Nutrition and Wellness Majors

Launch your career with one of our nutrition and wellness majors!

In the foreground, two small red strawberries grow on a bush, while the background suggests a greenhouse.

A degree from the School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness prepares you for a successful career in a wide variety of fields, including dietetics, healthcare, public policy, research, product development, and more!

B.S. IN NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES

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A major in Nutritional Sciences will help you launch a thriving career in dietetics, food product development, food management, sports nutrition, and more. It's also a great launchpad for graduate studies in other healthcare fields!

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B.S. IN NUTRITION AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE

A major in Nutrition and Human Performance will train you to help people maximize their health and physical performance across the lifespan by combining nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral change.

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B.S. IN PRECISION NUTRITION AND WELLNESS

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A major in Precision Nutrition and Wellness will empower you to lead the precision nutrition revolution, with training in fields as diverse as nutrition, genetics, medicine, biochemistry, and more!

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B.S. in Nutritional Sciences - All Campuses


FASCINATED BY FOOD? YOU CAN MAJOR IN THAT.

Turn your passion for health and fitness into a rewarding career. The Nutritional Sciences program at the University of Arizona provides an interdisciplinary approach to learning about food, nutritional therapies, and optimal wellness. It will prepare you to launch a career after graduation or to pursue graduate programs in dietetics, nursing, pharmacy, medicine, and other healthcare fields.

TWO OPTIONS: DIETETICS OR NUTRITION

We offer a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences with two options to choose from: Dietetics and Nutrition. Both options provide students with a strong foundation in the sciences and a wide variety of nutrition courses. Both options are offered on Main campus, Yuma, and in AZ Online.
 

DIETETICS EMPHASIS   NUTRITION EMPHASIS


NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES - DIETETICS EMPHASIS


Program Overview:

The Nutrition Sciences and Wellness Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at the University of Arizona is an accredited program by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The DPD program is delivered at 3 unique campuses (UA Main, UA Yuma and Arizona Online). Additionally, an Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP) is available in two tracks: UA Main - Tucson and a Distance option.

How to become an RDN:

The first step in becoming an RDN is to graduate from an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited program. Additionally, students who complete the University of Arizona DPD Program and demonstrate successful completion of ACEND required knowledge requirements will receive a verification statement. A DPD Verification Statement is required to apply to an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship program and for eligibility to write for the registration examination for dietitian nutritionists and nutrition and dietetics technicians.

Steps for Becoming a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist:

  • Earn a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. 
  • Complete the required dietetics coursework at a program which has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
  • All students who plan to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program must have or be able to earn a verification statement that stipulates that the student has completed the program issuing the verification statement's required coursework.
  • Apply and complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program after completing all prerequisite dietetics coursework.
  • Complete and pass a national registration examination given by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
  • Gain licensure in your state, if applicable.
  • After earning the RDN credential, maintain knowledge through continuing education.

In most cases, the student will take dietetics coursework and apply those credits towards their degree in Nutritional Sciences. In some cases, a student earns a degree in a different field and returns to school to complete DPD courses only, without earning an additional degree in Nutritional Sciences.

State Licensure:

It is ACEND's considered opinion that the program is designed to and does meet all state dietetics licensure and certification laws as some states may interpret their statutes differently. More information about state licensure is available at this link: State Licensure.

For more information on pathways to earn the RDN credential:

For more information on how to earn the DTR credential:

*The dietetics option at the University of Arizona is a nationally accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606, (800) 877-1600; (312) 899-0040 ext 5400, email: education@eatright.org. Program outcomes data are available upon request.

Please review our DPD/ISPP Handbook for details including program mission, goals and objectives, the process to become a registered dietitian nutritionist, costs, and other pertinent details. *DPD Program outcome data are available upon request.

Mission:

The mission of the program is to prepare program graduates with the foundation knowledge and skills in dietetics to become competent graduates prepared for supervised practice and entry-level practice as registered dietitians nutritionist serving diverse populations worldwide.

Goals:

*Program outcome data are available upon request (ACEND Required Element 9.3c).

Goal #1: Graduates will be prepared for entry into supervised practice, graduate programs, or the workforce in nutrition or a related field.

DPD Objectives:

Program Completion

  • At least 80% of students complete program/degree requirements within 3 years (150% of the program length).

Graduate Application and Acceptance into Supervised Practice

  • At least 50% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
  • Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 50% are admitted within 12 months of graduation.

Graduate Performance on Registration Exam

  • The program-s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.

 

Goal #2: Graduates will successfully apply skill in evidence-based practice, problem-solving, and cultural humility and inclusivity during supervised practice, graduate school, or nutrition-related careers.

