Nutrition (NUTR) | Penn State (2024)

3 Credits

NUTR100

This course introduces students to nutrition principles necessary to promote a healthy lifestyle through assessment and application. Students will be better prepared to evaluate nutrition-related issues presented in the media and to make informed choices about their diet in order to promote health throughout their lives. Information about nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, water, and minerals) and the physiological processes used to digest, absorb, and utilize them is presented and related to such topics as maintenance of ideal body weight, improvement in physical performance, and the role of nutrients in various disease states such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis. Topical issues such as alcohol ingestion, food insecurity, and consumer concerns will be utilized to integrate and critically analyze information presented by various media outlets. This course is intended for non-nutrition major students and will fulfill 3 credits of the GHW requirement of general education. Students who have earned credit for NUTR251 may not schedule this course.

3 Credits

NUTR119

Basic principles and fundamental processes underlying food preparation. For non-nutrition majors only.

3 Credits

NUTR120H

Scientific principles of basic food preparation, with an emphasis on the physical and chemical aspects.

Honors

1 Credits

NUTR123S

The course will meet once weekly to provide first year students with a basic understanding of why nutrition is important and how to improve their own diet and that of their friends and families. The course will explain the 3 options in nutritional sciences, promote discussions and learning about popular diets that may or may not offer health benefits, and explore important discoveries and advances in the nutritional sciences that underpin the current state of knowledge.

Enforced Corequisite at Enrollment: PSU14 co-required (linked) course

First-Year Seminar

3 Credits

NUTR144

This class teaches students how to plan and prepare recipes and meals through the lens of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGFA) and the dietary guidelines of other countries and cultures. Students will explore the relationship between diet and health, with an emphasis on the food groups that make up the MyPlate, Mediterranean diet and Vegetarian eating patterns, as well as other established eating patterns in the US and other countries. Current US eating practices will be evaluated and compared with the guidelines to understand how well Americans and students are meeting current recommendations. Students will also attend a cooking lab where they will learn basic cooking skills and apply the concepts covered in the course through recipe analysis, meal plan creation, and hands-on cooking sessions.

1 Credits

NUTR170

Nutrition professionals describe career paths and opportunities for graduates in applied and science options; strategies for making effective career decisions.

3 Credits

NUTR175N

This course explores factors that influence food intake, how individuals make food choices within their communities, and how these choices impact health and wellness. Topics include an overview of what Americans tend to eat, factors that influence food intake (e.g., economics, food environment, advertising/marketing), and the impact of poverty on food security, hunger, and health outcomes including obesity. This course also discusses how nutrition-policy influences food intake and health and food assistance programs. Students will be encouraged to examine their beliefs and understanding of how ethnic status, race, and socio-economic status, etc., affects individuals and their family's access to low-cost, healthy food. Students will enhance their understanding of the nature of social justice and equity by examining whether access to healthy food through federally funded programs is a right or a privilege and how a country capable of feeding the world has hungry citizens. This course includes hands-on interactive learning activities in the foods laboratory that teach food budgeting skills across income levels that provide perspective to eating healthy on a budget.

1-12 Credits/Maximum of 12

NUTR199

Courses offered in foreign countries by individual or group instruction.

International Cultures (IL)

1 Credits

NUTR211R

The course provides the student with a beginning understanding of how the biochemistry and metabolism under instruction applies to the human body. This includes the localization of biochemical processes within tissues and organs, the organ specific utilization of macronutrients as fuel sources, organ-specific specialization of macronutrient metabolism, and the anatomical features that accommodate and facilitate these functions. This course is supplemental to BMB211: Elementary Biochemistry, and helps the student apply the biochemical activities taught in BMB211 in the context of human physiology and nutrition. The beginning level coverage offered in both BMB211 and NUTR211R will prepare students for NUTR445, Energy and Macronutrient Metabolism.

3 Credits

NUTR251

NUTR251 Introductory Principles of Nutrition (GHW) is a 3-credit course. This course is designed for nutrition majors and non-majors to provide a broad understanding of general principles of nutrition. Concepts covered include the essential nutrients, digestion, absorption, transport, and food sources. Additionally, major health issues related to some nutrients that are of public health concern in the United States are discussed in more detail giving insight into cause, treatment and prevention. Of major importance to students' lives are health and nutrition implications of overweight and obesity, heart disease, diabetes, bone health, and energy balance as affected by diet and physical activity. Lastly, understanding of nutritional needs throughout the life span is introduced, with emphasis on pregnancy, lactation, and infant nutrition. All of these concepts at this introductory level are important for students in the major so that they are prepared for upper division courses.

