BS in Nutrition, Nutrition Science Concentration

Degree Requirements—BS in Nutrition, Nutrition Science Concentration

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition degree from UIC, students need to complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition degree requirements for the Nutrition Science concentration are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Applied Health Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.

Summary of Requirements
General Education and Pre-Nutrition Course Requirements59
Nutrition Science Required Courses38
Electives23
Total Hours120

Degree Requirements

Note: Students who do not place into certain courses or do not carefully plan sequential course work should expect to take summer session courses or possibly take longer than two years to complete the pre-nutrition coursework. Students should seek advising from the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition for advice on course planning. Visit the department website for additional information and directions on becoming a nutrition science major.

General Education and Pre-Nutrition Course Requirements

These are required prerequisites for many of the Nutrition Science Core courses and therefore, should be completed within the first two years of the program.

Required Courses
HN 100Introduction to Nutrition: New Student Seminar2
ENGL 160Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts3
ENGL 161Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research3
COMM 100Fundamentals of Human Communication3
Understanding the Creative Arts course b3
Understanding the Past course b3
PSCH 100Introduction to Psychology a4
SOC 100Introduction to Sociology a,c3
CHEM 122Matter and Energy3
CHEM 123Foundations of Chemical Inquiry I d,e2
CHEM 232Structure and Function3
CHEM/BIOS 352Introductory Biochemistry f3
BIOS 110Biology of Cells and Organisms d4
MATH 110College Algebra g4
HN 110Foods3
HN 196Nutrition3
KN 230Anatomy and Physiology Lecture I3
KN 231Anatomy and Physiology Lecture II3
KN 232Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I2
KN 233Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory II2
Total Hours59
a

This course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education category.

b

Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list approved courses in this category.

c

This course is approved for the Understanding U.S. Society General Education category.

d

This course is approved for the Analyzing the Natural World General Education category.

e

General Education credit is given for successful completion of both CHEM 122 and CHEM 123.

f

BIOS 120 is not required as a prerequisite for CHEM 352/BIOS 352 for Nutrition Science students.

g

Completion of MATH 110 may be satisfied through placement exam or CLEP. Students may meet the math requirement through completion of MATH 110 or an upper-level math course.

Degree Requirements—Nutrition Science Concentration

Nutrition Science Required Courses

Required Courses
HN 201Essentials of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health Assessment3
or HN 302 Nutritional Assessment
HN 202Culture and Food a2
HN 300Science of Foods3
HN 306Nutrition Education3
HN 308Nutrition Science I3
HN 309Nutrition Science II3
HN 311Nutrition During the Life Cycle3
HN 313Introduction to Community Nutrition3
HN 318Genetic, Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Chronic Diseases3
HN 320Clinical Nutrition I3
HN 420Clinical Nutrition II3
HN 423Nutrition Counseling3
HN 440The Research Process in Nutrition3
Total Hours38
a

This course is approved for the Exploring World Cultures General Education category

Electives

Electives a
Select 23 hours of Elective courses.23
Total Hours23
a

Elective courses will depend upon students' postgraduation goals. It is recommended that students who intend to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians take HN 330 and HN 332. 

Sample Course Schedule—Nutrition Science

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman Year
Fall SemesterHours
HN 100 Introduction to Nutrition: New Student Seminar 2
ENGL 160 Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts 3
BIOS 110 Biology of Cells and Organisms 4
CHEM 122 Matter and Energy 3
CHEM 123 Foundations of Chemical Inquiry I 2
 Hours14
Spring Semester
ENGL 161 Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research 3
MATH 110 College Algebra 4
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 3
CHEM 232 Structure and Function 3
 Hours13
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
KN 230 Anatomy and Physiology Lecture I 3
KN 232 Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I 2
HN 196 Nutrition 3
PSCH 100 Introduction to Psychology 4
Understanding the Creative Arts course 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
KN 231 Anatomy and Physiology Lecture II 3
KN 233 Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory II 2
COMM 100 Fundamentals of Human Communication 3
CHEM 352 Introductory Biochemistry (Same as BIOS 352) 3
HN 110 Foods 3
Understanding the Past course 3
 Hours17
Junior Year
Fall Semester
HN 201
or HN 302
 Essentials of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health Assessment
or Nutritional Assessment
 3
HN 308 Nutrition Science I 3
HN 318 Genetic, Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Chronic Diseases 3
Electives 6
 Hours15
Spring Semester
HN 309 Nutrition Science II 3
HN 313 Introduction to Community Nutrition 3
HN 306 Nutrition Education 3
HN 202 Culture and Food 2
Electives 5
 Hours16
Senior Year
Fall Semester
HN 300 Science of Foods 3
HN 311 Nutrition During the Life Cycle 3
HN 320 Clinical Nutrition I 3
Electives 6
 Hours15
Spring Semester
HN 440 The Research Process in Nutrition 3
HN 420 Clinical Nutrition II 3
HN 423 Nutrition Counseling 3
Electives 6
 Hours15
 Total Hours120