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Nutrition Science

Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science

In the Nutrition Science program, you will explore the physiological and psychological impacts of the creation, implementation and maintenance of a healthy diet. With a standard major and two unique emphases, you can hone your skills in a specific area to prepare for a fulfilling career in a variety of health-related fields or further study in graduate programs.

Program Overview

Nutrition Science

Explore the building blocks of nutrition and the impact of diet.

The B.S. in Nutrition Science is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills for a career in nutrition, food science, food service management or public health. Nutrition students can pursue a Standard major, a comprehensive emphasis in either Community Nutrition or Pre-Dietetics. The Standard major provides flexibility for students who wish to double major, while the Community Nutrition emphasis provides a solid grounding in the sciences for students interested in a variety of nutrition-related professions or graduate programs. The Pre-Dietetics emphasis includes necessary prerequisite coursework for students wishing to enter an ACEND-accredited graduate program in dietetics.

Health Starts with Diet

Learn the factors that influence a healthy diet and how to nourish the mental and physical health of yourself and others through food.

Program Requirements

At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.

Program Requirements

Nutritional Science Major: Standard Program

A minimum of 37 credits is required:

Course List
Code Title Credits
BIOL 150Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1)4
BIOL 300Basic Nutrition3
ESS 185Lifetime Wellness3
MATH 140College Algebra (GT-MA1)3
NTR 490Senior Seminar in Nutrition2
Either:3-4
CHEM 101
Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry (GT-SC2)
Or both:
CHEM 111
CHEM 113
General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)
and General Chemistry II
One of the following:3
CHEM 231
Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
ESS 412
Exercise Biochemistry
Either:4-8
ESS 201
Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (with Lab)
Or both:
BIOL 372
BIOL 373
Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with laboratory)
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with laboratory)
Four of the following:12-13
NTR 305
Community Nutrition
NTR 310
Nutritional Assessment
NTR 320
Nutrition Education and Counseling
NTR 360
Nutrition and Weight Management
NTR 400
Nutrition in the Lifecycle
NTR 410
Medical Nutrition Therapy (with laboratory)
NTR 420
Food Service Systems Management
Total Credits37-43
Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
CHEM 111
or CHEM 101
General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)
or Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry (GT-SC2)
3
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
ESS 185 Lifetime Wellness 3
Gen Ed General Education 3
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
MATH 140 College Algebra (GT-MA1) 3
 Credits16
Spring
BIOL 150 Biological Principles (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) 4
CHEM 113 General Chemistry II 3
Gen Ed General Education 9
 Credits16
Year Two
Fall
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
Elective Elective, minor, or second major course 3
ESS 201
or BIOL 372
Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (with Lab)
or Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with laboratory)
4
Gen Ed General Education 4
 Credits14
Spring
BIOL 373 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with laboratory) 4
Elective Elective, minor, or second major course 6
Gen Ed General Education 6
 Credits16
Year Three
Fall
NTR 305 Community Nutrition 3
NTR 310 Nutritional Assessment 3
UD Elective Upper division elective, minor, or second major course 9
 Credits15
Spring
BIOL 300 Basic Nutrition 3
NTR 320 Nutrition Education and Counseling 3
UD Elective Upper division elective, minor, or second major course 9
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
CHEM 231
or ESS 412
Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
or Exercise Biochemistry
3
NTR 360 Nutrition and Weight Management 3
NTR 400 Nutrition in the Lifecycle 3
NTR 410 Medical Nutrition Therapy (with laboratory) 4
UD Elective Upper division elective, minor, or second major course 3
 Credits16
Spring
ESS 412
or CHEM 231
Exercise Biochemistry
or Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
3
NTR 490 Senior Seminar in Nutrition 2
NTR 420 Food Service Systems Management 3
UD Elective Upper Division elective, minor, or second major course 9
 Credits17
 Total Credits125

Careers

Take the first steps toward your dream career.

Career preparation is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling role in hundreds of professional fields after graduation.

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Scholarships

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship

The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.

Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.

  • This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
  • Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
  • GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).

Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.

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Alumni Legacy Scholarship

The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).

Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:

  • This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
  • Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
  • The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
  • The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
  • GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).

The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.

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Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship

The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.

Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).

  • Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
  • The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
  • The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.

The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.

For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.

For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.

Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.

For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.

GET INVOLVED

Nutrition Science

Get Involved.

Your student experience doesn’t end in the classroom at Western. Learn more about extracurricular opportunities you can pursue to enhance your understanding of content, make peer and professional connections, and build your resume before graduating.

  • Graduate Research: Collaborate on research projects with students in the High Altitude Exercise Physiology master’s program.
  • High Altitude Performance Lab: Take classes and conduct research in our state-of-the-art facility.
  • Publish Research: Publish your work in the Center for Wellness and Human Performance Health & Fitness Journal.
  • Wellness Elevated: Work with clinical populations and their exercise or nutritional programming for a semester or more.
  • Association for Students of Exercise Sports Science: This club is specifically tailored to ESS majors. Outings and events provide social support, professional development and networking opportunities.

From Macro to Micronutrients

Learn about the complexities and nuances of nutrition and how to incorporate individual lifestyle in diet choices

News & Research

Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Read More about Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission
Western professor shares insight on ‘fast fitness’ on popular biohacking podcast

Western professor shares insight on ‘fast fitness’ on popular biohacking podcast

Read More about Western professor shares insight on ‘fast fitness’ on popular biohacking podcast
Western Students and Faculty Published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Western Students and Faculty Published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Read More about Western Students and Faculty Published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Several Studies by ESS, HAEP Faculty, Students Published

Several Studies by ESS, HAEP Faculty, Students Published

Read More about Several Studies by ESS, HAEP Faculty, Students Published

Department Chairperson

Gary P. Van Guilder, Ph.D.

Professor of Exercise & Sport Science; Chair, Recreation, Exercise & Sport Science Department

Administrative Assistant

Terri Stinson

Administrative Assistant

Contact Information

970.943.7129

970.943.7125

Campus Location

Western Colorado University
Paul Wright Gym 209
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231

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