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Curriculum

BS, Nutrition and Food Studies

How to Apply

This 128-credit Bachelor of Science program in Nutrition and Food Studies combines interests in food and nutrition with an interest in health, culture, or business. It includes a strong foundation of study in the liberal arts and sciences; core lecture and laboratory courses that explore and integrate food studies, nutrition, and management; a concentration in either nutrition and dietetics or food studies; and extensive opportunities for elective courses and internships designed to help you apply your knowledge to elevate your own interests and career goals.

Core Course Sequence 

College Core Curriculum (CORE)

NYU’s College Core Curriculum provides a foundational academic experience of general education in the liberal arts for undergraduates at NYU. The Core Curriculum includes courses in foreign language, expository writing, and foundations of contemporary culture and scientific inquiry. In addition to these required subject areas, students also have the opportunity to explore liberal arts electives in the topics that most interest them, gaining the skills and breadth of intellectual perspective to flourish in their major programs of study and in their later careers. 

Specialization Sequence 

Nutrition and Dietetics

This concentration focuses on the role of food, nutrition, and health in society. You’ll take courses in nutrition and dietetics, including food science, health and nutrition, human physiology, and diet assessment, as well as advanced classes in microbiology and biochemistry, food technology, and sanitation. You’ll supplement your core studies with electives and fieldwork in the areas that most interest you. 

This concentration meets the foundational knowledge and learning outcomes established by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which qualify graduates of the concentration to enter accredited dietetic internship programs to become registered dietitian nutritionists.

Students learn basic, community, clinical, and administrative aspects of dietetics, as well as food service management, food science, and nutrition science. Courses in nutrition assessment, diet modification, nutrition program planning, and research develop analytical and decision-making skills critical to dietetic practice. Practicing dietitians from outstanding medical centers teach clinical nutrition courses and provide guest lectures on the most interesting and current topics in the field. During senior year, students do fieldwork in hospital dietetics under the close supervision of registered dietitians, helping patients and clients meet their special nutritional needs.

Most students in this area of concentration continue their studies to obtain credentials as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). To enable undergraduates to progress smoothly toward Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credentials, students may pursue a 5-year combined BS/MS degree.

Course Title Credits
Liberal Arts Requirements
Foreign Language
Select eight credits of a foreign language8
Expository Writing
EXPOS-UA 1Writing as Inquiry4
ACE-UE 110Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions4
Foundations of Contemporary Culture
Texts and Ideas4
Cultures and Contexts4
Expressive Culture4
Societies and the Social Sciences:
PSYCH-UA 1Intro to Psychology4
or APSY-UE 2 Introduction to Psychology and Its Principles
Foundations of Scientific Inquiry
APSTA-UE 1085Basic Statistics I (or other Statistics by advisement)4
CHEM-UA 120Introduction to Modern Chemistry5
CHEM-UA 210Principles of Organic and Biological Chemistry and Laboratory5
NUTR-UE 1068Introduction to Human Physiology4
Liberal Arts Electives
Select 10 credits of other Liberal Arts Requirements10
Additional Requirements
SAHS-UE 1New Student Seminar0
Writing Proficiency Examination
Specialization Requirements
Core Content
FOOD-UE 1051Food and Identity4
NUTR-UE 85Intro to Foods and Food Science3
NUTR-UE 91Food Management Theory3
NUTR-UE 119Nutrition and Health3
NUTR-UE 1052Food Production and Management3
Nutrition and Dietetics Coursework
NUTR-UE 120Theories & Techniques of Nutrition Ed Counseling2
NUTR-UE 1023Food Microbiology & Sanitation3
NUTR-UE 1064Nutritional Biochemistry3
NUTR-UE 1117Current Research in Nutrition (seniors)2
NUTR-UE 1184Food Science & Tech3
NUTR-UE 1185Clinical Nutrition Assessment Intervention3
NUTR-UE 1198Fieldwork4
NUTR-UE 1209Community Nutrition3
NUTR-UE 1260Diet Assessment and Planning3
NUTR-UE 1269Nutrition and Life Cycle3
Restricted Electives
Select seven credits of electives by advisement7
Unrestricted Electives
Select 16 credits of Unrestricted Electives16
Total Credits128

This concentration focuses on the scholarly study of food, particularly its cultural and social dimensions. Concentration courses cover food issues of contemporary societies, essentials of cuisine, beverage management systems, food in the arts, and communications.

Students may choose from a wide variety of theoretical and hands-on elective courses, such as food science, international nutrition, food demonstrations, international foods, and food photography. Courses are taught by NYU faculty, as well as by highly qualified professionals who share their knowledge and experience, provide career advice, and supervise internships. Internships are available in every imaginable aspect of the food field and are developed through consultation with faculty.

