Nutrition Science: Pre-Health - BS

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College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences

About This Degree

Nutrition scientists study the molecular and cellular basis of human health and disease. This degree provides students with a solid background in health and life sciences. Students learn how food and nutrients interact with the human body to support health and physical performance.

Pre-health Emphasis: Prepares students to enter medical school by providing experiences and opportunities in laboratory research, epidemiology, and clinical nutrition

For more information about Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences, see website.
Admitted and current students must meet with an advisor.
Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
The highest math requirement for this degree is MATH 1060 or MATH 1100 or MATH 1210 .

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits: 120
Credits of C- or better: 100
Total credits taken through USU: 30
Total major required credits taken at USU: 10
Minimum Grade Point Average (many majors require a higher GPA): 2.0 GPA
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above): 40
Upper-division credits taken at USU: 20
General Education Requirements
University Studies Requirements
Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements For This Program

First Year Student: Admitted to USU in Good Standing
Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU: 2.75 GPA

Major Requirements (49-55 credits)

A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required in all coursework for the major. All NDFS courses require a grade of C- or better.

NDFS 1020 - Science and Application of Human Nutrition (BLS) 3 credit(s)
NDFS 1600 - Medical Terminology for Health Care Professionals 2 credit(s)
NDFS 2020 - Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle 3 credit(s) or
NDFS 2030 - Nutrition and Physical Performance 2 credit(s) or
NDFS 3080 - Community Nutrition 3 credit(s)
NDFS 4020 - Advanced Nutrition 3 credit(s)
NDFS 5300 - Advanced Micronutrient Nutrition 3 credit(s)
NDFS 5410 - Nutrient Gene Interactions (CI) 3 credit(s)
BIOL 1610 - Biology I 3 credit(s)
BIOL 1620 - Biology II (BLS) 3 credit(s)
BIOL 2320 - Human Anatomy 4 credit(s) or
BIOL 2420 - Human Physiology 4 credit(s)
CHEM 1210 - Principles of Chemistry I 4 credit(s)
CHEM 1220 - Principles of Chemistry II (BPS) 4 credit(s)
CHEM 2300 - Principles of Organic Chemistry 3 credit(s) or
CHEM 2310 - Organic Chemistry I 4 credit(s)
CHEM 3700 - Introductory Biochemistry 3 credit(s)
MATH 1050 - College Algebra (QL) 4 credit(s)
MATH 1060 - Trigonometry 2 credit(s) or
MATH 1100 - Calculus Techniques (QL) 3 credit(s) or
MATH 1210 - Calculus I (QL) 4 credit(s)
PSY 1010 - General Psychology (BSS) 3 credit(s) or
SOC 1010 - Introductory Sociology (BSS) 3 credit(s)
STAT 1040 - Introduction to Statistics (QL) 3 credit(s) or
STAT 1045 - Introduction to Statistics with Elements of Algebra (QL) 5 credit(s) or
STAT 2000 - Statistical Methods (QI) 4 credit(s) or
STAT 3000 - Statistics for Scientists (QI) 3 credit(s)

Nutrition Science Upper Division Elective (6 credits)

Choose 2 of the following courses:

NDFS 3040 - Nutrition Assessment 3 credit(s)
NDFS 3110 - Food, Technology, and Health (DSC) 3 credit(s)
NDFS 5210 - Advanced Public Health Nutrition (CI) 3 credit(s)
NDFS 5230 - Communication of Current Topics in Nutrition (CI) 3 credit(s)
NDFS 5510 - Food Laws and Regulations 3 credit(s)
NDFS 5800 - Counseling and Motivational Interviewing for Health Professionals 3 credit(s)

Pre-Health Emphasis Professional Courses (24 credits)

The term “pre-health” covers a broad spectrum of health profession graduate programs: medical, dental, physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, optometry, etc., with each type of program requiring a different subset, or level of, prerequisite coursework. The Nutrition Science: pre-health emphasis strives to allow students course flexibility within their science coursework so students may align their coursework to the professional school they are working towards. It is the student’s responsibility to determine the coursework required for the particular graduate schools they are interested in attending.

Choose at least 24 credits from any of the Pre-Health emphasis areas to meet the prerequisite coursework for the professional school of interest. Only 9 credits are allowed in the Social Sciences and Supportive Courses area.

Biological Science (0-24 credits)

