BS in Nutrition

The nutrition program has three curricular tracks, each built on a broad foundation of physical, biological, and nutritional sciences. During the first two years of the program, students complete core science courses and begin fulfilling BU Hub requirements—BU’s general education program designed to cultivate interdisciplinary knowledge and skills.

The Nutrition Science track is a pre-health pathway designed to prepare students for medical, dental, veterinary, and other health professional programs. Upon graduation, students are also well-positioned to continue their education in the life sciences or to enter the workforce in areas such as nutrition research and biomedical science.

The Nutrition and Health track combines public health nutrition coursework with a concentration area such as global health, communications, psychology, hospitality administration, or exercising populations. Students may propose a unique concentration in consultation with their faculty advisor.

The Dietetics track is for students interested in becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). The dietetics track is a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Students who successfully complete an ACEND-accredited DPD, a master’s degree, and an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program are eligible to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration national credentialing examination to become an RDN. In many states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information, please visit the ACEND website.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Boston University Programs in Nutrition is to cultivate an environment that fosters the knowledge, skills, and abilities to serve diverse populations. Our programs emphasize critical thinking about the relationship between food, nutrition, and health; effective communication methods; and readiness to contribute to future advancements in the field across clinical, community, research, industry, and communications settings.

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge to Serve Diverse Populations

• Recall the nutritional requirements at each stage of the human life span, including infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy, lactation, and older adulthood.
• Describe strategies that support healthy eating behaviors across diverse populations.
• Discuss global nutrition challenges and potential interventions to address nutrient deficiencies and diet-related health disparities.

2. Critical Thinking about the Relationship between Food, Nutrition, and Health

• Integrate principles of anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry to explain the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of macro- and micronutrients.
• Apply knowledge of life-stage-specific nutrition needs to assess dietary patterns and recommend appropriate nutritional interventions.

3. Effective Communication Skills

• Demonstrate proficiency in written and oral communication for specific populations and contexts.
• Synthesize scientific information to meet the learning needs of diverse populations.

4. Skills for Future Advancement in the Field

• Analyze the biological, behavioral, socioeconomic, and cultural factors that influence dietary intake and nutritional status across one or more life stages.
• Evaluate strategies to support optimal nutrition during critical periods of growth, development, and aging.
• Evaluate the impact of dietary patterns and food choices on chronic disease prevention using evidence-based nutrition science.

BU Hub Requirements

All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in Nutrition will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Quantitative Reasoning, Communication, Scientific and Social Inquiry, Diversity, Civic Engagement, and Global Citizenship, and some elements of the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.

Degree Requirements

All Tracks

A minimum of 128 units with a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation. The GPA must represent a record that contains no more than 16 units of D grades. A student may repeat a course only once to meet the requirement. If courses are repeated, both grades are used to calculate GPA.

Information Specific to the Dietetics Track

The dietetics track includes gateway criteria designed to ensure students are well-prepared to meet the remaining requirements for becoming an RDN. To enter the dietetics track, students must obtain an average grade of C+ (GPA 2.3) in four specific gateway courses: CAS BI 107, CAS BI 108, CAS CH 171, and CAS CH 174. If a C+ average is not obtained, a student may only repeat a course once. Gateway courses completed outside of Boston University must be reviewed and approved for course equivalency by the College of Arts & Sciences. Students meeting all graduation requirements will receive an ACEND Verification Statement documenting completion of DPD requirements.

Curriculum

Each course carries 4 units unless otherwise indicated.

Sargent College Thesis for Distinction

Nutrition students who maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 are eligible to apply for the Sargent College Senior Thesis for Distinction. This opportunity allows students to engage in an in-depth research project within their major or minor, under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Those who successfully fulfill all thesis requirements will graduate with distinction, a designation noted on both their diploma and transcript. Detailed guidelines and eligibility requirements are available here.

Nutrition Summer Study Abroad Opportunity: Italy

The Padua Mediterranean Diet: Food, Culture & Health program immerses students in the food, agriculture, culture, cuisine, and lifestyle of the Mediterranean region while studying evidence-based research on the Mediterranean diet and health outcomes. Students participate in hands-on activities, learn from expert guest lecturers, and take field trips to vineyards, farms, and marketplaces. The course is taught in English at the BU Padua Academic Center. More information is available here.