre-Health Advising website provides comprehensive information to help you throughout your undergraduate years, including: getting off to a good start, academic preparation, getting hands-on experience, pre-health student groups, URIM opportunities.
Explorehealthcareers.org is an excellent website for learning about the variety and breadth of medical career options.
Pre-Health Advising Newsletter
The Pre-Health Advising Office regularly sends out a newsletter with information about valuable field experience, networking and mentorship opportunities. Be sure to read each newsletter so you don’t miss out on opportunities to enhance your education and career prospects.