The Major

Studies in nutrition focus on nutrients and other bioactive compounds in foods, their actions, interactions, and balance in relation to health and disease; as well as, the processes of ingestion, digestion, absorption, transport, utilization, and excretion of nutrients and other components in food. In addition, nutrition studies explore the social, economic, cultural, and psychological factors that influence the selection, preparation, consumption, and utilization of foods by individuals and population groups. The Nutrition major at UMass provides students the choice of three tracks: Dietetics, Nutrition and Health Sciences, Nutrition and Society.

Dietetics Track

The Dietetics track is also referred to as the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) because it satisfies the curriculum required to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). It is one of only four DPD programs in Massachusetts accredited by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Many RDNs work in clinical settings as allied health professionals, vital members of healthcare teams in most health care facilities. They also apply their expertise in public health, community health, food service, fitness, sports, and private sector wellness programs and facilities.

A bachelor’s degree in Nutrition meets the education requirements for licensure as a nutritionist in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Dietetics Track is accredited with ACEND and meets the Didactic Program in Dietetics requirements for applying to a post-grad Dietetic Internship to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

Core Science/Social Science Requirements (Dietetics Track)

CHEM 111 General Chemistry I [PS]
CHEM 112 General Chemistry II
CHEM 261 Organic Chemistry I (Or CHEM 250 Organic Chemistry)
BIOCHEM 420 Elementary Biochemistry
BIOLOGY 151 Intro. Biology [BS]
MICROBIO 310 + MICRO LAB 265 (Or FOOD-SCI 466 Food Micro)
KIN 270 Anatomy & Physiology I*
KIN 272 Anatomy & Physiology II
PSYCH 100 Intro. Psychology [SB]
STATISTC 111 Elementary Statistics [R1, R2] (Or RES-ECON 212 Intro Statistics for Life Science)

Courses in parenthesis are alternative choices.
*KIN 270 is not required for the Dietetics track, but it is a prerequisite for KIN 272/273

Additional Requirements: Dietetics

Core Nutrition Courses (All Tracks)

NUTRITN 130 Nutrition for a Healthy Lifestyle [BS]
NUTRITN 201 Introduction to the Profession of Nutrition
NUTRITN 210 Scientific Principles of Food Preparation
NUTRITN 230 Basic Nutrition
NUTRITN 352 Nutrition in the Life Cycle
NUTRITN 372 Writing in Nutrition
NUTRITN 577 Nutritional Problems in the U.S. [IE]

Additional Nutrition Courses (Dietetics Track)

NUTRITN 430 Nutrition and Metabolism
NUTRITN 480 Introduction to Dietetics and the Nutrition Care Process
NUTRITN 572 Community Nutrition
NUTRITN 580 Medical Nutrition Therapy
NUTRITN 597M Medical Nutrition Therapy (Dietetics Track only; taken concurrently with NUTRITN 580)
NUTRITN 585 Practical SKills in Nutrition Counciling

Management Courses (Dietetics Track)

MANAGMNT 301 Principles of Management
MANAGMNT 314 Human Resource Management (Or HT-MGT 260 Hospitality Personnel Management)
HT-MGT 250 Food Service Management

Nutrition and Health Sciences Track

The Nutrition and Health Sciences track satisfies most course requirements for pre-med, pre-dental, pre-PA and several other pre-health pursuits. For more information about being a pre-health profession nutrition major, visit our pre-health professions page. This track is also a good choice for students interested in a career in scientific research or a graduate degree in a biomedical science.

Core Science/Social Science Requirements (Nutrition and Health Sciences Track)

Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental students have additional science requirements. Please check requirements for any graduate program you may be interested in.

CHEM 111 General Chemistry I [PS]
CHEM 112 General Chemistry II
CHEM 261 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 262 Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 296 Organic Chemistry Lab
BIOCHEM 420 Elementary Biochemistry
BIOCHEM 421 Elementary Biochemistry Lab
BIOLOGY 151 Intro. Biology [BS]
MICROBIO 310 + MICRO LAB 265 (Or FOOD-SCI 466 Food Micro)
KIN 270 Anatomy & Physiology I
KIN 272 Anatomy & Physiology II
PSYCH 100 Intro. Psychology [SB]
STATISTC 111 Elementary Statistics or STATISTC 240 [R1, R2]*

Courses in parenthesis are alternative choices.
* Pre-med/Pre-PA should take STATISTC 240 or any 200-level or higher Statistics course.

Additional Requirements: Nutrition and Health Sciences

Core Nutrition Courses (All Tracks)

NUTRITN 130 Nutrition for a Healthy Lifestyle [BS]
NUTRITN 201 Introduction to the Profession of Nutrition
NUTRITN 210 Scientific Principles of Food Preparation
NUTRITN 230 Basic Nutrition
NUTRITN 352 Nutrition in the Life Cycle
NUTRITN 372 Writing in Nutrition
NUTRITN 577 Nutritional Problems in the U.S. [IE]

Additional Nutrition Courses (Nutrition and Health Sciences Track)

NUTRITN 430 Nutrition & Metabolism

Note: Students in the Nutrition and Health Sciences track who are interested in licensure should take NUTRITN 480, NUTRITN 580, 597M and NUTRITN 585 as electives.

Nutrition and Society Track

The Nutrition and Society track is well-suited for students planning on applying to post-grad nursing or secondary science education programs. It also satisfies most requirements for entry to physician assistant programs. Students on this track gain a strong base of knowledge in nutrition science while being guided toward a career path that can encompass general health and well-being of individuals and communities. It prepares students to pursue careers or graduate training in international nutrition, public health, community health, fitness and wellness, social work, and education. Because it is the most flexible track, Nutrition and Society works well as a double major.

Core Science/Social Science Requirements (Nutrition and Society Track)

CHEM 111 General Chemistry I [PS]
CHEM 250 Organic Chemistry (Or CHEM 261 Organic Chemistry I)*
BIOCHEM 420 Elementary Biochemistry
BIOLOGY 151 Intro. Biology [BS]
MICROBIO 310 + MICRO LAB 265 (Or FOOD-SCI 466 Food Micro)
KIN 270 Anatomy & Physiology I**
KIN 272 Anatomy & Physiology II
PSYCH 100 Intro. Psychology [SB]
STATISTC 111 Elementary Statistics [R1,R2] (Or RES-ECON 212 Intro Statistics for Life Science)***

Courses in parenthesis are alternative choices.
* CHEM 112 is not required for this track, but if taking CHEM 261, CHEM 112 must be completed first.
** KIN 270 is not required for the Global Society track but it is a prerequisite for KIN 272.
*** Pre-PA should take STATISTC 240 or any 200-level or higher statistics course.

Additional Requirements (Nutrition and Society Track)

Core Nutrition Courses (All Tracks)

NUTRITN 130 Nutrition for a Healthy Lifestyle [BS]
NUTRITN 201 Introduction to the Profession of Nutrition
NUTRITN 210 Scientific Principles of Food Preparation
NUTRITN 230 Basic Nutrition
NUTRITN 352 Nutrition in the Life Cycle
NUTRITN 372 Writing in Nutrition
NUTRITN 577 Nutritional Problems in the U.S. [IE]

Additional Nutrition Courses (Nutrition and Society track)

NUTRITN 572 Community Nutrition
Two required electives based on career goals

Note: Students in the Nutrition and Society track who are interested in licensure should take NUTRITN 480, NUTRITN 580 and 597M, and NUTRITN 585 as electives.