Nutrition Major, B.S.P.H.
The bachelor of science in public health (B.S.P.H.) program in nutrition introduces the undergraduate student to the science of nutrition in health and disease and to social and behavioral aspects of eating in the context of public and individual health. The Department of Nutrition is one of the top-ranked nutrition departments in the country. The curriculum offers a range of courses on nutritional, epidemiological, intervention, and policy aspects of human diseases.
Students may apply to one of two tracks of study:
- Nutrition Science and Research Track – An excellent preparation for medical and other health professional graduate programs, this track provides students in-depth exposure to the science of nutrition and metabolism while incorporating required research under the supervision of a faculty member.
- Nutrition Health and Society Track – Recognizing the truly interdisciplinary nature of nutrition, this track provides students an opportunity to study nutrition through the lenses of policy, sustainable food systems, and interventions. Students are required to take 18 credits (taken during the junior and senior years of the program) in a field of their choice that complement the nutrition major. The 18 credits could also be used to obtain a second major or minor in the field of their choice.*
Students who are admitted to the B.S.P.H. program in nutrition can apply for a B.S.P.H./M.S. dual degree, which can be completed within one year after completion of the B.S.P.H. program.
*Classes taken prior to admission to the nutrition major can contribute towards the second minor or major; however, 18 elective credits must still be taken during the junior and senior year of the nutrition major.
Admission to the program is required.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the nutrition program, students should be able to:
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Describe the nutritional needs of individuals across the life cycle; the psychological, behavioral and social factors that affect food consumption and nutritional status, and the programs and services available to help individuals meet their nutritional needs.
- Communicate public health information, in both oral and written forms and through a variety of media, to diverse audiences.
- Locate, use, evaluate, and synthesize public health information.
- Describe health inequities, identify their root causes at multiple levels of the social ecological framework, and discuss approaches to advancing health equity.
Students who complete the Nutrition Science and Research Track should be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of nutritional biochemistry, the metabolism and function of nutrients, and the nutritional components of diseases through advanced courses in nutrition.
- Apply the scientific method in the areas of nutritional biochemistry, nutritional epidemiology, and intervention and policy.
Students who complete the Nutrition Health and Society Track should be able to:
- Understand the role of food and nutrition as an essential element of life — from cell, to an individual, to society.
- Demonstrate effective communication of nutrition information within social, multi-ethnic, and environmental dimensions.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the roles of the individual, society, government, and business in providing accessible, healthy food supplies, and in promoting healthy eating.
Prerequisite Courses Required for Admission to Both Tracks:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 101 & 101L | 
Principles of Biologyand
Introductory Biology Laboratory 1, H, F | 4 |
| BIOL 252 & 252L |
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology and Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory 1, H | 4 |
| CHEM 101 & 101L |
General Descriptive Chemistry I and
Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I 1, H, F | 4 |
| CHEM 102 & 102L |
General Descriptive Chemistry II and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II 1, H, F | 4 |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
| F | FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute. |
Additional Prerequisite Courses for the Science and Research Track:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NUTR 240 | Introduction to Human Nutrition 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 261 | Introduction to Organic Chemistry I 1, H | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
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Must receive a C (not C-) or better in all prerequisite courses.
Admission
The Gillings School of Global Public Health offers four undergraduate majors: biostatistics, environmental health sciences, health policy and management, and nutrition. The undergraduate degree offered is the bachelor of science in public health (B.S.P.H.). Enrollment in the B.S.P.H. degree programs is limited, and students must apply for admission. Students typically apply in January of their sophomore year for admission beginning in the fall of their junior year.
For current UNC–Chapel Hill students, the initial step of B.S.P.H. application is available in ConnectCarolina under the "Apply for Majors Change" tab. For additional information on application deadlines and how to apply, please visit the Public Health Undergraduate Majors website.
Transfer students interested in any of the B.S.P.H. degree programs must apply through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions using the Transfer Common application.
For high school seniors, our four majors participate in the Assured Enrollment program through Undergraduate Admissions. Assured enrollment programs guarantee students a spot in an undergraduate major within one of Carolina’s professional schools or a spot in an accelerated undergraduate/graduate program. For additional information, please visit Undergraduate Admissions: Special Opportunities.
Students are subject to the requirements in place when they are admitted to the Gillings School of Global Public Health; consequently, the requirements described in this catalog particularly apply to students admitted to Gillings during the 2024–2025 academic year.
