About the major
Nutrition education at UT Austin encompasses a wide range of areas, from the roles of electrons, atoms, molecules, genes, cells, organs and complex organisms in biological life processes to the links between life science and health, behavior, education, population, culture and economics.
Students may pursue a bachelor’s of science and arts or a bachelor’s of science in nutrition.
Learn more about nutrition for undergraduates
Options
Within the bachelor’s of science there are several options to select from.
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Dietetics: Designed for students who want to work in healthcare or careers providing nutrition services and counseling to individuals and groups, this degree option combines basic coursework in nutritional science with additional courses in applied nutrition and food systems management to provide the academic preparation required for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential. This is Nutrition, option 1.
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Nutritional Sciences: Includes courses in science and research in order to prepare students for graduate study or professional school. Graduates may seek employment in private or publicly funded research programs or, upon completion of graduate study, may engage in college or university teaching or nutrition research. This option also allows students to fulfill requirements for postgraduate study in medicine, dentistry and related fields. This is Nutrition, option 2.
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Nutrition and Public Health: Designed to prepare students for entry-level positions at state and other health departments, in research and in industry, this option equips students for entry into graduate programs in nutrition or other public health disciplines at schools of public health, at graduate schools in the biomedical sciences and for entry into medical or other health professional schools as well as for those who pursue health and research careers. This is Nutrition, option 3.
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International Nutrition: Students in this option gain first-hand knowledge of nutrition issues in another country through a study abroad experience. Students combine the study of nutrition with a broad range of courses to better understand the influences on nutrition and health in other cultures. This is Nutrition, option 6.
Students may also opt for nutrition honors (option 5) or to take an advanced program of study with honors (option 4), or for a B.S.A. degree. For more options, please see All Undergraduate Programs.
Courses Nutrition Students Take
Get a sense for some of the courses that many of our majors take below. A more complete list for each catalog may be found when you search for your degree option by the year of entry or catalog.
Entry-Level Requirements
Natural Sciences students declare a degree and a major after receiving passing grades in key courses. For nutrition, these are typically:
- Math/Statistics: Differential Calculus for Science (M 408N) or Foundations of Data Analysis (SDS 302F)
- Chemistry: Principles of Chemistry (CH 301/302) and Introduction to Chemical Practices (CH 204)
- Biology: Introductory Biology I (BIO 311C)
- Core Nutrition: Intro Nutritional Sciences w/ Lab (NTR 312 & 112L)
Examples of Courses
Students take additional courses in nutrition and other disciplines, such as:
- Organic Chemistry
- Genetics and Human Systems Physiology
- Intermediate Nutrition and Metabolism with Lab
- Issues in Nutrition and Health
- Vitamins and Minerals
- Nutrition research
- Fundamentals of Biochemistry