Minor in Nutrition

Minor in Nutrition (beginning Fall 2023)

Program Overview

The nutrition minor allows undergraduate students to gain specialized knowledge in the field of nutrition, which may complement their non-nutritional major coursework and enhance career preparation in their respective field. 

Program Objectives

  • Provide a foundation of knowledge in the interdisciplinary field of nutrition, with a specific focus on current topics in human nutrition, cultural aspects of foods, nutrition across the lifecycle, nutrition science, and sports nutrition.
  • Allow for the dissemination of nutrition information that compliments the training and enhances career preparation for students majoring in the basic sciences, social sciences, food science, child development and family studies, health sciences, physical education, pre-medical, and other pre-professional disciplines.
  • Promote exposure of nutrition information and coursework to students majoring in liberal arts disciplines who would otherwise have limited exposure to the nutrition field.

Admission Criteria

Students with minimum 2.5 GPA, not majoring in Nutrition & Dietetics or Nutrition Science.

Total number of units required for the minor
19 to 25 semester units.

To continue in the Minor in Nutrition program, all courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better

Required Courses (13 units)

NUTR 132: Introductory Nutrition (3 units); Prerequisite: one GE Foundation course

BIOL 207: Human Physiology (4 units): Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements.

NUTR 331: Nutrition Throughout the Lifecycle (3 units); Prerequisites: BIOL 207, NUTR 132. NUTR majors and minors only. Exclude Freshmen; Prerequisities/Corequisites: For Dietetics Concentration only: NUTR 234

NUTR 336: Social and Cultural Aspects of Food & Health (3 units); Prerequisites: NUTR 132 and open to Dietetics, Nutritional Science, and Food Science majors and minors only. Prerequisite/Corequisites: Dietetics and Nutritional Science majors: SOC 335; Food Science majors and minors: SOC 335 or PSY 100. 

Elective Courses

Complete 6 units from the following courses**

NUTR 337: Introduction to Nutrition Research Methods (3 units); Prerequisites: NUTR 331

NUTR 436A: Advanced Nutrition I (3 units); Prerequisites: CHEM 220B or CHEM 227; Prerequisites/corequisites: NUTR 331

NUTR 436B: Advanced Nutrition II (3 units); Prerequisites: NUTR 436A

NUTR 439: Nutrition and Aging (3 units); Prerequisites: NUTR 132

NUTR 461: Community Nutrition (3 units); Prerequisites: NUTR 331, NUTR 336

NUTR 468: Nutrition for Exercise and Performance (3 units); Prerequisites: NUTR 132, KIN 301 and KIN Fitness majors only. Freshman excluded. Open to Kinesiology undergraduate students in the Fitness and Exercise Science options and to the Nutrition and Dietetics option in Family and Consumer Sciences.

NUTR 470: Applied Sports Nutrition (3 units); Prerequisites: Nutrition and Dietetics and Food Science majors: NUTR 331; Kinesiology majors: NUTR 132 and KIN 301.

NUTR 490*: Selected topics in Family and Consumer Sciences (1-3 units); Prerequisites: variable, based on the course.

NUTR 497*: Directed Studies (1-3 units); Prerequisites: no prerequisites.

*These courses will count towards the minor electives upon approval by FCS department faculty advisor.

**Additional courses may be counted toward the elective unit count with approval of FCS faculty advisor.

Students are responsible to adhere to all course prerequisites (as designated in the catalog).  This may increase the total number of units required to complete the minor.  For more information and to develop a plan of study, please contact CHHS Academic Advising.