Requirements
The nutrition program provides two options:
- Nutrition Major, B.S.P.H.–Nutrition, Health, and Society
- Nutrition Major, B.S.P.H.–Nutrition Science and Research
Nutrition Major, B.S.P.H.–Nutrition, Health, and Society
In addition to the program requirements listed below, students must
- attain a final cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
- complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
- earn a C (not C-) or better in all prerequisite, core, and additional courses required for the major
- take at least half of their major course requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Public Health Core Courses: | ||
| BIOS 600 | Principles of Statistical Inference 1 | 3 |
| EPID 600 | Principles of Epidemiology for Public Health 1 | 3 |
| SPHG 351 | Foundations of Public Health 1 | 3 |
| SPHG 352 | Public Health Systems and Solutions 1 | 4 |
| Other Core Courses: 2 | ||
| NUTR 175 | Introduction to Food Studies: From Science to Society | 3 |
| NUTR 240 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 245 | Sustainable Local Food Systems: Intersection of Local Foods and Public Health | 3 |
| or NUTR 250 | Global Sustainable Food Systems | |
| NUTR 405 | Fundamentals of Food and Nutrition Policy in Public Health | 3 |
| NUTR 470 | Foundations of Nutrition Interventions | 3 |
| NUTR 611 | Food And Your Life Stages | 3 |
| NUTR 630 | Nutrition Communication and Culture | 3 |
| Research and Capstone: | ||
| NUTR 295 | Undergraduate Research Experience in Nutrition 4 | 3 |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| BIOL 101 & 101L | Principles of Biology and Introductory Biology Laboratory H, F | 4 |
| CHEM 101 & 101L | General Descriptive Chemistry I and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I H, F | 4 |
| CHEM 102 & 102L | General Descriptive Chemistry II and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II H, F | 4 |
| BIOL 252 & 252L | Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology and Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory H | 4 |
| 18 hours of elective courses (e.g., 6 courses) from other fields of study 3,5,6 | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 71 | |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
| F | FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute. |
- 1
Must receive a C (not C-) or better.
- 2
All other courses for the nutrition major, including science required courses, must receive a C (not C-) or better.
- 3
Possible options include coursework from minors in anthropology; coaching education; cognitive science; composition, rhetoric, and digital literacy; education; exercise and sport science; food studies; global american studies; health and society; medicine, literature and culture; neuroscience; social and economic justice. Other options may be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
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May be taken multiple times during the program for credit but must be done in the final semester as a capstone experience. May be substituted with NUTR 691H or NUTR 692H for students completing a Senior Honors Thesis.
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Students who pursue the food studies minor along with the NUTR major will use the core requirement NUTR 175 towards both degrees. Students should be aware that at least 51% of credits of the degree must belong only to the food studies minor. Generally, in a 5-class minor, 1 or 2 classes can overlap with the major, depending on how many credits are in each course.
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Any additional 18 hours (not including gen ed, core courses for the major, and additional requirements for the major).
Nutrition Major, B.S.P.H–Nutrition Science and Research
In addition to the program requirements listed below, students must
- attain a final cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
- complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
- earn a C (not C-) or better in all prerequisite, core, and additional courses required for the major
- take at least half of their major course requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Public Health Core Courses: | ||
| BIOS 600 | Principles of Statistical Inference 1 | 3 |
| EPID 600 | Principles of Epidemiology for Public Health 1 | 3 |
| SPHG 351 | Foundations of Public Health 1 | 3 |
| SPHG 352 | Public Health Systems and Solutions 1 | 4 |
| Other Core Courses: 2 | ||
| NUTR 295 | Undergraduate Research Experience in Nutrition 5 | 3 |
| NUTR 400 | Introduction to Nutritional Biochemistry | 3 |
| NUTR 600 | Human Metabolism: Macronutrients | 3 |
| NUTR 611 | Food And Your Life Stages | 3 |
| NUTR 620 | Human Metabolism: Micronutrients | 3 |
| NUTR 692H | Honors Research in Nutrition (optional) | 3 |
| Additional Requirements 2 | ||
| BIOL 101 & 101L | Principles of Biology and Introductory Biology Laboratory 3, H, F | 4 |
| BIOL 103 | How Cells Function 4, F | 3 |
| BIOL 252 & 252L | Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology and Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory 3, H | 4 |
| CHEM 101 & 101L | General Descriptive Chemistry I and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I 3, H, F | 4 |
| CHEM 102 & 102L | General Descriptive Chemistry II and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II 3, H, F | 4 |
| CHEM 241 & 241L | Modern Analytical Methods for Separation and Characterization and Laboratory in Separations and Analytical Characterization of Organic and Biological Compounds H | 4 |
| CHEM 261 | Introduction to Organic Chemistry I 3, H | 3 |
| CHEM 262 & 262L | Introduction to Organic Chemistry II and Laboratory in Organic Chemistry H | 4 |
| MATH 231 | Calculus of Functions of One Variable I 3, H, F | 4 |
| NUTR 240 | Introduction to Human Nutrition 3 | 3 |
| PHYS 114 | General Physics I: For Students of the Life Sciences F | 4 |
| or PHYS 118 | Introductory Calculus-based Mechanics and Relativity | |
| PHYS 115 | General Physics II: For Students of the Life Sciences F | 4 |
| or PHYS 119 | Introductory Calculus-based Electromagnetism and Quanta | |
| Total Hours | 76 | |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
| F | FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute. |
- 1
Must receive a C (not C-) or better.
