In this research-based major you’ll explore how diet and nutrition impact human health and disease. By understanding the link between nutrients, health, environment, and society, you can improve lives in local and international communities.
Your courses will involve lectures and hands-on training with high-performance equipment in specialized nutritional science labs on 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ's Macdonald Campus.
The Nutrition Major does not lead to professional licensure as a dietititian-nutritionist. See Dietetics major.
Your courses
The Bachelor of Science (Nutritional Sciences) - Major in Nutrition covers the scientific fundamentals of nutrition and metabolism throughout the lifespan. You’ll take courses in biochemistry, physiology, advanced nutrition, statistics, genetics, and food chemistry.
In your second year, you can apply to an Honours program and study the design, execution, interpretation, and reporting of research in human nutrition.
In this 3-year program, 90 credits of required courses are sequenced in a specific order over eight terms.
Concentrations
In the Nutrition major, you’ll need to choose one concentration:
Food Function & Safety
Health effects of phytochemicals and food toxicants, food chemistry and analysis, food safety, product development, and influence of constituents of food on health.
Global Nutrition
Interactions between nutrition, diet, water, environment, and infection.
Metabolism, Health & Disease
Influence of diet and nutrition on human health and the pathophysiology of inherited and acquired chronic disease.
Sports Nutrition
Influence of exercise and physical activity on health and chronic disease prevention.
Career paths
This major equips you to work in many health and scientific fields, and prepares you for further studies such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, or veterinary science. You could work in:
- International nutrition and health
- Pharmaceutical industries
- Food product research and development
- Food labeling or inspection
- Government or other organizations
- Science communication
Internships & research
This is a flexible program that offers you the chance to participate in research and field studies, as well as internships.
Our students have been:
- Working in university and hospital research labs
- Collaborating with 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ researchers in other departments, such as Kinesiology
- Doing nutritional marketing in New York City
- Interning in local community kitchens
Can’t decide between Food Science and Nutrition? Do both!
Our concurrent B.Sc. (Food Science) and B.Sc. (Nutritional Sciences) is a 4-year program that allows you to study both complementary disciplines at the same time, earning two degrees upon graduation.