NDFS 1030 - Introduction to Dietetics and Nutrition Science 1 credit(s)
NDFS 1240 - Food Literacy 3 credit(s)
NDFS suggested electives, if not taken as required coursework:
NDFS 2020 - Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle 3 credit(s)
NDFS 2030 - Nutrition and Physical Performance 2 credit(s)
NDFS 3040 - Nutrition Assessment 3 credit(s)
NDFS 3080 - Community Nutrition 3 credit(s)
NDFS 3110 - Food, Technology, and Health (DSC) 3 credit(s)
NDFS 5210 - Advanced Public Health Nutrition (CI) 3 credit(s)
NDFS 5230 - Communication of Current Topics in Nutrition (CI) 3 credit(s)
NDFS 5510 - Food Laws and Regulations 3 credit(s)
NDFS 5800 - Counseling and Motivational Interviewing for Health Professionals 3 credit(s)
BIOL 1030 - Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) Preparation 1 credit(s)
BIOL 1060 - Prehealth Professions 1 credit(s)
BIOL 1615 - Biology I Laboratory 1 credit(s)
BIOL 1625 - Biology II Laboratory 1 credit(s)
BIOL 2060 - Elementary Microbiology 4 credit(s)
BIOL 2320 - Human Anatomy 4 credit(s)
BIOL 2520 - Pathophysiology 3 credit(s)
BIOL 3010 - Evolution (DSC) 3 credit(s)
BIOL 3060 - Principles of Genetics (QI) 3 credit(s)
BIOL 3100 - Bioethics (CI) 3 credit(s)
BIOL 3300 - General Microbiology 4 credit(s)
BIOL 3500 - Plagues, Pests, and People (DSC) 3 credit(s)
BIOL 4000 - Human Dissection 1 credit(s)
BIOL 5150 - Immunology 3 credit(s)
BIOL 5210 - Cell Biology 3 credit(s)
HEAL 1500 - Anatomy and Physiology (BLS) 3 credit(s)
KIN 3250 - Anatomical Kinesiology 3 credit(s)
KIN 4200 - Biomechanics (QI) 4 credit(s)
PUBH 3120 - Family and Community Health 3 credit(s)
PUBH 3310 - Occupational Health and Safety 3 credit(s)
PUBH 4030 - Communicable Disease Control 3 credit(s)
PUBH 4040 - Fundamentals of Epidemiology 3 credit(s)

Physical Science and Mathematics (0-24 credits)

ADVS 5630 - Endocrinology (CI) 3 credit(s)
CHEM 1215 - Chemical Principles Laboratory I 1 credit(s)
CHEM 1225 - Chemical Principles Laboratory II 1 credit(s)
CHEM 2320 - Organic Chemistry II 4 credit(s)
CHEM 2325 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 1 credit(s)
CHEM 3710 - Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory 1 credit(s)
CHEM 5700 - General Biochemistry I 3 credit(s)
MATH 1100 - Calculus Techniques (QL) 3 credit(s)
MATH 1210 - Calculus I (QL) 4 credit(s)
PHYS 1100 - Great Ideas in Physics (BPS) 3 credit(s)
PHYS 1200 - Introduction to Physics by Hands-on Exploration (BPS) 4 credit(s)
PHYS 2110 - General Physics - Life Sciences I 4 credit(s)
PHYS 2120 - General Physics - Life Sciences II (BPS) 4 credit(s)
PSY 3010 - Psychological Statistics (QI) 3 credit(s)
(Physics is required for most health profession graduate programs. As such the math requirement in the NS Pre-Health program prepares students for physics courses. Thus, any of the following math courses will suffice: MATH 1060 , MATH 1100 , or MATH 1210 )

Social Science and Supportive Courses (0-9 credits)

Only 9 credits are allowed in the Social Sciences and Supportive Courses area.

ANTH 4130 - Introduction to Medical Anthropology (DSS) 3 credit(s)
ANTH 4140 - Anthropology of Global Health (CI) 3 credit(s)
ASTE 2900 - Food Matters: Ethics, Economics, and the Environment (BSS) 3 credit(s)
CMST 4700 - Health Communication (CI) 3 credit(s)
ENGL 3080 - Introduction to Technical Communication (CI) 3 credit(s)
HDFS 1500 - Human Development Across the Lifespan (BSS) 3 credit(s)
HDFS 3100 - Abuse and Neglect in Family Context 3 credit(s)
HDFS 3110 - Human Sexuality 3 credit(s)
HDFS 3570 - Youth and Adolescence 3 credit(s)
HDFS 3700 - Mental Health Advocacy and Awareness 3 credit(s)
HEP 3200 - Consumer Health 3 credit(s)
HEP 3400 - Stress Management 3 credit(s)
HEP 5000 - Health Equity (CI) 3 credit(s)
HEP 5250 - Global Health & Service Learning 3 credit(s)
HIST 3910 - Health, Disease, and Medicine in North America (DHA) 3 credit(s)
KIN 4100 - Exercise Physiology 4 credit(s)
PHIL 3500 - Healthcare Ethics (DHA) 3 credit(s)
PSY 1010 - General Psychology (BSS) 3 credit(s)
PSY 1100 - Lifespan Development 3 credit(s)
PSY 2100 - Developmental Psychology: Adolescence 3 credit(s)
PSY 2300 - Psychological Disorders 3 credit(s)
PSY 3110 - Health Psychology 3 credit(s)
PSY 3510 - Social Psychology (DSS) 3 credit(s)
PSY 4240 - Multicultural Psychology (DSS) 3 credit(s)
SOC 1010 - Introductory Sociology (BSS) 3 credit(s)
SOC 3330 - Medical Sociology (DSS) 3 credit(s)
SOC 3750 - Sociology of Aging (DSS) 3 credit(s)
SPAN 3100 - Spanish Healthcare 3 credit(s)

Note:

Students must complete 120 credits to earn a bachelor’s degree, including 40 credits upper division. Consultation with their advisor is important to choose elective courses that will be most effective in helping them reach their academic goals. Contact Dawnetta Mahnken, dawnetta.mahnken@usu.edu, 435-797-2282 for advising or schedule an appointment through this link.

It is the student’s responsibility to check with health profession graduate programs concerning courses required for admission. Completion of Utah State University’s Department of Nutrition Science: Pre-Health emphasis will not guarantee admission into health profession graduate schools.

The Pre-Health Advising Office has a team of advisors to assist and support USU students planning to attend health profession graduate programs. Please see their website for more information.

Open Electives

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 120

Suggested Degree Map - Nutrition Science: Pre-Health BS

Nutrition Science: Pre-Health BS - 4 Year Degree Map