Nutrition Science Track
Our 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. View the curriculum and degree requirements below.
Make sure to review the BU Hub requirements when planning your schedule.
Curriculum
First Year
Fall
CAS BI107: Biology 1
For students who plan to major in the natural sciences or environmental science, and for premedical students. Required for biology majors. No prerequisite. The evolution and diversity of life; principles of ecology; behavioral biology. Three hours lecture, three hours lab including several field studies. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking, Research and Information Literacy. (Credits: 4)
CAS CH101: General Chemistry 1
Undergraduate Prerequisites: two years of high school algebra. - For science majors and minors who require a two-semester general chemistry course, but have little prior experience with chemistry. Topics include: atoms and molecules; quantum theory and atomic structure, chemical periodicity; bonding in diatomic and polyatomic molecules; stoichiometry and introduction to reactions in aqueous solutions; properties of gases; and thermochemistry and the first law of thermodynamics. Laboratory exercises include basic training in lab safety and handling of chemical and experiments complementing the lectures, such as investigations of the size of an atom, gas laws, thermochemistry, and quantum aspects. Students must register for the following three (3) course components: lecture, discussion, and laboratory. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I. (Credits: 4)
CAS PS101: General Psychology
Basic introduction to field of psychology; topics include theories and findings governing learning, memory, perception, development, personality, social and abnormal psychology. Three hours large lecture and one hour discussion section or three hours of small lecture class with no discussion sections. Students are required to participate as subjects in psychology studies. 4 cr. either sem. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Critical Thinking. Effective Fall 2019, this course will fulfill a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Critical Thinking, Ethical Reasoning. (Credits: 4)
CAS WR120: First-Year Writing Seminar
Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASWR 112, placement results, or transfer credit for WR 02TR (for English language learners only). - Topic-based seminar in critical reading and writing. Engagement with a variety of sources and practice in writing in a range of genres with particular attention to argumentation, prose style, and revision, informed by reflection and feedback, including individual conferences. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: First-Year Writing Seminar. (Credits: 4)
SAR HP150: First-Year Sargent Seminar
This course is designed to facilitate successful integration into Sargent College for first-year students. Resources and guidelines will be made available to aid first-year students in making informed academic decisions while clarifying and enhancing the students' experiences with the Boston University community. Interaction with faculty and student leaders is provided. (Credits: 0)
SAR HP151: Introduction to Health Professions
Through readings, discussion and written work, we explore the functions of the health and rehabilitation disciplines. An introduction to the health care system and social impact of health and disability is also considered especially with respect to allocation of resources to improve outcomes. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Oral and/or Signed Communication. (Credits: 2)
Spring
CAS BI108: Biology 2
For students planning to major in the natural sciences and for premedical students. Required for biology majors. It is strongly recommended students complete CAS CH 101 (or equivalent) before this course. High school biology is assumed. Biochemistry, cell & molecular biology, Mendelian & molecular genetics, physiology, and neurobiology. Three hours lecture, three hours lab. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry II, Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking, Teamwork/Collaboration. (Credits: 4)
CAS CH102: General Chemistry 2
Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASCH 101. - Second semester general chemistry for students who have completed CAS CH101. Topics include: properties of solids and liquids; colligative properties; chemical kinetics; equilibrium; acids, bases, and buffers; solubility and precipitation; electrochemistry; and spontaneity, free energy, and the second law of thermodynamics. Laboratory exercises include experiments complementing the lectures, such as investigations of the freezing point of solutions, kinetics, acid-base titrations, and electrochemistry. Students must have completed CASCH 101 prior to enrolling in CAS CH 102. Students must register for the following three (3) course components: lecture, discussion, and laboratory. Carries natural science laboratory credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I. (Credits: 4)
CAS CS101: Introduction to Computing
The computer is presented as a tool that can assist in solving a broad spectrum of problems. This course provides a general introduction designed to dispel the mystery surrounding computers and introduces the fundamental ideas of programs and algorithms. Carries MCS divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Digital/Multimedia Expression. Effective Fall 2022, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking. (Credits: 4)
CAS WR151 / WR152 / WR153 Writing Research and Inquiry
Sophomore Year
Fall
CAS BI203: Cell Biology