Satisfaction with Graduate Performance:

  • 80% of DPD graduates within the last three years who return the alumni survey will rate the program as "excellent" or "good" in preparing them for supervised practice, graduate school or entry-level practice in nutrition or a related field.
  • 80% of Supervised Practice Program Directors who return the Program Directors Survey will rate the DPD graduates as "excellent" or "outstanding" in preparation for supervised practice.
  • 80% of DPD graduating seniors will rate the overall quality of the program as "excellent" or "good."

Additional Objectives:

  • 80% of Supervised Practice Program Directors who return the DI Director Survey will rate the graduate's level of knowledge and/or skill as "excellent" or "outstanding" in the areas of evidence-based practice, problem solving and cultural humility.
  • 80% of DPD Graduates within the last two years who return the alumni survey will rate how well the program prepared them in the areas of evidence-based practice, problem solving and cultural humility and inclusivity as "excellent" or "good."

Applying and being accepted into the University of Arizona allows students to pursue the Nutritional Sciences degree and the Dietetics Program. There is no additional application process to the DPD.

Completion of an online application is required to apply to the University of Arizona, and a single online application is used for admission to UA Main Campus programs, University of Arizona Online and UA Yuma. There are separate applications for freshman and transfer students, as well as for students seeking readmission and non-degree status.

For access to the online application system visit the following websites: https://admissions.arizona.edu/ONLINEAPPLICATION/ or online.arizona.edu. Specific admissions requirements are indicated.

To complete and meet all of the DPD requirements for a verification statement, a student must:

  • Earn (or have previously earned), at the minimum, a bachelor's degree.
  • Complete all UA DPD courses or accepted equivalent courses from accredited universities (See DPD Course List). The required DPD courses for the verification statement equal a total of 88 units of academic credit. Only courses with a grade of C or better will be accepted for transfer.
  • Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or better, including UArizona and any transfer courses, or at the discretion of the DPD director.

Core Courses: Any student wishing to obtain a verification statement from the University of Arizona will be required to complete the following Core courses regardless of whether equivalents have been taken elsewhere in order to be eligible to obtain a verification statement: NSC 325, 325L, 425, 435, 444, 458 and either 308 or 408 (this will be determined by your NSC academic advisor).

Recency Policy: Transcripts will also be reviewed for recency of coursework completion. Coursework completed prior to the time limits are outlined below will need to be repeated:

  • Stats, English, Gen-Eds, NSC elective(s) and Science Elective: No time-limit
  • Math (112), Sciences: 8 years
  • Chemistry: 8 years
    • If the student has completed the first course of the chemistry sequence one semester prior to the 8-year recency policy, we will allow for the course to count toward DPD requirements
  • All NSC courses: 6 years

International coursework: The following required DPD courses will not be accepted from an institution outside of the United States because they include content that is specific to dietetics practice guidelines for practice in the United States: Nutrition and the Lifecycle (NSC 301), Foundations in Medical Nutrition Therapy (NSC 325), Medical Nutrition Therapy I (NSC 425), Medical Nutrition Therapy II (NSC 435), Community Nutrition (NSC 444), Food Service Organization & Management (NSC 458).

International transcripts must be evaluated by an ACEND-approved foreign degree evaluation agency prior to being evaluated by the School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness.

Non-degree seeking students: Our Undergraduate Certificate for Didactic Program in Dietetics will allow you to earn a DPD Verification Statement as a non-degree seeking student. You must have a previous bachelor's degree or equivalent in order to pursue our certificate program. The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Verification Statement verifies completion of a minimum of 88 units of educational requirements and is required for application to accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) programs. A minimum of 24 units of coursework must be completed at the University of Arizona in order to receive a verification statement.

Students holding a Bachelor's degree or equivalent can request a transcript review by the program director or a designated appointee (such as an academic advisor). DPD course deficiencies that are identified must be completed before a Verification Statement will be awarded. At the discretion of the director, DPD course requirements may be substituted or waived based on the collective experiences of the individual student, such as in work history or prior coursework. All non-degree seeking students will be required to complete the following courses in order to obtain a verification statement: NSC 325/325L, 425, 435, 444, 458 and either 308 or 408.

Transfer Credit Process: As you begin the application process, it is important that coursework completed at other institutions is evaluated as soon as possible. Below is the list of courses that are needed as a foundation before you begin upper-division coursework.

Course Subjects: University of Arizona Requirement
General Chemistry I CHEM 151
General Chemistry II CHEM 152
General Biology I MCB 181R/L
Microbiology MIC 205A/L
Organic Chemistry I CHEM 241A
Anatomy & Physiology I PSIO 201
Anatomy & Physiology II PSIO 202
Biochemistry BIOC 384 or BIOC 385
College Algebra, or any pre-calculus / Calculus MATH 112, etc.