- 2
All other courses for the nutrition major, including science required courses, must receive a C (not C-) or better.
- 3
Prerequisite course required for admission to the program.
- 4
BIOL 220 (Molecular Genetics) is also recommended for students planning to apply to graduate and medical schools
- 5
May be taken multiple times during the program for credit but must be done in the final semester as a capstone experience. May be substituted with NUTR 691H or NUTR 692H for students completing a Senior Honors Thesis.
Dual Bachelor’s–Master’s Degree Program
The Department of Nutrition offers a B.S.P.H.–M.S. dual degree for students who wish to increase their knowledge in nutrition and acquire additional skills in nutrition-based research. This dual degree will be useful for students interested in becoming researchers in industry, program officers for nongovernmental and governmental organizations, project or laboratory managers in academic or nonacademic settings, international workers in nutrition-related programs, and graduate students pursuing a doctoral degree or eventually attending medical or another professional school. B.S.P.H.–M.S students will perform advanced research in nutrition and take graduate nutrition and other courses that will provide the information and experience needed to help them choose their career path. Additionally, for those students who are uncertain about whether they wish to enter the department’s doctoral program, the B.S.P.H.–M.S program offers an excellent opportunity to determine whether a more advanced degree would be appropriate. The B.S.P.H.–M.S degree is not specific to any of the department divisions; rather, it builds on the work (both classroom-based and research) begun in the B.S.P.H. program. In summary, the B.S.P.H.–M.S program in nutrition allows students the opportunity to explore nutritional research at an advanced level. The program can be completed in one calendar year (summer, fall, spring) following completion of the B.S.P.H. in nutrition program.
Nutrition B.S.P.H. students interested in the dual-degree program are strongly advised to consult their research advisor and the director of undergraduate studies in nutrition during their junior year to discuss eligibility and an appropriate plan of study. For more information see the B.S.P.H.–M.S Dual Degree Nutrition Handbook.
Special Opportunities in Nutrition
Honors in Nutrition
The Department of Nutrition provides an opportunity for honors study for qualified students. To be eligible for admission to the honors program students must have, at a minimum, a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 at the beginning of their senior year and must maintain the grade point average throughout the major if they intend to pursue honors. Students register for NUTR 295 (three credits) in the fall and/or spring semester of the first year and then enroll in NUTR 691H and NUTR 692H (six credits) in their final two semesters while completing an honors thesis in nutrition.
Departmental Involvement
The Nutrition Coalition meets several times each semester to address student concerns and to plan service and social activities. Open to the entire University, the coalition strives to broaden the scope of understanding of the various fields and environments in which nutrition is making advances.
Experiential Education
Two courses in nutrition include experiential components (NUTR 245 and NUTR 295). However, NUTR 295, available only to nutrition majors, fulfills the General Education experiential education requirement.
Undergraduate Awards
Nutrition honors research students may apply for the honors undergraduate research awards. The application is available on the Honors Carolina Web site. Students also may be considered for any of the following awards: Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Student Activities and Leadership, The Order of the Golden Fleece, The Order of the Grail-Valkyries, The Order of the Old Well, Frank Porter Graham Honor Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and the Joseph Edozien Outstanding Undergraduate Award in Nutrition.
Undergraduate Research
To enhance students’ general education and help them decide whether a research career is something they might pursue, all B.S.P.H. nutrition students are required to complete nutrition research for at least one semester (final semester as capstone), either as part of the honors thesis or as independent research.
General Student Inquiries