3 Credits

NUTR251H

NUTR251H, Introductory Principles of Nutrition (GHW) is a 3-credit General Education honors course. This course is designed for honors-seeking nutrition majors and non-majors in the pre-health fields to provide a broad understanding of general principles of nutrition. Concepts covered include the essential nutrients, digestion, absorption, transport, and food sources. Additionally, major health issues related to some nutrients that are of public health concern in the United States are discussed in more detail giving insight into cause, treatment and prevention. Of major importance to students' lives are health and nutrition implications of overweight and obesity, heart disease, diabetes, bone health, and energy balance as affected by diet and physical activity. Lastly, understanding of nutritional needs throughout the life span is introduced, with emphasis on pregnancy, lactation, and infant nutrition. All of these concepts at this introductory level are important for students in the major so that they are prepared for upper division courses. All of these concepts at this introductory level are important for students in the major so that they are prepared for upper division courses and are relevant to preparation for medicine, dentistry, and other allied health fields.

1-12 Credits/Maximum of 12

NUTR294

Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individual or small-group basis.

1-18 Credits/Maximum of 18

NUTR296

Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.

1-9 Credits/Maximum of 9

NUTR297

Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest.

1-9 Credits/Maximum of 9

NUTR297N

Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest. This Special Topics is an Inter-Domain GenEd course

1-12 Credits/Maximum of 12

NUTR299

Courses offered in foreign countries by individual or group instruction.

International Cultures (IL)

4 Credits

NUTR320

The purpose of this course is to teach students the science of food preparation, to develop culinary skills, to learn how to preserve the nutritional content of plant and animal foods, and how to apply food safety principles during food preparation. Additionally, for each food preparation method, students will learn the underlying chemical and physical principles responsible for the recipe outcome and apply these principles in the cooking lab. Students will gain an understanding of production methods used by food manufacturers and the source of food additives used to make processed foods. Students will apply scientific principles of food preparation by modifying recipes to improve the nutritional quality of prepared foods while maintaining product quality. During the lab sessions, students will learn basic culinary techniques and apply these techniques by reading recipes, preparing foods, and using sensory evaluation to analyze the prepared foods.

3 Credits

NUTR358

NUTR358 is an introduction to the purpose, methods, and scientific basis for assessment of nutritional status in total health care for individuals and groups. Students will learn the role of nutritional assessment within the Nutrition Care Process model. Information is presented regarding current standards of food and nutrient intake adequacies and the use of these reference standards in nutritional assessment. Laboratory and case study assignments are included in the course to apply nutrition assessment principles and understand the role of anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and dietary intake measurements as part of the nutritional assessment. Students will learn to measure, calculate, and interpret personal anthropometric and dietary intake variables. The course will teach students to collect and interpret personal nutritional assessment data and assess nutritional status.

Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: NUTR251

3 Credits

NUTR360

This course covers a range of topics related to providing evidence-based nutrition information to individuals as well as population-level health. It is designed to be an introductory course in nutrition education and theory within the Nutritional Sciences major. Students will explore the tenets of communication, education, and behavioral theories and models pertinent to the development and dissemination of nutrition information. Exploration of the fundamentals of food behavior, basic communication strategies essential to the nutrition counseling relationship, group facilitation, and working with diverse population groups will be examined through didactic lecture, individual practice, and project-based learning. Using current technologies to locate and understand evidence-based research, guidelines and protocols will be emphasized. Students will apply information discussed to the development of culturally sensitive nutrition education materials that are appropropriate for the target population that is being addressed.

Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: NUTR251

3 Credits

NUTR361

This course covers a range of topics around nutritional issues related to population-level health. Community or public health work appeals to many graduates of Nutritional Sciences because it allows them to directly affect the nutritional status of large groups of people. Many nutritionists are drawn to community and public health work because it allows them to practice a variety of skills, such as assessing the nutritional needs, planning interventions, designing educational programs, and conducting program evaluation. In this course, students learn the theory behind community assessment, policy development, intervention planning, and program management and will have an opportunity to practice the skills necessary to carry out these activities through in-class activities and assignments. By the end of this course, students will have a deeper understanding of which population groups in the US benefit from federal food and nutrition assistance programs; what these programs are; what laws and policies regulate them; and how they operate.

Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: NUTR251 Concurrent Courses: NUTR360

United States Cultures (US)

3 Credits

NUTR372

NUTR372 provides a foundation in principles involved in human nutrient metabolism. Particular focus will be placed on macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fats) and relevant micronutrients (e.g., water- and fat-soluble vitamins, and minerals). Language around nutritional biochemistry and physiology: digestion, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion will be covered for all relevant nutrients. This course will prepare students for advanced courses in nutritional sciences.

3 Credits

NUTR386

NUTR386 Managing Quality in Food and Nutrition Services (3) This course is designed to foster the integration of management principles in the profession of nutrition and dietetics. Topics include strategic application of principles of management and systems in the provision of food and nutrition services to individuals and organizations, quality management, health care systems, leadership theory, corporate culture and communication, fiscal management in food and nutrition services, employee staffing, counseling and retention, and marketing. A business plan is also developed incorporating key operating indicators for organizational structure, marketing and financial objectives.

Enforced Concurrent at Enrollment: HM230

4 Credits

NUTR390

NUTR390 is an upper-level undergraduate course that provides a solid foundation in principles of biochemistry, anatomy, physiology in the context of nutrition. Particular focus will be placed on macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate and fats), in conjunction with relevant micronutrients. Gene regulation related to nutrition will be covered. Concepts from pharmacology and toxicology are introduced as a way to build language around nutritional biochemistry. Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion will be covered for all relevant nutrients. NUTR390 does not meet degree requirements for the Nutritional Sciences major or minor.

2 Credits

NUTR391

This course provides students with an introduction to current issues in public health, the healthcare industry, professional practice and consumer trends that impact nutrition and health careers. Students will participate in activities during class to explore current topics in public health and issues related to improving access, quality of care and affordability in health care. Ethics scenarios will be presented and discussed that are relevant to nutrition and other healthcare practitioners. This course also prepares students to develop a set of professional skills necessary to initiate a career in the field of dietetics and their required field experience. This course is designed to help students increase self-awareness, become cognizant of strengths and weaknesses, and develop more effective communication skills. Students will use these skills to obtain and successfully complete an advanced field experience in nutrition (NUTR495).

1 Credits

NUTR393

This course is designed to assist students with the critical thinking skills required to prepare and implement post-graduate educational plans required to progress in the field of nutrition and dietetics. Students wishing to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) must apply to and be selected for a post-baccalaureate professional supervised learning experience, also known as a dietetic internship, following graduation. The process is competitive, complex and requires self-awareness of professional strengths and weaknesses as well as knowledge of the individual characteristics and objectives of specific dietetic internships. This course will introduce students to this process and help them with the skills needed to clarify their goals and complete the materials needed for a dietetic internship application.

Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: NUTR391

1-12 Credits/Maximum of 12

NUTR399

Courses offered in foreign countries by individual or group instruction.

International Cultures (IL)

2 Credits

NUTR400

This course introduces students to the principles and issues present in the nutrition counseling relationship. Topics will include techniques designed to promote and support nutrition behavior change such as motivational interviewing, cognitive behavior change, working with resistance, transference, countertransference, how to conduct a nutrition counseling session, ADIME charting, coding, and billing issues. Students will learn how to give advise effectively, improve their listening and self-reflection skills as they progress through the course. Challenging situations such as eating disorders, dual diagnosis, and obesity will be explored through role-playing and simulation. The dietitian's role within the healthcare team, skill development through practical application and an introduction to Interprofessional interactions will be emphasized.

Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: NUTR358 Concurrent Courses: NUTR446

3 Credits

NUTR407

Interactions between nutrition, food selection, and timing of eating as they apply to exercise training and recreational physical activity.

Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: NUTR251

3 Credits

NUTR409

This course will ask students to look above and beyond the individual level for societal factors influencing population- and individual-level nutritional status. It will discuss people's nutrition behaviors, dietary choices, and nutritional status in the context of the larger social environments wherein they live and work every day. Approaches that consider policy, systems, and environmental change for improving nutrition will be introduced using both domestic and international case studies. Students will be asked to understand, apply, and make connections among the social gradients that characterize health and nutrition in both clinical and public health programs or interventions. Students will be taught how to develop tailored nutrition programs or interventions using social and behavioral information underlying a nutrition situation, as well as evidence-based characteristics of effective campaigns.