If you believe you have completed equivalent courses at another institution, you'll need to provide syllabi to determine their transferability. Any courses on the above list taken greater than what is outlined in the recency policy will need to be retaken.

  1. Collect syllabi from the institution(s) where you took the course(s)
  2. Submit the Course Equivalency form for each course you'd like to be evaluated.
  3. Our Transfer Articulation Office will evaluate each course.

Students who are taking courses within our DPD program that they intend to transfer back to their home institution must meet our prerequisite and recency policies. Additionally, students who are transferring to UArizona to complete their DPD verification statement must have their transfer courses reviewed for equivalency. Even if a course is evaluated as equivalent, the student must work with the DPD Director to assure they satisfy DPD program requirement for any KRDNs aligning with a transfer course.

To receive a Verification Statement upon graduation, students must successfully complete all DPD degree requirements and demonstrate achievement of each KRDN.

  • Students must meet the minimum passing score determined for each assessment method to demonstrate competency for the KRDN.
  • If a student does not meet the minimum score required for a KRDN in the course on the first attempt, the student will be offered the opportunity for remediation by the instructor before the end of the semester.
  • Students are responsible for reaching out their instructor within 1 week of the grade being posted to discuss a remediation plan if necessary.
  • Remediation will require additional work but will not change the original grade in the course.
  • Remediation may include any of the following:
    • The student may be offered a different assignment that demonstrates the required knowledge.
    • The student may re-submit the assignment or section of the assignment to demonstrate the required knowledge.
    • Other remediation efforts may be considered based on instructor discretion.
  • If a student does not achieve the minimum score after a first attempt for remediation, the course instructor will notify the DPD Director and a second remediation plan will be agreed upon by the DPD Director, student and instructor of record for the course.
  • If a student does not complete their opportunity for remediation or does not respond to attempts by the instructor to provide remediation, the course instructor will notify the DPD Director for further action.
  • A Verification Statement will not be awarded unless the student demonstrates achievement of all required KRDNs before graduation.

Any student wishing to obtain a verification statement from the University of Arizona will be required to complete the following Core courses regardless of whether equivalents have been taken elsewhere in order to be eligible to obtain a Verification Statement: NSC 325, 325L, 425, 435, 444, 458 and either 308 or 408 (this will be determined by your NSC academic advisor). Please be advised that students who are pursuing a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences: Dietetics degree will be required to complete all courses on the degree checklist.

Transcripts will also be reviewed for recency of coursework completion. Coursework completed prior to the time limits as outlined below will need to be repeated:

  • Stats, English, Gen-Eds, NSC elective(s) and Science Elective: No time-limit.
  • Math (112), Sciences: 8 years
  • Chemistry courses: 8 years
    • If the student has completed the first course of the chemistry sequence one semester prior to the 8 year policy, we will allow for the course to count toward DPD requirements.
  • All NSC courses: 6 years
    (NOTE: All above parameters apply to courses completed within NSW DPD program as well as transfer courses)

Students in the DPD program are required to meet and complete a series of Knowledge Requirement for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (KRDN) to receive a verification statement upon graduation. KRDNs prepare students with the necessary knowledge to enter a dietetics supervised practice internship. KRDNs are measured in several DPD courses. In each course that fulfills a KRDN requirement, an assignment, quiz or activity is aligned to that KRND and a minimum passing score is identified to demonstrate competency.

Registered dietitians work in a wide variety of settings, including healthcare, business, community, education, school systems, research, government and private practice.

Many work environments, particularly those in medical and healthcare settings, require that an individual be credentialed as an RDN.

Average tuition for the full-tome student varies each academic year. Tuition rates are listed for both Arizona residents and out-of-state students on the Bursar's Office website. All tuition and fee schedules are subject to change from semester to semester. Tuition costs differ between UA Main, UA Yuma and Arizona Online campuses and are reflected on the tuition calculator.

Some labs require additional fees per semester.

In addition to tuition, course and laboratory fees and textbook costs, the student in dietetics can expect to incur some additional expenses. Additional costs to undergraduates include:

  • Student ID: $25
  • Parking: $479 - $726 (UA Main Campus students only)
  • Program Fee: $250 per semester (UA Main Campus students only)
  • Student memberships: $68 (optional - national and state membership $58; district membership: $10)

All important dates and deadlines are available in the online Academic Calendar.

