Getting Started
School: PHHS
Information below is meant to guide first-year students in getting started with this major and choosing appropriate courses. More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses. Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.
How to Explore the Major
Suggested General Education Courses
All undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.
Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses
- NUTRITION 130
- CHEM 111
- NUTRITION 201 (first semester sophomore-year is the usual time to take this course)
- BIOLOGY 151
Students must receive at least a passing grade in Nutrition 130, Nutrition 201 and Bio 151, and at least a C minus in Chem 111. To officially enter the Dietetics track, students must earn at least a B in Nutrition 230 and have at least a 2.5 GPA based on coursework that includes BIOLOGY 151, CHEM 111, CHEM 112, CHEM 261 or CHEM 250 and KIN 270.
First-year students are required to attend group advising sessions during the pre-registration period. Because of the complex, sequential nature of the courses and choice of options within the major, early consultation with an advisor is highly recommended.
How to Declare/Change the Major
For current & admitted students: This major is unrestricted, which means any student may declare the major. Unrestricted majors may still have an entry process such as meeting with an advisor or attending an informational meeting.
During the add/drop and pre-registration advising periods, Nutrition Department advisors hold one information and advising session for students interested in declaring the nutrition major. The date and time, with a sign-up link, is posted at the top of the Nutrition Department Undergraduate Program Academic Advising webpage.
At other times throughout the semester, students interested in declaring the nutrition major need to meet with a peer advisor to discuss the major. Peer advisor drop-in office hours can be found on the Nutrition Department Undergraduate Program Academic Advising webpage. After meeting with a peer advisor, students see the Undergraduate Program Advisor or Undergraduate Program Director to declare the nutrition major.
Students who are not ready to take organic chemistry as sophomores, or biochemistry as juniors may need additional semesters or summer classes to complete requirements.
Transfer Students
Transfer students should carefully plan their coursework taken elsewhere such that they have the prerequisites for sophomore- or junior-level nutrition courses. Students transferring in as juniors should have completed Chem 112- and Biology 151- equivalent courses. Students transferring in as sophomores should have completed pre-requisites allowing them to enroll in Chem 111. This means either having completed a Math 104-equivalent course or earning a sufficient score on the Math Placement Exam.
Summary of Requirements for the Major
Refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn more.
Minimum total # of credits required: 61-65
Students may choose between three tracks: (1) Dietetics; (2) Nutrition and Health Sciences; and (3) Nutrition in a Global Society.
Is there a minor?
No! A minor is not available.
For further information, contact:
Nicole Goldstein, MS
Undergraduate Program Advisor
209 Chenoweth
545-1078
nicolegoldst@nutrition.umass.edu