3 Credits

NUTR410

Eating behaviors vary widely across individuals, but only the extremes of these behaviors are considered pathological. This course provides an opportunity for students to attain a theoretical overview of eating and weight-related disorders, including anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, obesity, and dieting. The course will discuss theories and current literature on the causes, diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment of eating and weight-related disorders. In addition, the course will also provide an overview of the differences in the prevalence, manifestations, and treatment of disordered eating in special populations, including men, children, athletes, and minorities. For each topic discussed, students will have related readings to provide insight on the history, theory, research and challenges related to this topic. At the end of this course, students will have an understanding of the history, definition, causes and controversies in eating and weight disorders. In addition, students will be able to define the various eating disorders and critically discuss research regarding their causes, consequences, treatment, and prevention.

Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: 5th semester standing NUTR358

3 Credits

NUTR421

NUTR421 (3) (IL) takes a public health perspective whereby the bio-cultural influences on health and nutrition are examined across global contexts. It will challenge students to consider the extent to which social and cultural factors contribute to food behaviors and nutritional status, particularly among vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income settings. The application of the social sciences, including key principles from nutritional anthropology, are a critical yet often overlooked aspect of public health nutrition interventions; this course will ask students to critique both over- and under-nutrition interventions through both biomedical and ethnomedical lenses. Students will describe key considerations for culturally-appropriate nutrition intervention development, implementation, and evaluation within the public health sphere.

Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: NUTR251

International Cultures (IL)

3 Credits

NUTR425

This course is a survey of topics with a focus on an examination of the underlying reasons for malnutrition in developing countries and the nutrition-related health problems facing developing country populations, particularly women and children. The topics will range from climate change, clean water supply, and health, to micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy and child development.Identification of ethical issues and the underlying values/principles of situations relevant to the lives of poor people in developing countries will be discussed, including the right to food in the context of humanitarian aid. Discussion of interventions and current solutions involving multi-country cooperation and agencies meant to alleviate these problems will be explored.

Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: NUTR 175Z or NUTR 175

International Cultures (IL)

3 Credits

NUTR445

This course is designed to provide a foundation in the chemistry and metabolism of the macronutrients. Building on a knowledge base in biochemistry, physiology, and nutrition, this course will focus on the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, and the integration of these metabolic pathways. The course provides the student with a sufficient application of biochemical processes, cellular molecules and their metabolism to serve as a basis for an advanced study of nutrition.

3 Credits

NUTR445H

Nutrients, their sources, metabolism, interrelationships and requirements with focus on carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.

Honors

3 Credits

NUTR446

Nutrition 446 is designed to provide a foundation in integrated metabolism, metabolic functions, biochemistry, as well as cellular and molecular biology of the micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). It is an advanced nutrition course that will build upon your basic knowledge in physiology, biology, chemistry and nutrition. Students need to have a solid understanding of macronutrient metabolism (NUTR445) in order to fully understand the micronutrient metabolism material presented in this course.

Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: NUTR445

3 Credits

NUTR451

This course will take a lifecycle approach to the study of nutritional needs, status, conditions, and interventions. The same nutrients are needed from birth to older age, but the requirements change along with a plethora of other factors including food preferences, chewing ability, digestion, absorption, metabolism, growth, behaviors, and barriers to healthy eating. The course will be divided into nine life stages and will cover what is nutritionally important at each stage. The student will also learn how nutritional status at one stage can impact health in later stages. By the end of this course, the student will have in-depth knowledge of nutritional needs and issues at each stage of life.

Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: NUTR358 Concurrent Courses: NUTR446

3 Credits

NUTR452

This course will review the underlying nutritional components and pathophysiology of common human diseases/disorders. The focus is on the metabolic disturbances and nutritional interventions for the prevention of these diseases. Topics include nutritional aspects of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, GI and renal diseases, immunity and viral diseases, and cancer. The overall goal of this course is to expose students to the integrated nature of the disease process with a focus on nutritionally based or related diseases.

Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: NUTR445 PreRequisite or Concurrent Courses: NUTR446

3 Credits

NUTR453

This Medical Nutrition Therapy course provides students with a strong understanding of how to best prescribe diets for patients, depending on the specific disease profile of the individual. This understanding comes from integrating knowledge of disease pathophysiology with nutrient roles and requirements. This knowledge of disease process informs dietary recommendations. In each case, students use the Nutrition Care Process to assess individual patient needs to determine best practice. Strong assessment skills will allow students to prioritize treatment for best outcomes at an individual level. This course covers prescribed medical nutrition therapy for major disease states encountered in clinical practice. Background pathophysiology lays the foundation for interpreting research and prescribing best practice diets for diseases including obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, renal failure, and liver disease among others. Additionally, planning and usage of enteral and parenteral nutrition is covered. In each unit, students use their understanding of disease states to provide nutrition recommendations in case study examples. Prescriptive diets must reflect physiological states as well as individual patient preferences.

Enforced Concurrent at Enrollment: NUTR452

3 Credits

NUTR460

This course explores how food affects behavior and the brain, and vice versa: how neural circuits and gut hormones control eating and other behaviors. Throughout the course we will dissect the proverb ¿You are what you eat¿, and examine the effect of diet and body weight on behavior and cognition. Links between pathology and dysfunction in the gut and neurological and psychiatric diseases, including addiction, autism or Alzheimer¿s will also be explored. This course will cover current nutritional neuroscience findings from both animal models and human studies. We will also emphasize critical evaluation of nutritional neuroscience topics.

Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: (NUTR251 or BIOL161) and (BIOL163 or BIOL141 or PSYCH260 or PSYCH260A) Recommended Preparation: At least 4 semesters of nutrition or physiology or neuroscience or psychology courses.

3 Credits

NUTR487

This course will provide a review of metabolism as it relates to performance nutrition, and go greater in-depth on substrate utilization including supplements, hormones, and hydration during performance, recovery, and rest. Students will learn about the nutritional considerations for special populations (e.g., those with eating disorders, celiac disease/other autoimmune diseases, tactical groups, specific sports, etc). Students will be asked to apply the Nutrition Care Process to these populations. Students will have the opportunity to also apply nutrition timing, periodization, and menu planning for specific performance needs as they apply performance nutrition to specific populations. Students in this course may help provide meals, snacks, and/or taste tests to student athletes.

Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: NUTR407

3 Credits

NUTR490W

It is essential for nutrition professionals to keep up with the latest discoveries in the field. In this course, students will learn how to review published literature, integrate and evaluate the information, and disseminate their findings to others both verbally and in writing. A major focus of the course is the preparation of the paper in which students will critically evaluate original research papers and other evidenced-based documents, summarize the findings, and provide conclusions based on a careful analysis of the cited literature. From these exercises, students will acquire skills in interpreting research results and communicate their findings of a nutrition-related topic in a professional manner in both written and oral formats. The overall goal of this class is to empower students to sort fact from fiction in nutrition information and to be able to communicate their findings effectively.

Writing Across the Curriculum

1-12 Credits/Maximum of 12

NUTR494

Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individual or small-group basis.

1-12 Credits/Maximum of 12

NUTR494H

Supervised student activities on research identified on an individual or small-group basis.

Honors

3 Credits

NUTR495

NUTR495 is intended for students to earn academic credit through a supervised field experience in a dietetics or nutrition-related field. Students will complete 240 hours at a site agreed upon between the student, the field experience preceptor, and NUTR faculty member as a result of the Field Experience Proposal developed in NUTR391. The primary focus of the field experience is both observational and participatory experiential learning accompanied by onsite supervision, as well as University-based instruction.

Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: NUTR391

Full-Time Equivalent Course

3 Credits

NUTR495B

NUTR495B: Advanced Field Experience in Nutrition is intended for students to earn academic credit through a supervised field experience in a dietetics or nutrition-related field. Students will complete 120 to 160 supervised practice hours at a site agreed upon between the student, the field experience preceptor, and Nutritional Sciences faculty member. The primary focus of the field experience is both observational and participatory experiential learning accompanied by onsite supervision, as well as University-based instruction.

1-18 Credits/Maximum of 18

NUTR496

Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.

3 Credits

NUTR496H

Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.

Honors

1-9 Credits/Maximum of 9

NUTR497

Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest.

1-9 Credits/Maximum of 9

NUTR498

Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest.

1-12 Credits/Maximum of 12

NUTR499

Courses offered in foreign countries by individual or group instruction.

International Cultures (IL)