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

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.

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.

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)

Students are encouraged to enroll in a MATH course their first semester to keep working on their math skills and set them up for success in CHEM. If they lack confidence in their math and chemistry skills, the best thing to do is start working on them immediately.

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)

Click here for a Printable version of this guide. Download Click here for a Printable version of this guide.