Nutrition, BA
Degree: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Major: Nutrition
Program Overview
The undergraduate degree in nutrition is appropriate for students who wish to:
- Pursue graduate programs in nutritional biochemistry, dietetics, public health and community nutrition or other biomedical sciences.
- Enter professional schools of dentistry, medicine, physical therapy, or pharmacy.
- Apply to dietetic internships or approved experience programs in order to prepare for the professional practice of dietetics.
- Pursue careers with the government or in the food or pharmaceutical industry.
This major offers flexibility in course selection within a framework of general program requirements. The selection of courses depends on the student’s choice of emphasis. Students wishing to qualify for admission to professional or graduate programs need to include specific courses considered prerequisites for admission.
The BA in Nutrition differs from the BS in Nutrition in one aspect: it does not require CHEM 113 or Statistics.
This degree program offers the opportunity to study the Science of Nutrition in a more flexible way than the BS program. It is particularly well-suited for students who wish to complete a double major, or who are interested in a dual-degree program.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the roles of macronutrients and micronutrients in health and disease and list major food sources of each in the human diet.
- Describe the relationship between nutrition, health and the development of common chronic diseases.
- Explain the ways by which nutrition interventions can be used to prevent and manage common chronic diseases.
- Apply evidence-based dietary guidelines and nutritional assessment tools to nutrition decision making.
- Explore ethical, cultural, and socioeconomic aspects of food production, selection, and preparation.
- Communicate nutritional concepts clearly and effectively to diverse audiences through written, oral, and digital platforms, considering cultural, socioeconomic, and ethical factors.
- Explain how the chemical, physical, and biological properties of foods influence acceptability, storage and spoilage, and nutrient stability.
- Critically evaluate and apply scientific literature in nutrition.
Didactic Program in Dietetics
Students interested in applying to dietetic internships must meet specific course requirements (Didactic Program in Dietetics) as required by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. These requirements are met in the courses that comprise the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). A department advisor should be consulted in the first year to plan the dietetics coursework.
The DPD at Case Western Reserve University is currently granted Accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 800.877.1600.
Undergraduate Policies
For undergraduate policies and procedures, please review the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.
Combined Bachelor's/Master's Programs
Undergraduate students may participate in accelerated programs toward graduate or professional degrees. For more information and details of the policies and procedures related to accelerated studies, please visit the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.
Program Requirements
Students seeking to complete this major and degree program must meet the general requirements for bachelor's degrees and the Unified General Education Requirements. Students completing this program as a secondary major while completing another undergraduate degree program do not need to satisfy the school-specific requirements associated with this major.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Nutrition Courses: | ||
| NTRN 201 | Nutrition | 3 |
| NTRN 342 | Food Science | 3 |
| NTRN 342L | Food Science Lab | 2 |
| NTRN 343 | Dietary Patterns | 3 |
| NTRN 363 | Human Nutrition I: Energy, Protein, Minerals | 3 |
| NTRN 364 | Human Nutrition II: Vitamins | 3 |
| NTRN 397 | Research Methods and Disciplinary Communications in Nutrition | 3 |
| NTRN 398 | SAGES Senior Capstone Experience | 3 |
| Nutrition Electives | ||
| Two (3 credit hour) NTRN courses at 300-level a | 6 | |
| Additional Required Courses: | ||
| CHEM 105 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 106 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 223 | Introductory Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| BIOC 307 | Introduction to Biochemistry: From Molecules To Medical Science | 4 |
| BIOL 214 | Genes, Evolution and Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 216 | Development and Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 216L | Development and Physiology Lab | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours | 49 | |
Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)a
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| NTRN 201 | Nutrition | 3 |
| NTRN 337 | Nutrition Communication, Counseling and Behavior Change Strategies b | 3 |
| NTRN 342 | Food Science | 3 |
| NTRN 342L | Food Science Lab | 2 |
| NTRN 343 | Dietary Patterns | 3 |
| NTRN 350 | Community Nutrition | 3 |