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI108 OR CASNE102) and CAS CH 102 or equivalent. ; Undergraduate Corequisites: (CASCH203)or equivalent. - Principles of cellular organization and function: biological molecules, flow of genetic information, membranes and subcellular organelles, and cell regulation. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion. Students may receive credit for CAS BI 203 or 213, but not both courses. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking. (Credits: 4)
CAS CH203: Organic Chemistry 1
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASCH102 OR CASCH110 OR CASCH112) - Fundamentals of contemporary organic chemistry, including skeletal and electronic structure, stereochemistry, and reactions of important functional groups. Applications of organic reactions to important synthetic targets in materials and drug discovery will be highlighted, as will reactions pertinent to biochemistry. Laboratory includes training in basic organic chemistry skills, such as extraction, reaction performance, spectroscopy interpretation and chromatography. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I. (Credits: 4)
CAS MA115: Statistics I
CAS MA 115 may not be taken for credit by any student who has completed any MA course numbered 300 or higher. Students may receive credit for not more than one of the following courses: CAS MA 113, MA 115, or MA 213. Numerical and graphical summaries of univariate and bivariate data. Basic probability, random variables, binomial distribution, normal distribution. One- sample statistical inference for normal means and binomial probabilities. Primarily for students in the social sciences with limited mathematics preparation. Carries MCS divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Quantitative Reasoning II. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking. (Credits: 4)
SAR HS251: Human Nutrition Science
Prerequisites: CAS BI105 OR CAS BI108. This course draws on principles of anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry to deepen students’ understanding of macro- and micronutrients, digestion, and metabolism in preparation for applied discussions on individual- and policy-level tools to support healthy eating, dietary patterns for chronic disease prevention, and global nutrition challenges. This course is intended for pre-health and nutrition majors. For non-majors, see SAR HS 201 – Intro to Nutrition. Effective Fall 2025, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Critical Thinking, lobal Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Scientific Inquiry II. (Credits: 4)
Spring
CAS BI315: Systems Physiology
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI108 OR ENGBE209) , and CASCH101 and CASCH102, or equivalent. First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120) - An introduction to physiological principles applied across all levels of organization (cell, tissue, organ system). Preparation for more advanced courses in physiology. Topics include homeostasis and neural, muscle, respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and metabolic physiology. Three hours lecture, three hours lab. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry II, Writing-Intensive Course, Critical Thinking, Teamwork/Collaboration. (Credits: 4)
CAS CH204: Organic Chemistry 2
Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASCH 203. Corequisite; CASCH 204P. - Fundamentals of contemporary chemistry, including electronic structure, stereochemistry, and reactions of important functional groups. Laboratory includes extraction, distillation, and chromatography. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion, one hour prelab lecture, three-and-a-half hours lab in alternate weeks. Students registering for CASCH 204 must also register for CASCH 204P. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I. (Credits: 4)
CAS MA116: Statistics II
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASMA115) or equivalent. - CAS MA 116 may not be taken for credit by any student who has completed any MA course numbered 300 or higher. Students may receive credit for not more than one of the following courses: CAS MA 116, MA 214, or MA 614. This course introduces basic statistical modeling techniques. One- or two- sample inference for unknown means, proportions and variances, categorical data analysis, introduction to design of experiments and analysis of variance, analysis of simple and multiple linear regression models, non- parametric methods. Carries MCS divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Quantitative Reasoning II. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking. (Credits: 4)
CAS SO100: Principles in Sociology
An introduction to the major theories and basic principles of sociological analysis. Explores culture, media, socialization, race and ethnicity, globalization, capitalism, gender and sexuality, inequality and poverty, power in American society, and health and medicine from a sociological perspective. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Critical Thinking. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, The Individual in Community, Critical Thinking. (Credits: 4)
CAS SO215: Sociology of Health Care
Social, cultural, and intercultural factors in health and illness. Training and socialization of medical professionals, roots of medical power and authority, organization and operation of health care facilities. U.S. health care system and its main problems. Comparison of health care systems in the U.S. and in other countries. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Ethical Reasoning. (Credits: 4)
Note: Students will take either CAS SO100 or CAS SO215.
Junior Year
Fall
CAS CH373: Principles of Biochemistry
Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS BI 105 or CAS BI 108 or CAS NE 102 or ENG BE 209; and CAS CH 204 o r CAS CH 214 or CAS CH 212 or CAS CH 174; or equivalent. - Introductory biochemistry focusing on structure/function with applications to medicine, nutrition, and biotechnology, including acid/base chemistry, protein structure, enzyme mechanisms, thermodynamics, and kinetics; nucleic acid structure/function and information transfer, carbohydrates and carbohydrate metabolism, lipids and lipid metabolism, and bioenergetics of oxidative energy metabolism. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion. (Credits: 4)
CAS MA121: Calculus for the Life and Social Sciences I
Students may receive credit for not more than one of the following courses: CAS MA 121 or CAS MA 123. Differentiation and integration of functions of one variable. Same topics as CAS MA 123, but with less emphasis on mathematical generality and more on applications. Especially suitable for students concentrating in the biological and social sciences. Carries MCS Divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Quantitative Reasoning II. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Social Inquiry II, Critical Thinking. (Credits: 4)
CAS PY105: Physics 1
The CAS PY 105/106 sequence satisfies premedical requirements. PY105 covers some of the basic principles underlying the physics of everyday life, including forces and motion, momentum and energy, harmonic motion, rotation, and heat and thermodynamics. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking. (Credits: 4)
SAR HP353: Organization and Delivery of Health Care in the U.S.
Undergraduate Prerequisites: First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120) - The focus of this interdisciplinary course is on increasing the student's understanding of the health care system, the social, environmental, and behavioral factors that affect health care, and on increasing the student's ability to work in interdisciplinary teams. The student will actively engage in individual work, group discussion and teamwork through written, oral, and web site assignments. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Writing-Intensive Course. (Credits: 4)
Spring
CAS BI114: Human Infectious Diseases
Not for Biology major or minor credit. A study of the world's major human diseases, their causes, effects on history, pathology, and cures. Principles of immunology. Emphasis on present maladies such as AIDS, herpes, cancer, mononucleosis, tuberculosis, influenza, and hepatitis. This course is appropriate for non- majors and students in the health and paramedical sciences (Sargent College). Three hours lecture, three hours lab. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking. (Credits: 4)
CAS PY106: Physics 2
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASPY105) or equivalent. - The CAS PY 105/106 sequence satisfies premedical requirements. PY106 covers some of the basic principles underlying the physics of everyday life, including electricity and magnetism, direct-current circuits, waves, optics, and modern physics. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry II, Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking. (Credits: 4)
SAR HS230: Food Science
Prerequisites: CAS CH172, CAS CH174 or CAS CH204, SAR HS251, CAS BI114 or CAS BI311. Course is limited to nutrition majors, or with consent of instructor. This course provides an in-depth didactic and laboratory review of the physical and chemical properties of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and water. Each macronutrient is discussed from its smallest starting molecule to its complex role in food items. Other related topics include food safety and food-borne illness, food preservation and processing, culinary techniques, food regulations and standards, food additives, food technology, and subjective evaluation of food. The laboratory requirement applies the food science principles through hands-on experiments in the kitchen setting. (Credits: 4)
SAR HS281: Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle
Prerequisites: SAR HS251 & CAS BI211 or CAS BI315. Limited to nutrition majors or with consent of instructor. This course focuses on the changing nutritional requirements from infancy, childhood, and adolescence through older adulthood. Nutritional needs specific to pregnancy and lactation will be discussed. Emphasis is placed on understanding biological requirements as well as the behavioral, socioeconomic, and cultural factors associated with meeting nutrition requirements throughout the life span. (Credits: 4)
Note: CAS BI114 may be taken with SAR HS230.
Senior Year
Fall
SAR HS384: Medical Nutrition Therapy 1
Prerequisite: SAR HS281. Course is limited to nutrition majors in the dietetics and nutrition science tracks. Cannot be taken for credit with SAR HS397. This course covers the pathophysiology of diseases paired with appropriate medical nutrition therapy related to nutrition care and disease management. Nutrition screening, nutritional assessment and nutrition care plan formulation will be discussed. Individual disease states covered include malnutrition, osteoporosis, anemias, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, eating disorders, and weight & hormones. Diet plans and nutrition education interventions are discussed along with documentation and monitoring/evaluation of the nutrition care plan. (Credits: 4)
SAR HS385: Medical Nutrition Therapy 2
Prerequisite - SAR HS384. This course is a continuation of SAR HS384 and is limited to nutrition majors in the dietetics and nutrition science tracks. This course focuses on medical nutrition therapy for various disease states, including gastrointestinal disease, kidney disease, cancer, AIDS, cystic fibrosis, and inborn errors of metabolism. This course also covers the metabolic response to trauma and critical illness and the importance of nutritional therapy in these states. The use of parenteral and enteral nutrition, intravenous catheters, and feeding tubes will be covered. Diet and drug interactions and nutritional genomics also will be discussed. Students will use case studies to learn to apply their knowledge of nutrition care to the treatment of patients with various diseases. (Credits: 4)
SAR HS415: Undergraduate Nutrition Practicum
Undergraduate Prerequisites: Senior Nutrition Majors only - Practical experience working with a Registered Dietitian or related health care professional in a community, medical or private practice setting. (Credits: 2)
SAR HS467: Research Methods in Nutrition
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASMA115 & CASMA116) Course is limited to nutrition majors only. - This course provides an overview of methods used in nutrition research, including dietary assessment methods, indicators of nutritional status, analysis and presentation of dietary data, statistical interpretation, and clinical research methods. Students participate in in-class discussions of published research articles to learn techniques for deriving evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to read, interpret, and understand the findings from clinical research studies and understand the fundamental tools that are used by nutrition researchers. (Credits: 2)
Elective/BU Hub requirements outside the major (8+ credits)
Note: SAR HS415 is recommended, not required.
Spring
SPH PH510: Essentials of Public Health
Students will gain an understanding of public health as a broad, collective enterprise that seeks to extend the benefits of current biomedical, environmental, social, and behavioral knowledge in ways that maximize its impact on the health status of a population. The course will provide an overview of the public health approach including epidemiology, disease surveillance, sustainable solutions, social determinants of health, and disease prevention. Through active learning, students will learn skills in identifying and addressing an ever-expanding list of health problems that call for collective action to protect, promote and improve our nation's health, primarily through preventive strategies. Specific topics will include: food safety, toxics reduction, HIV/AIDS & COVID-19, vaccines, and tobacco control and prevention. PH510 is a requirement for obtaining an undergraduate minor in public health. It is appropriate for undergraduates and others who are not in an SPH degree program. It does not carry degree credit for MPH students. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Ethical Reasoning, Social Inquiry II, Critical Thinking. (Credits: 4)
CAS PH150 Introduction to Ethics or CAS PH251 Medical Ethics
Elective/BU Hub requirements outside the major (8+ credits)
Note: CAS PH150 or CAS PH251, and SPH PH510 are recommended, not required.
Degree Requirements
Entering Junior Year (64 credits)
- Minimum GPA of 2.0
- Completion of all required first-year and sophomore courses
Entering Senior Year (96 credits)
- Minimum GPA of 2.0
- Completion of all required junior courses
Graduation Requirements (128 credits)
- Minimum GPA of 2.0
- No more than 16 credits of D
- Completion of all required senior courses
A student may repeat a course only once to meet the above requirements. If courses are repeated, both grades are used to calculate GPA.