The Nutrition Science major is designed for strong science students who wish to pursue careers in nutrition research, public health, or medicine.  Students completing this major will be prepared to apply to graduate school in nutrition or public health, or to medical school or other graduate-level healthcare programs (dentistry, occupational therapy, physician assistants).  Students interested in medical or other graduate level healthcare programs will work with the Coordinator of Pre-Health Professions Advising in addition to their Nutrition adviser to select appropriate courses and electives for their career goals.  For information about the requirements and advising for graduate-level healthcare programs please see the pre-health professions advising website:  http://www.messiah.edu/departments/premedhealth/. 

Nutrition Science Major Curriculum (64 credits)

Students in the Nutrition Science major study general, organic, and biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, statistics, basic food science, and nutrition science.  As a part of a team, students design and carry out research projects in an area of interest to them. 

Information about the curriculum as well as course descriptions can be found in the Online Course Catalog.  Several of the upper level courses in this major are taught every other year.  Therefore, careful course planning is especially important for this major.  General course scheduling guidelines can be found under the Course Scheduling Guidelines link on the Nutrition and Dietetics Department web page. 

Students who wish to use this major as preparation for medical school should take the PHYS 211 and BIOL 385/6 options and should take PHYS 211 and a genetics course as electives. 

The Nutrition Science major does not satisfy the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) academic requirements.  Nutrition Science majors who wish to have the option of pursuing dietetic registration should take NUTR 331 as a part of the major, PSYC 101 as a social science general education course, and the following additional courses:  HRM 120, NUTR 352, NUTR 341, NUTR 342, NUTR 411, NUTR 410,  NUTR 412.  For additional information about dietetic registration see the Nutrition and Dietetics Major.  The GPA Requirements for Progression in the Didactic Program in Dietetics policy found in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics/Didactic Program in Dietetics Policy and Procedure Manual will apply to students in the Nutrition Science major who plan to complete the ACEND academic requirements.

(Course catalog and major brochure include PDF files. Click here for the Adobe® PDF Reader®)

How to Apply

To apply for admission to Messiah College, simply call and request an application at 1-800-233-4220 or apply online!  Open House dates and major-specific events are scheduled throughout the year. Students may arrange for a variety of visit options to suit their interests and schedule.

* Messiah College does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, age, disability, or national or ethnic origin.