Generally, fall semester starts in mid/late-August and end in early/mid-December. Spring semester begins in mid-January and end in mid-May. The first summer session is generally the month of June and the second summer session is the month of July. There is also pre-session, which is the three weeks between May graduation and the beginning of first summer session in June. Winter session is the time between December graduation and the beginning of spring semester in January. Holiday closures will follow the official UA Holiday Schedule.

Students are encouraged to meet with their Academic Advisors regularly throughout their undergraduate career.

All degree-seeking students are eligible to apply for federal aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.

For students enrolled in the DPD, college and school scholarships are available and awarded on a competitive basis using criteria such as scholastic achievement and financial need. A single application can be submitted for a pool of scholarships available in the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences using the Scholarship Universe Portal. Scholarship Universe is the University's scholarship matching portal, and it is used to match students to opportunities they are eligible for.

Scholarships for dietetics students at all levels of study are also available through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation.


NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES - NUTRITION EMPHASIS


Program Overview:

The Nutrition Emphasis allows you to customize your degree program while taking many of the same science foundation and core nutrition course requirements as the dietetics option. You may take additional math and science courses required by professional schools like medical, dental, physician assistant, and physical therapy programs. Or, you may want to incorporate accounting, economics, and food service courses for an emphasis on food service management. This option does not meet the dietetics requirements to be eligible to complete a dietetic internship immediately upon graduation.

The Bachelor of Science with a major in Nutritional Sciences (Dietetics or Nutrition) requires students to apply for advanced standing to finish upper division requirements in their degree. Once students have completed the necessary required courses and have a 2.00 requirement cumulative GPA, students are eligible to submit their application for advanced standing. Please check with your academic advisor to determine the best timing for your academic plan. The information below applies to both the dietetic emphasis and nutrition emphasis.

Note: For the BS degree, this process replaces our previous Pre-Nutritional Sciences major process.

Advanced Standing is a non-competitive process for students within the Nutritional Sciences major. Typically, if the student has met the GPA and course requirements and submits an application with additional documents, they will achieve Advanced Standing.

The School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness may deny Advanced Standing to any student who does not exhibit the academic integrity, respectful discourse, and professional engagement expected of Nutritional Sciences students.

Consideration for Advanced Standing only occurs upon receipt of all required materials - including but not limited to the application form, resume, statement of objectives (if required), relevant documentation, etc.

Students will receive notice of their Advanced Standing application via their University of Arizona student email account upon completion of the review process.

Advanced Standing Application Eligibility Requirements

  • University of Arizona cumulative GPA of 2.000 or higher
  • Completion of all requisite coursework.
    • You must be currently enrolled in your final prerequisite requirements this term.
  • Exhibiting appropriate behavior expected of nutritional sciences and wellness students, including but not limited to, strong academic integrity, respectful discourse, and professional engagement in all college, university and community environments.
  • After confirming your eligibility, follow the steps outlined below.
  • Visit the SNAC D2L portal to obtain the application or email your Nutrition advisor.

Careers in nutrition allow you to empower people to lead healthier lives, but the way you do that is up to you. Potential career paths include:

  • Medicine, Pharmacy, and Physical Therapy
  • Public Health Nutrition
  • Education and Research
  • Food and Nutrition Program Management
  • Health Coach
  • Spokesperson
  • Public Policy / Government

B.S. in Nutrition and Human Performance - Main Campus 


DRIVEN TO OPTIMIZE HEALTH AND FITNESS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN? YOU CAN MAJOR IN THAT.

Nutrition and physical activity are at the heart of human performance, in athletics, in the arts, and in daily life. With a B.S. in Nutrition and Human Performance, you'll be prepared to help people maximize their lives, promote healthy aging, and prevent chronic illness. Your coursework will build a strong foundation in nutrition, exercise, and behavioral sciences, and you'll learn how to combine them to improve quality of life at every stage. When you graduate, you'll be ready for a career in the health and fitness industry, community health and wellness, and more - or to pursue graduate studies in physical therapy, exercise physiology, and related health sciences.

The B.S. in Nutrition and Human Performance combines core courses in body composition, sports nutrition, exercise physiology, and health promotion with elective courses in business management and leadership, behavioral science, teaching and coaching, among others.

