The Minor in Nutritional Sciences is designed to provide students with foundational knowledge about nutrient requirements and how the food we ingest relates to function, health, and well-being; complex influences that shape food choice and eating behavior; and the connections between physical activity and exercise, food and eating, and health and well-being.
The flexibility within the Nutritional Sciences Minor provides students the opportunity to “choose their own adventure” and deepen their understanding in this exciting field. Students can customize the minor by selecting courses that explore topics such as the science behind food preparation, nutrition through the lifecycle, nutrition and disease prevention, how to facilitate behavior change, food insecurity and hunger, and many more!
Upon completing the Minor in Nutritional Sciences, students will be able to:
- Describe the relationship between food and nutrients in human health and well-being;
- Discuss the function, physiology, dietary sources, and symptoms and consequences of deficiency and toxicity for macro- and micronutrients;
- Discuss how multiple levels of influence (e.g., intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional/organizational, community, political, and cultural) shape food choice and eating behavior;
- Describe the role physical activity, physical fitness, and nutrition play in health maintenance and disease risk reduction.
Requirements
The Nutritional Sciences minor requires a minimum of 21 credits, including at least 6 credits of upper-level NUTR courses (300-level or above). Students must attain a GPA of 2.0 (no grade lower than C) in all courses being applied toward the minor, including any transfer work. A minimum of 12 credits must be taken in residence at UWM.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses (9 credits) | ||
| NUTR 235 | Introduction to Nutrition for the Health Professions 1 | 3 |
| or BMS 232 | Introduction to Nutrition | |
| NUTR 230 | Health Aspects of Exercise and Nutrition | 3 |
| or KIN 230 | Health Aspects of Exercise and Nutrition | |
| NUTR 241 | Why We Eat What We Eat: An Ecological Approach | 3 |
| Complete 12 additional credits of NUTR courses including 6 credits at the 300-level or above | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
- 1
Only one of these options may be applied towards the minor.
Some NUTR courses may be offered only once per academic year. Refer to the Catalog to see which semester(s) courses are typically offered.
Students may declare their intent to pursue the Nutritional Sciences Minor via this online form. Students concurrently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program who successfully complete the requirements for the minor will be awarded the Minor in Nutritional Sciences at the time of graduation.
Student advising will be through the appropriate health unit at UWM.