Nutritional Sciences (NUTR): Nutrition and Dietetics Option, Behavioral Nutrition and Public Health Option (2025)

Nutritional Sciences (NUTR) – Nutrition and Dietetics Option, Behavioral Nutrition and Public Health Option NSO Enrollment Guide

Behavioral Nutrition and Public Health option – for students interested in working or pursuing graduate study in public health, global health, as well as health promotion and education.

Nutrition and Dietetics option – for students interested in becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). This is also a good foundation for students seeking to go into an Accelerated Nursing Program. — This option requires completion (with a C or higher) of NUTR 251; BIOL 161, 162, 163, 164; CHEM 110/130 to enter the major.

Advising

Center for Student Advising and Engagement
5 Henderson Building
University Park, PA

Find your adviser and schedule an appointment through Starfish: http://starfish.psu.edu Links to an external site.

Important Websites

Entrance to Major Requirements

  • 29.1 or more earned credits
  • 2.0 cumulative GPA
  • Nutrition and Dietetics option: This option requires completion (with a C or higher) of NUTR 251; BIOL 161, 162, 163, 164; CHEM 110/130 to enter the major.

Course Recommendations

  • Summer: Choose 2 courses (6–7 credits overall) *
    • *LEAP Students: Be sure not to choose courses for the fall that you are taking this summer.
  • Fall: Choose 5–6 courses (15–17 credits overall)

Major

  • NUTR 251: Introductory Nutrition (GHW) — New update: Encourage students intending NPB and BNPH to enroll in NUTR 251. For N&D students with a strong biology/chem background, place them in NUTR 251. For the rest, have them wait until the 2nd semester.
  • Encourage Honors students to take NUTR 251H if it fits in their schedule.

Writing/Speaking (GWS) (select 2)

  • ENGL 15, ENGL 15A, ENGL 30 or ESL 15: Rhetoric and Composition
  • CAS 100A, B, or C: Effective Speech

First-Year Seminar

  • NUTR 123S (1 credit) —AND— PSU 14 First-Year Seminar (1 credit)
    • In place of NUTR 123S, students can take any of the thematic courses offered by the HHD departments including: BBH 123S (1), CSD 297(1), HPA 123S (1), HM 297(1), HDFS 101S (3), KINES 123S (1), NUTR 123S (1) or RPTM 120S (3).
  • BBH 102S (varsity athletes only, to be registered later, 3 credits, fulfills FYS requirement)
  • LEAP and Aurora enrollment are approved subs for FYS. Students enrolled in those programs do not have to schedule a First-Year Seminar and thematic course

Quantification (GQ) (select 1, check ALEKS score first)

  • MATH 21: College Algebra I or MATH 22: College Algebra II is good preparation for CHEM 130 or 110 (taken in 2nd semester) and may also be required as a prerequisite for CHEM based on ALEKS score
  • (or consider for special circumstances) STAT 200: Elementary Statistics or STAT 250: Biostatistics

Natural Science (GN)

  • BIOL 161 and 162: Human Anatomy & Physiology I – Lecture and Lab – required for all three options of this major. If student has not had a second biology course and/or Anatomy and Physiology in high school, consider taking BISC 4: Human Body Form and Function first.
  • If BIOL 161/162/163/164 are not possible, consider CHEM 130 if students are certain they want these options. Encourage them to take CHEM 111 as a supporting course if they are on the fence b/w N&D and Pre-med, PA, OT, Dental school.
  • For students considering med/PA/dental school, consider adding CHEM 110 along with BIOL if ALEKS is 61 or higher and they have recent chemistry experience.
  • Note Regarding Honors Students: Schreyer students should start the Chemistry sequence (CHEM 110 or 130) during their first or second semester to make room for required Honors courses in subsequent semesters.

Social/Behavioral Science (GS) (select 1)

  • PSYCH 100 or HDFS 129 (one or the other is required but not both)

Arts (GA) (select any 1)

  • For Nutrition and Dietetics option, consider choosing one with a US Cultures (US) designation

Humanities (GH) (select any 1)

  • For Nutrition and Dietetics option, consider choosing one with a US Cultures (US) designation, unless one was chosen for GA above

Integrative Studies (also known as Interdomain courses) (select 1)

  • NUTR 175N is required for Behavioral Nutrition and Public Health option (will actually fulfill a major requirement, not Integrative Studies)
  • NUTR 175N is recommended for Nutrition and Dietetics option to fulfill Integrative Studies
  • NUTR 291N

Supporting Courses (select 1)

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