| NTRN 351 | Food Service Systems Management b | 3 |
| NTRN 363 | Human Nutrition I: Energy, Protein, Minerals | 3 |
| or NTRN 433 | Advanced Human Nutrition I | |
| NTRN 364 | Human Nutrition II: Vitamins | 3 |
| or NTRN 434 | Advanced Human Nutrition II | |
| NTRN 365 | Nutrition for the Prevention and Management of Disease: Pathophysiology | 4 |
| BIOC 307 | Introduction to Biochemistry: From Molecules To Medical Science b | 3-4 |
| or BIOC 405 | Principles of Biochemistry: An Introduction to the Molecules of Life | |
| BIOL 216 | Development and Physiology | 3 |
| or BIOL 340 & BIOL 346 | Human Physiology and Human Anatomy | |
| BIOL 343 | Microbiology b | 3 |
| CHEM 223 | Introductory Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| SOCI 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| ANTH 215 | Health, Culture, and Disease: An Introduction to Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| or SOCI 311 | Health, Illness, and Social Behavior | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Statistical Analysis in the Social Sciences | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Psychology | ||
| Statistical Methods I | ||
| Social Statistics b | ||
| Basic Statistics for Social and Life Sciences | ||
| Basic Statistics for Engineering and Science | ||
| Statistics for Experimenters | ||
| UGER Experience Portfolio | ||
| Two (3 credit hour) NTRN courses at 300-level c | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 57-58 | |
- a
Please contact DPD Director in Department of Nutrition to confirm DPD courses and other requirements.
- b
Students may take the 400-level version of this 300/400 course to satisfy this requirement.
- c
Excluding NTRN 341, NTRN 370, NTRN 380, NTRN 397, and NTRN 398.
Concentrations
Each optional concentration is defined by three 3-credit hour courses. The three required courses are specifically defined for the following concentrations: Nutrition for Women and Children; Lifestyle and Preventive Medicine; Sports Nutrition. For the Clinical Nutrition concentration, students must select three courses from a distinct list of six elective courses. Students can satisfy the requirements of an optional concentration by choosing their elective nutrition courses appropriately.
Nutrition for Women and Children
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NTRN 320 | Women's Wellness: From Food and Nutrition to Reproductive Health and Aging | 3 |
| NTRN 328 | Child Nutrition, Development and Health | 3 |
| NTRN 350 | Community Nutrition | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Lifestyle and Preventive Medicine
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NTRN 300 | Healthy Lifestyles as Preventive Medicine | 3 |
| NTRN 310 | Understanding Plant-Based Diets in Health and Disease | 3 |
| NTRN 341 | Food as Medicine: How What We Eat Influences How We Feel, Think, and Our Health Status | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Sports Nutrition
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NTRN 338 | Dietary Supplements | 3 |
| NTRN 362 | Exercise Physiology and Macronutrient Metabolism | 3 |
| NTRN 388 | Sports & Performance Nutrition | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 9 | |
Clinical Nutrition
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose three of the following: | 9-10 | |
| Women's Wellness: From Food and Nutrition to Reproductive Health and Aging | ||
| Child Nutrition, Development and Health | ||
| Nutrition Communication, Counseling and Behavior Change Strategies | ||
| Obesity - Addressing the Epidemic through Nutrition, Drugs, and Bariatric Surgery | ||
| Nutrition for the Prevention and Management of Disease: Pathophysiology | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 9-10 | |
Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| CHEM 105 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| BIOL 214 | Genes, Evolution and Ecology | 3 |
| Academic Inquiry Seminar, Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NTRN 201 | Nutrition | 3 |
| CHEM 106 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| Academic Inquiry Seminar, Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 223 | Introductory Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| BIOL 216 | Development and Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 216L | Development and Physiology Lab | 1 |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Department Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| NTRN 343 | Dietary Patterns | 3 |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NTRN 342 | Food Science | 3 |
| NTRN 342L | Food Science Lab | 2 |
| NTRN 363 | Human Nutrition I: Energy, Protein, Minerals | 3 |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| NTRN 364 | Human Nutrition II: Vitamins | 3 |
| NTRN 397 | Research Methods and Disciplinary Communications in Nutrition | 3 |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NTRN 398 | SAGES Senior Capstone Experience | 3 |
| BIOC 307 | Introduction to Biochemistry: From Molecules To Medical Science | 4 |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |