BS in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology with Emphasis in Nutrition and Foods
Degree Program Description
The emphasis in Nutrition and Foods prepares students to integrate and apply the principles of the biomedical sciences and food and nutrition sciences to design and manage effective nutrition programs in a variety of settings. Nutrition and Foods is the first step to acceptance into the Professional Coordinated Program in Dietetics. The Coordinated Program is recognized as an accelerated program resulting in both a bachelor's and master's degree.
During the first three years of the curriculum, students develop a foundation in science and general education. Students must apply and be admitted to complete the final two-year course of study devoted to professional courses, supervised practice (fieldwork), and graduate (M.S.) work. Admitted students complete:
- A Bachelor of Science (Nutrition and Foods)
- A Master of Science (Dietetics)
- All supervised practice (fieldwork) necessary to meet the requirements to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians (RD Exam)
- A verification statement providing proof of completion will be provided after the graduate degree is awarded
The completion of this bachelor's degree only, does not allow the student to be eligible to take the national Registration Examination for Dietitians. Furthermore, it is not a didactic program in dietetics. No verification statement is given after completion of only the bachelor's degree.
Major Program Requirements
Students can choose between two tracks, Dietetics or Food Science.
The Dietetics track is a professional program. Students who 1) are enrolled in this degree emphasis 2) are accepted into the Accelerated Master's Coordinated Program in Dietetics, and 3) are in good academic standing will transition seamlessly to the Coordinated Program's fifth year master's program.
The Food Science track is for students who are pursuing a career in nutrition, but not as a dietitian. Enrollment in this track prepares graduates for careers in the food industry, community nutrition, or food policy.
Students earning a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology are required to complete all University graduation and degree requirements, including selected foundational courses, which may fulfill some University general education requirements.
If you are planning to transfer courses (including AP credit) and would like information on how they apply to a degree program(s), you can email CAFNRadvising@missouri.edu for general recommendations.
Students are eligible to transfer into Nutrition and Foods with a 2.0 cumulative GPA, but must have a 3.0 or higher to apply to the Accelerated Master's Coordinated Program in Dietetics. You are directly admissible as a first-time college (freshman) or transfer student when you meet the University admissions requirements.
| Pre-Professional Requirements for both tracks (some will double dip for Gen Ed) | ||
| AGSC_COM 2220 | Verbal Communication in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources | 3 |
| or COMMUN 1200 | Public Speaking | |
| BIO_SC 1010 & BIO_SC 1020 | General Principles and Concepts of Biology and General Biology Laboratory | 5 |
| or BIO_SC 1500 | Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory | |
| BIOCHM 3630 | General Biochemistry | 3 |
| or BIOCHM 4270 | Biochemistry | |
| CHEM 1320 | College Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 2030 | Survey of Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| or CHEM 2100 & CHEM 2110 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II | |
| CHEM 2130 | Organic Laboratory I | 2 |
| CDS 2190 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| ENGLSH 1000 | Writing and Rhetoric | 3 |
| ESC_PS 4170 | Introduction to Applied Statistics | 3 |
| or ABM 2225 | Statistical Analysis | |
| FINPLN 2183 | Personal and Family Finance | 3 |
| F_S 1030 | Food Science and Nutrition | 3 |
| F_S 2172 | Elements of Food Microbiology | 3 |
| or F_S 2172H | Elements of Food Microbiology - Honors | |
| F_S 3210 | Kitchen Chemistry | 3 |
| F_S 4310 | Food Chemistry and Analysis | 4 |
| MANGMT 3000W | Principles of Management - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| or MANGMT 3000 | Principles of Management | |
| MATH 1100 | College Algebra | 3 |
| MPP 3202 | Elements of Physiology | 5 |
| NEP 1034/1034H | Introduction to Human Nutrition | 3 |
| NEP 2340 | Human Nutrition I | 3 |
| NEP 2450 | Nutrition Throughout the Life Span | 3 |
| NEP 3290 | Food Service I: Field Work/Supervised Practice Experience | 1 |
