Nutrition Science

• Medical Physician
• Physicians' Assistant
• Dentist
• Physical Therapist
• Chiropractor
• Research Technologist
• Pharmacist

PROGRAM DEFINITION
Would you like to pursue a career as a medical physician, physicians' assistant, dentist, physical therapist, or a chiropractor? The Nutrition Science option provides students an opportunity to intensively study the biological and physical sciences as a basis for understanding the science of nutrition. This pre-professional major allows students to meet admissions requirements for most professional health care programs while obtaining a bachelor's degree in a closely related health care area.

UNL POINTS OF DIFFERENCE

• Nationally and internationally recognized faculty
• Challenging curriculum tailored to meet each student's educational plan of study
• Hands-on research experience working with a faculty member in your area of interest
• Pre-professional requirements for most healthcare and research professions
• Comprehensive preparation for graduate education

FACILITIES
The Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences is located in Ruth Leverton Hall on East Campus. This facility contains:

• Research laboratories for the study of molecular nutrition
• Research laboratories for the study of nutritional biochemistry and physiology
• State-of-the-art analytical equipment and research technology
• Computer laboratories for nutrient analysis of food

PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS

• Pre-professional admission requirements and preparation information should be received at the Arts and Sciences Advising Center
• Only grades of C or above will count toward graduation requirements for department classes
• Maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA to remain in good standing in the College of Education and Human Sciences

Why would I want to choose the Nutrition Science (Pre-professional) Option?
The Nutrition Science major provides you with the opportunity to intensively study the biological and physical sciences as a basis for understanding the science of nutrition. This pre-professional major will allow you to meet the admissions requirements for most professional health care programs while obtaining a bachelor's degree in a closely related health care area. This option will also prepare you to enter graduate programs in nutrition. Employment opportunities include research laboratories and pharmaceutical sales.

How can I locate information related to requirements for pre-professional programs?
The admission requirements for pre-professional programs vary and may change from year to year. Admission to professional programs are competitive. Students need to be aware of not only specific course requirements but also entrance exams, admission deadlines, research and volunteer opportunities, and other activities that enhance the application. Information on requirements and preparation for professional programs can be obtained at the Arts and Sciences Advising Center, 107 Oldfather Hall (402/472-4190). http://ascweb.unl.edu/academics/preprof.html

Along with comprehensive education courses the following are requirements for the Nutrition Science option:
Nutrition and Health Sciences (20 credit hours)
*only grades of C or above will count toward graduation requirements for NUTR courses

• NUTR 250 Human Nutrition & Metabolism
• NUTR 344 Food & Nutrition for Healthy Living
• NUTR 401 Health Behavior OR NUTR 403 Physiological Foundations of Health & Disease
• NUTR 450 Medical Nutrition Therapy I
• NUTR 452 Medical Nutrition Therapy II
• NUTR 452L Medical Nutrition Therapy II Lab
• NUTR 455 Advanced Nutrition
• NUTR 457 Classroom & Outreach Exp. in Food & Nutrition OR NUTR 498 Research Experiences

• BIOS 102 Cell Structure & Function
• CHEM 110 General Chemistry II OR CHEM 114 Fundamental Chemistry II & CHEM 116 Quantitative Chem Lab
• CHEM 251 Organic Chem. & CHEM 253 Organic Chem. Lab.
• BIOS 213/213L Human Physiology
• BIOS 214 Nursing Anatomy
• BIOS 312 Fund. of Microbiology & BIOS 314 Microbiology Lab
• BIOC 431 Biomolecules & Metabolism
• PHYS 141 Elementary General Physics & PHYS 142 Elementary General Physics OR PHYS 211 General Physics & PHYS 212 General Physics

The curriculum includes supporting discipline courses emphasizing biology, microbiology, physiology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, mathematics and electives to meet the requirements of a professional program or the interest of the student. Nutrition courses will include the areas of nutrient metabolism, role of nutrition in health promotion, community nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, and food science. The option provides sufficient flexibility to meet the particular career goals of the student.