CORE COURSES:

  • NSC 101: Introduction to Human Nutrition
  • NSC 206: Introduction to Nutrition and Human Performance
  • NSC 308: Nutrition and Metabolism
  • NSC 315: Sports Nutrition
  • NSC 320: Nutrition, Exercise, and Health Promotion
  • NSC 306: Nutrition and Exercise Physiology
  • NSC 396A: Survey of Nutrition Careers
  • NSC 396B: Preparation for Careers in Nutrition & Human Performance
  • NSC 415R: Advanced Sports Nutrition
  • NSC 415L: Advanced Sports Nutrition Lab
  • NSC 445: Assessment of Regulation of Human Body Composition
  • NSC 498: Capstone

SCIENCE COURSES:

  • Chemistry
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Biology
  • Physics

ELECTIVE AREAS:

  • Business, Management, and Leadership Electives
  • Behavioral Electives
  • Teaching / Coaching Electives
  • Diversity, Inclusivity, and Ethics Electives
  • Health Sciences Electives

NUTRITION & HUMAN PERFORMANCE CHECKLIST

A degree in Nutrition and Human Performance will equip you for a career helping people optimize their health and fitness, or to pursue graduate studies in physical and occupational therapy and other health sciences. Potential career paths include:

  • Personal Training
  • Fitness and Wellness Coordination (for gyms, sports facilities, spas, schools, etc.)
  • Nutrition, Wellness, and Fitness Coaching
  • Physical Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Healthcare (doctor, nurse, etc.)

Further education or certification may be required for some careers.

Contact an Academic Advisor! You can set up an advising appointment through eSMS.

CONTACT AN ADVISOR


B.S. in Precision Nutrition and Wellness - Main Campus


WANT TO REVOLUTIONIZE HEALTH AND WELLNESS? YOU CAN MAJOR IN THAT.

We're at the cusp of a revolution in health and wellness, one where we'll be able to move away from the frantic race to cure diseases toward an approach that prevents diseases before they strike. With a B.S. in Precision Nutrition and Wellness, you'll gain the skills to apply big data solutions originally developed for medicine and cancer treatment to better understand precision health from a holistic perspective. In this science-intensive, transdisciplinary degree, you'll take courses in genomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, and transcriptomics to build a strong foundation in data sciences and the research and technologies shaping modern healthcare. You'll also develop the knowledge and skills you'll need to better understand how lifestyle changes improve health outcomes, which will prepare you to lead the nutrition-based disease prevention efforts of the future.

The B.S. in Precision Nutrition and Wellness includes a core of required courses along with major electives, combining a solid foundation in nutritional sciences and precision nutrition with coursework in data analytics and technology, health and wellness, human evolution and genetics, and scientific ethics.

CORE COURSES:

  • NSC 101: Introduction to Human Nutrition
  • NSC 260: Nutrition Communications and Scientific Literacy
  • NSC 275: Fundamentals of Precision Nutrition and Wellness
  • NSC 308: Nutrition and Metabolism
  • NSC 351R: Fundamentals of Food Science
  • NSC 370: Emerging Topics in Precision Nutrition and Wellness
  • NSC 408: Nutritional Biology
  • NSC 470: Biomarkers and Disease Status
  • NSC 475: Nutrigenomics for the Study of Disease Prevention & Intervention
  • NSC 485: Precision Nutrition & Lifestyle Genomics

ELECTIVE COURSES:

ELECTIVE TRACK: Data Analytics & Technology (9 units)

  • BE 310: Introduction to Biosystem Analytics
  • CSC 250: Essential Computing for the Sciences
  • ECOL 346: Bioinformatics
  • PLS 340: Introduction to Biotechnology
  • MCB 416A: Statistical Bioinformatics and Functional Genomic Analysis
  • MCB 422: Problem Solving with Genetic Tools

ELECTIVE TRACK: Health & Wellness (9 units)

  • NSC 301: Nutrition and the Life Cycle
  • NSC 310: Principles of Human Nutrition in Health and Disease
  • NSC 320: Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Health Problems
  • NSC 444: Community Nutrition

ELECTIVE TRACK: Diet & Genes (9 units)

  • FSHD 200: Evolution and Human Development
  • ECOL 320: Genetics
  • NSC 375: Diet, Genes, and Disease
  • NROS 430: Neurogenetics
  • BE 487: Metagenomics: From Genes to Ecosystems

ELECTIVE TRACK: Ethics (3 units)

  • FSHD 347: Neuroethics
  • MCB 404: Bioethics
  • PHIL 321: Medical Ethics

PRECISION NUTRITION & WELLNESS CHECKLIST

Your degree will prepare you to make your mark in a wide range of fields, from biomedical research, to healthcare, to sports and fitness, and more. Potential career paths include:

  • Biomedical Research
  • Healthcare (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician's assistant, etc.)
  • Nutrition Professions (clinical dietetics, private practice)
  • Genetic and Genomic Counseling
  • Fitness Professions
  • Business and Industry
  • Public Health / Public Policy

Further education or certification may be required for some careers.

Contact an Academic Advisor! You can set up an advising appointment through eSMS.

CONTACT AN ADVISOR