| NEP 3360 | Nutritional Assessment Lab | 3 |
| NEP 3390 | Teaching and Counseling Techniques in Nutrition | 2 |
| NEP 3400 | Teaching & Counseling Techniques in Nutr. Supervised Practice Exp/Lab | 1 |
| NEP 4360 | Nutritional Assessment | 3 |
| NEP 4340 | Human Nutrition II Lecture | 3 |
| PHIL 1150 | Introductory Bioethics | 3 |
| or PHIL 2440 | Medical Ethics | |
| PSYCH 1000 | General Psychology | 3 |
| HIST 1400 | American History | 3 |
| or POL_SC 1100 | American Government | |
| or HIST 1100 | Survey of American History to 1865 | |
| or HIST 1200 | Survey of American History Since 1865 | |
| Professional Elective | ||
| Areas of Competence | ||
| Dietetics Track | ||
| MPP 4204 | Medical Pharmacology | 4 |
| NEP 3370 | Medical Nutrition Therapy I: Supervised Practice Experience | 3 |
| NEP 3590 | Community Nutrition Field Work/Supervised Practice Experience | 1 |
| NEP 4280 | Food Service Management | 3 |
| NEP 4290 | Food Serv. II: Adv. Food Service Manage. Supervised Practice Exp | 2 |
| NEP 4385 | Professional Development I | 1 |
| NEP 4590 | Community Nutrition | 3 |
| NEP 4950 | Capstone: Research in Nutritional Sciences | 2 |
| NEP 4951W | Nutrition Research Communication - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| NEP 7370/4370 | Medical Nutrition Therapy I | 3 |
| P_HLTH 4300 | Health Care in the United States | 3 |
| PSYCH 3830 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| Food Science Track | ||
| F_S 4970W | Food Product Development - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| MPP 4204 | Medical Pharmacology | 4 |
| NEP 4385 | Professional Development I | 1 |
| NEP 4590 | Community Nutrition | 3 |
| NEP 4370 | Medical Nutrition Therapy I | 3 |
| or NEP 7370 | Medical Nutrition Therapy I | |
| P_HLTH 4300 | Health Care in the United States | 3 |
| PSYCH 3830 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| Supporting Electives for both tracks | 3 | |
| Select 1 course from the list below. | ||
| ABM 4215 | Community Food Systems | 3 |
| BIO_SC 2200 | General Genetics | 4 |
| BIO_SC 3750 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| F_S 4370 | Food Microbiology | 3 |
| F_S 4980 | Food Quality Assurance | 3 |
| H_D_FS 3430 | Adolescence and Young Adulthood | 3 |
| HLTH_SCI 4400 | Culture and Health Literacy for the Health Professions | 3 |
| HLTH_SCI 4420 | Health Literacy, Decision Making and Behavior Changes | 3 |
| MICROB 3200 | Medical Microbiology and Immunology | 4 |
| MANGMT 4201W | Topics in Management - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| MRKTNG 3000 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| NEP 2460 | Eating Disorders | 3 |
| NEP 3131 | International Nutrition and Exercise Physiology | 3-99 |
| NEP 4970 | PANHP Capstone: Sports Nutrition | 3 |
| SOCIOL 3430 | The Sociology of Sport | 3 |
| SOCIOL 3440 | Sociology of Health | 3 |
| SOCIOL 4210 | Aging and the Life Course | 3 |
| SOC_WK 4390 | Helping Strategies With Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| SOC_WK 4395 | Death, Grief and Loss | 3 |
| SOC_WK 4480 | Direct Practice with Older Adults | 3 |
| Additional Electives for Food Science Track | ||
| AFNR 2191 | International Agriculture and Natural Resources - Humanities ((by approval)) | 1-6 |
| F_S 4199 | Food Industry Senior Seminar | 1 |
| F_S 4370 | Food Microbiology | 3 |
| F_S 4380 | Sensory Analysis of Food and Beverages | 3 |
| F_S 4941 | Internship in Food Science | 1-6 |
| F_S 4970W | Food Product Development - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| F_S 4980 | Food Quality Assurance | 3 |
| NEP 3590 | Community Nutrition Field Work/Supervised Practice Experience | 1 |
| NEP 4290 | Food Serv. II: Adv. Food Service Manage. Supervised Practice Exp | 2 |
- 1
Dual enrollment: counts toward graduate level
Accelerated BS to MS in Dietetics
The Accelerated Master's Coordinated Program in Dietetics will provide all didactic (coursework) and supervised practice (1000 hours of fieldwork) required for a student to take the National Registration Examination for Dietitians and thus, to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). The program includes three years of prerequisite courses needed for the student to apply to the program. Successfully admitted students will be part of the accelerated program and are retained for the remaining two years to complete the program. Only students who complete all aspects of these required courses and activities (BS, MS and 1000 hours of supervised practice) will meet requirements to take the RDN exam.
