Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism, BA
Degree: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Major: Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism
Program Overview
Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism is the study of nutrients and their metabolic functions. This degree program also prepares students for graduate studies in nutrition or metabolic research or for further training for careers in medicine, dentistry, and other allied health professions.
The BA in Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism is easily combined with majors such as Psychology, Sociology, Chemistry, Biology or Communication Sciences. It will also easily accommodate the requirements of a pre-health curriculum.
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.
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.
- Describe the role of nutrients in biochemical pathways in metabolic regulation and dysregulation and their application to health and disease.
- Critically evaluate and apply scientific literature in nutrition.
- Apply basic statistical concepts to nutrition decision making.
- Integrate and interpret knowledge from foundational sciences in the context of nutrition and metabolism.
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 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 |
| NTRN 452 | Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism | 3 |
| Nutrition Electives: | ||
| Three (3 credit hour) 300-level NTRN courses a | 9 | |
| Additional Required Courses: | ||
| MATH 125 | Math and Calculus Applications for Life, Managerial, and Social Sci I | 4 |
| or MATH 121 | Calculus for Science and Engineering I | |
| MATH 126 | Math and Calculus Applications for Life, Managerial, and Social Sci II | 4 |
| or MATH 122 | Calculus for Science and Engineering II | |
| CHEM 105 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 106 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 113 | Principles of Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 223 | Introductory Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| or CHEM 323 | Organic Chemistry I | |
| CHEM 224 | Introductory Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| or CHEM 324 | Organic Chemistry II | |
| CHEM 233 | Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| CHEM 234 | Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 2 |
| BIOL 214 | Genes, Evolution and Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 215 | Cells and Proteins | 3 |
| BIOL 216 | Development and Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 216L | Development and Physiology Lab | 1 |
| PHYS 115 | Introductory Physics I | 4 |
| or PHYS 121 | General Physics I - Mechanics | |
| PHYS 116 | Introductory Physics II | 4 |
| or PHYS 122 | General Physics II - Electricity and Magnetism | |
| BIOC 307 | Introduction to Biochemistry: From Molecules To Medical Science | 4 |
| BIOC 334 | Structural and Computational Biology | 3 |
| or BIOC 312 | Proteins and Enzymes | |
| or NTRN 454 | Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism: Investigative Methods | |
| Total Credit Hours | 78 | |
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 | ||
| Nutrition Electives: | ||
| Two 300-level NTRN courses c | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 57-58 | |
- a
Please contact the 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
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 | |
| BIOL 214 | Genes, Evolution and Ecology | 3 |
| CHEM 105 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 113 | Principles of Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| MATH 125 | Math and Calculus Applications for Life, Managerial, and Social Sci I | 4 |
| Academic Inquiry Seminar, Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 215 | Cells and Proteins | 3 |
| CHEM 106 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| MATH 126 | Math and Calculus Applications for Life, Managerial, and Social Sci II | 4 |
| NTRN 201 | Nutrition | 3 |
| Academic Inquiry Seminar, Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 216 & 216L | Development and Physiology and Development and Physiology Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 223 | Introductory Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 233 | Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 224 | Introductory Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 234 | Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 2 |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Elective | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOC 307 | Introduction to Biochemistry: From Molecules To Medical Science | 4 |
| NTRN 363 | Human Nutrition I: Energy, Protein, Minerals | 3 |
| PHYS 115 | Introductory Physics I | 4 |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| NTRN 364 | Human Nutrition II: Vitamins | 3 |
| NTRN 397 | Research Methods and Disciplinary Communications in Nutrition | 3 |
| PHYS 116 | Introductory Physics II | 4 |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| NTRN 398 | SAGES Senior Capstone Experience | 3 |
| NTRN 452 | Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism | 3 |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Nutrition Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NTRN 454 | Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism: Investigative Methods | 3 |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Nutrition Electives | 6 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |