Undergraduate Study

Degree Requirements

The BA and BS degrees in Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health share a common core curriculum and systems-based approach.

If you are unsure which major is best for you, you can read more about choosing between our majors or contact advising to discuss your options. 

General Education 

In addition to the degree-specific requirements below, you must complete all general education requirements for the School of Public Health. 

Science Literacy 

5 credits of biology. Choose from: 

BIOL 118  Survey of Physiology (5, preferred) 
BIOL 180  Introductory Biology (5) 
BIOL 161/162  Advanced Placement credit  

5 credits of chemistry. Choose from:  

CHEM 120  Principles of Chemistry I (5) 
CHEM 142  General Chemistry (5) 
CHEM 143  Accelerated General Chemistry (6) 
CHEM 145  Honors General Chemistry (5) 

Interdisciplinary Breadth 

5 credits of economics. Choose from:  

ECON 200  Introduction to Microeconomics (5) 
ECON 201  Introduction to Macroeconomics (5) 
FISH 230  Economics of Fisheries and Oceans (5) 
ESRM/ENVIR/ECON 235  Introduction to Environmental Economics (5) 

10 credits from courses that represent the breadth of areas that influence food systems. Current list is available on the Undergraduate Student Resources page.  

Research Methods & Technologies 

4-5 credits of statistics. Choose from:  

BIOST 310  Biostatistics for the Health Sciences (4) 
QMETH 201  Introduction to Statistical Methods (4) 
Q SCI 381  Introduction to Probability and Statistics (5) 
STAT 220  Statistical Reasoning (5) 
STAT 221  Statistical Concepts and Methods for the Social Sciences (5) 
STAT 290  Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics (5) 
STAT 311  Elements of Statistical Methods (5) 

5 credits of qualitative methods. Choose from:  

NUTR 202  Research Methods in Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health (5) (preferred) 
ENVIR 301  Research Methods in Environmental Studies (5) 
GEOG 425  Qualitative Methodology in Geography (5) 
SOC 300  Foundations of Social Inquiry (5) 

Food Systems Core 

Students must complete the following core classes with a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. 

NUTR 200  Nutrition for Today (5)   
NUTR 302  Food Systems: Harvest to Health (5)  
NUTR 303  Food Systems: Individual to Population Health (5) 
NUTR 402  Food Systems Modeling & Analysis (5) 
NUTR 412  US Food Systems Policy (5) Writing  
NUTR 493  Food Systems Capstone (6) 

Upper-Division Course Electives 

20 credits of 300- and 400-level coursework. Current list is available on the Undergraduate Student Resources page.  

General Education 

In addition to the degree-specific requirements below, you must complete all general education requirements for the School of Public Health. 

Supporting Sciences 

5 credits of biology. Choose from: 

BIOL 118  Survey of Physiology (5, preferred) 
BIOL 180  Introductory Biology (5) 
BIOL 161/162  Advanced Placement credit  

5 credits of chemistry. Choose from:  

CHEM 120  Principles of Chemistry I (5) 
CHEM 142  General Chemistry (5) 
CHEM 143  Accelerated General Chemistry (6) 
CHEM 145  Honors General Chemistry (5) 

25 credits of additional science coursework. Choose from courses in chemistry, biology, physics, and other related subject areas. Current list is available on the Undergraduate Student Resources page. 

Interdisciplinary Breadth 

5 credits of economics. Choose from:  

ECON 200  Introduction to Microeconomics (5) 
ECON 201  Introduction to Macroeconomics (5) 
FISH 230  Economics of Fisheries and Oceans (5) 
ESRM/ENVIR/ECON 235  Introduction to Environmental Economics (5) 

Research Methods & Technologies  

4-5 credits of statistics. Choose from:  

BIOST 310  Biostatistics for the Health Sciences (4) 
QMETH 201  Introduction to Statistical Methods (4) 
Q SCI 381  Introduction to Probability and Statistics (5) 
STAT 220  Statistical Reasoning (5) 
STAT 221  Statistical Concepts and Methods for the Social Sciences (5) 
STAT 290  Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics (5) 
STAT 311  Elements of Statistical Methods (5) 

5 credits of qualitative methods. Choose from:  

NUTR 202  Research Methods in Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health (5) (preferred) 
ENVIR 301  Research Methods in Environmental Studies (5) 
GEOG 425  Qualitative Methodology in Geography (5) 
SOC 300  Foundations of Social Inquiry (5) 

 Food Systems Core  

Students must complete the following core classes with a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. 

NUTR 200  Nutrition for Today (5) 
NUTR 302  Food Systems: Harvest to Health (5)  
NUTR 303  Food Systems: Individual to Population Health (5) 
NUTR 402  Food Systems Modeling & Analysis (5) 
NUTR 412  US Food Systems Policy (5) Writing  
NUTR 493  Food Systems Capstone (6) 

Upper-Division Course Electives  

20 credits of 300- and 400-level coursework. Current list is available on the Undergraduate Student Resources page.  

More Information 

Find procedures, policies, forms, and more resources for completing the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health major in the Undergraduate Student Resources section.