Students typically apply to the program during the spring semester of year three. The bachelor's degree will be conferred at the end of year four. One dual enrollment class (NEP 7370) will be offered at the graduate-level during the final semester of year four and remaining graduate work will occur in year five. During years four and five, each student will be required to meet minimum criteria for program continuation. Criteria can be found in the program handbook on the department website.
Total credits required for graduation: 150
- Total undergraduate credits: 120
- Total graduate credits:30
| Fifth Year Courses (Master's year) | ||
| AN_SCI 8420 | Endocrinology | 3 |
| HMI 7566 | Health Informatics Ethics | 3 |
| NEP 7380 | Medical Nutrition Therapy II | 3 |
| NEP 7381 | Medical Nutrition Therapy II: Supervised Practice Experience | 5 |
| NEP 8380 | Medical Nutrition Therapy III | 3 |
| NEP 8975 | Dietetics Supervised Practice Experience | 10 |
Requirements for Non-Thesis
Two comprehensive exams will be administered during year five.
Admission Requirements:
Admission to the Accelerated Master's Coordinated Program in Dietetics portion of Nutrition and Foods emphasis area is a selective process and requires both an application and interview process. Detailed information on this can be found on the NEP department website.
Note: Admission is limited to a maximum of 20 students per year.
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.
Note: Changes in course requirements may occur, as the program is required to meet accreditation standards.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| BIO_SC 1500 or 1010 and 1020 | 5 | CHEM 1320 | 4 | ||
| F_S 1030 | 3 | ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | ||
| NEP 1034 or 1034H | 3 | PSYCH 1000 | 3 | ||
| MATH 1100 | 3 | Humanities (PHIL 1150 or PHIL 2440 recommended) | 3 | ||
| Intro to Dietetics | 1 | HIST or POL_SC course | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CHEM 2030 | 3 | BIOCHM 3630 | 3 | Humanities/Study Abroad | 3 |
| CHEM 2130 | 2 | CDS 2190 | 3 | ||
| COMMUN 1200 or AGSC_COM 2220 | 3 | F_S 3210 | 3 | ||
| MPP 3202 | 5 | NEP 2340 | 3 | ||
| FINPLN 2183 | 3 | NEP 2450 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | 3 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| F_S 4310 | 4 | ESC_PS 4170 or ABM 2225 | 3 | ||
| NEP 3360 | 3 | F_S 2172 | 3 | ||
| NEP 4340 | 3 | MANGMT 3000W | 3 | ||
| NEP 4360 | 3 | NEP 3290 | 1 | ||
| Professional Elective | 3 | NEP 3390 | 2 | ||
| NEP 3400 | 1 | ||||
| NEP 4280 | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 16 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| MPP 4204 | 4 | NEP 3370 | 3 | ||
| NEP 3590 | 1 | NEP 4951W | 3 | ||
| NEP 4590 | 3 | NEP 7370 | 3 | ||
| NEP 4290 | 2 | PSYCH 3830 | 3 | ||
| NEP 4385 | 1 | P_HLTH 4300 | 3 | ||
| NEP 4950 | 2 | ||||
| 13 | 15 | ||||
| Fifth Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| AN_SCI 8420 | 3 | NEP 8380 | 3 | ||
| HMI 7566 | 3 | NEP 8975 | 10 | ||
| NEP 7380 | 3 | ||||
| NEP 7381 | 5 | ||||
| 14 | 13 | ||||
| Total Credits: 152 | |||||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.