Course Title Credits
Liberal Arts Requirements
Foreign Language
Select eight credits of a foreign language8
Expository Writing
EXPOS-UA 1Writing as Inquiry4
ACE-UE 110Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions4
Foundations of Contemporary Culture
Texts and Ideas4
Cultures and Contexts4
Expressive Culture4
Societies and the Social Sciences:8
Choose one Social Science subject area (Anthropology, Economics, Politics, Psychology, Sociology) and complete two classes, one introductory and one advanced, in the same discipline
Foundations of Scientific Inquiry
Quantitative Reasoning4
Life/Physical Sciences8
Liberal Arts Electives
Select 12 credits of Liberal Arts Electives12
Additional Requirements
SAHS-UE 1New Student Seminar0
Writing Proficiency Examination
Specialization Requirements
Content Core
FOOD-UE 1051Food and Identity4
NUTR-UE 85Intro to Foods and Food Science3
NUTR-UE 91Food Management Theory3
NUTR-UE 119Nutrition and Health3
NUTR-UE 1052Food Production and Management3
Food Studies Specialization
FOOD-UE 71Fd Issues of Cont Societ4
FOOD-UE 1033Food Systems: Food and Agriculture4
FOOD-UE 1056Internship in Food Stud & Food Mgmt3
FOOD-UE 1118Research in Food Studies2
FOOD-UE 1130Commun Workshop in Foods & Nutrition2
FOOD-UE 1135Essentials of Cuisine:3
FOOD-UE 1180Food and Nutrition Global Society4
FOOD-UE 1183Techin/Regional Cuisine2
FOOD-UE 1204Food in The Arts:2
FOOD-UE 1210Introduction to Food History4
FOOD-UE 1217Advanced Foods:3
Restricted Electives
Select seven credits of electives by advisement7
Unrestricted Electives
Select 12 credits of Unrestricted Electives12
Total Credits128

Food Studies

This concentration explores the cultural, historical, and sociological aspects of food, production, and consumption. You’ll take courses in food studies, including food issues and systems, cuisine, research in food studies, and food science and history, as well as advanced electives in areas like food and the arts, food photography, and food laws and regulations.

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
SAHS-UE 1 New Student Seminar 0
NUTR-UE 85 Intro to Foods and Food Science 3
NUTR-UE 119 Nutrition and Health 3
CHEM-UA 120 Introduction to Modern Chemistry 5
EXPOS-UA 1 Writing as Inquiry 4
 Credits15
2nd Semester/Term
PSYCH-UA 1 Intro to Psychology 4
ACE-UE 110 Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions 4
FOOD-UE 1051 Food and Identity 4
CHEM-UA 210 Principles of Organic and Biological Chemistry and Laboratory 5
 Credits17
3rd Semester/Term
NUTR-UE 120 Theories & Techniques of Nutrition Ed Counseling 2
NUTR-UE 91 Food Management Theory 3
NUTR-UE 1023 Food Microbiology & Sanitation 3
NUTR-UE 1068 Introduction to Human Physiology 4
Elective 4
 Credits16
4th Semester/Term
NUTR-UE 1064 Nutritional Biochemistry 3
NUTR-UE 1184 Food Science & Tech 3
Texts and Ideas 4
Unrestricted Electives 3
Elective (by advisement) 3
 Credits16
5th Semester/Term
NUTR-UE 1260 Diet Assessment and Planning 3
NUTR-UE 1269 Nutrition and Life Cycle 3
Cultures and Contexts 4
Elective (by advisement) 2
Foreign Language 4
 Credits16
6th Semester/Term
NUTR-UE 1209 Community Nutrition 3
Expressive Culture 4
Foreign Language 4
Elective 2
Unrestricted Electives 3
 Credits16
7th Semester/Term
NUTR-UE 1185 Clinical Nutrition Assessment Intervention 3
NUTR-UE 1198 Fieldwork 4
APSTA-UE 1085 Basic Statistics I 4
Elective (by advisement) 2
Unrestricted Electives 3
 Credits16
8th Semester/Term
NUTR-UE 1052 Food Production and Management 3
NUTR-UE 1117 Current Research in Nutrition 2
Electives (2 courses) 8
Unrestricted Electives 3
 Credits16
 Total Credits128
Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
SAHS-UE 1 New Student Seminar 0
EXPOS-UA 1 Writing as Inquiry 4
FOOD-UE 71 Fd Issues of Cont Societ 4
NUTR-UE 85 Intro to Foods and Food Science 3
Elective 4
 Credits15
2nd Semester/Term
ACE-UE 110 Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions 4
FOOD-UE 1051 Food and Identity 4
NUTR-UE 119 Nutrition and Health 3
Texts and Ideas 4
Elective (by advisement) 2
 Credits17
3rd Semester/Term
FOOD-UE 1204 Food in The Arts: 2
NUTR-UE 91 Food Management Theory 3
Societies and the Social Sciences 4
MATH-UA ---Mathematics course 4
Unrestricted Electives 2
 Credits15
4th Semester/Term
Expressive Culture 4
FOOD-UE 1183 Techin/Regional Cuisine 2
Societies and the Social Sciences 4
Foreign Language 4
Unrestricted Electives 3
 Credits17
5th Semester/Term
FOOD-UE 1210 Introduction to Food History 4
FOOD-UE 1217 Advanced Foods: 3
Natural Sciences I 4
Foreign Language 4
 Credits15
6th Semester/Term
FOOD-UE 1033 Food Systems: Food and Agriculture 4
Cultures and Contexts 4
FOOD-UE 1135 Essentials of Cuisine: 3
FOOD-UE 1118 Research in Food Studies 2
Elective 4
 Credits17
7th Semester/Term
NUTR-UE 1052 Food Production and Management 3
FOOD-UE 1180 Food and Nutrition Global Society 4
Natural Sciences II 4
Elective (by advisement) 3
Unrestricted Electives 2
 Credits16
8th Semester/Term
FOOD-UE 1056 Internship in Food Stud & Food Mgmt 1-6
FOOD-UE 1130 Commun Workshop in Foods & Nutrition 2
Unrestricted Electives 5
Elective (by advisement) 2
Elective 4
 Credits16
 Total Credits128
Snacks

How to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

This curriculum fully prepares students to meet the educational knowledge and skills specified by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as part of the requirements to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). 

Learn More

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