Nutritional Science as Preparation for Health Professional Schools

What is Nutritional Science?

The Nutritional Science (B.S.) degree at Iowa State University looks at the connection between diet and health. Majors in Nutritional Science learn how diet can play a crucial role in the cause, treatment, and prevention of many diseases. A good diet is also important in maintaining normal health, growth, and development. In studying for a degree in Nutritional Science, you will gain insights into the relationship of diet, disease, and wellness. Graduates of this major are well prepared to go on to health professional schools such as medical school, dental school, pharmacy school, or physician’s assistant school. Students are also prepared for nutritional research and teaching

How does Nutritional Science prepare me for my health professional program?

Courses required for admission to most medical schools

Course(s)	Included in Nutritional Science degree requirements?
ENGL 150 & 250	Yes
BIOL 211/L & 212/L	Yes
CHEM 177/L & 178/L	Yes, 178 lab is not required but can be opted into
CHEM 331/L & 332/L	Yes
Math (1-2 semesters of calculus)	Yes
PHYS 111, 112 or 221,222	Yes
Advanced biology	Yes
Some medical schools require an advanced Biochemistry course (BBMB 404 & 405; 420)	Students can fill with elective credit if needed for specific program

As with all programs, students should contact the admissions counselor at the medical school they plan to attend to determine specific program requirements. Additional information about medical school admissions can be found at: http://www.las.iastate.edu/academics/prehealth/.

Courses required for admission to most dental schools:

Course(s)	Included in Nutritional Science degree requirements?
ENGL 150 & 250	Yes
BIOL 211/L & 212/L	Yes
CHEM 177/L & 178/L	Yes, 178 lab is not required but can be opted into
CHEM 331/L & 332/L	Yes
PHYS 111, 112 or 221,222	Yes

As with all programs, students should contact the admissions counselor at the dental school they plan to attend to determine specific program requirements. Additional information about dental school admissions can be found at: http://www.las.iastate.edu/academics/prehealth/.

Courses required for admission to most pharmacy schools:

Course(s)	Included in Nutritional Science degree requirements?
ENGL 150 & 250	Yes
SP CM 212	Yes
STAT 101 or 104	Yes
BIOL 211/L & 212/L	Yes
CHEM 177/L & 178/L	Yes, 178 lab is not required but can be opted into
CHEM 331/L & 332/L	Yes
BIOL 255/L & BIOL 256/L	Yes, students take BIOL 255/L and 335 (a higher-level physiology course)
Math (1 semester of calculus)	Yes
PHYS 111, 112 or 221,222	Yes
MICRO 201/L or 302L	Yes
Humanities & Social Science electives	Yes
COM S 103	Can be taken to fulfill elective credit

As with all programs, students should contact the admissions counselor at the pharmacy school they plan to attend to determine specific program requirements. Additional information about pharmacy school admissions can be found at: http://www.las.iastate.edu/academics/prehealth/.

Courses required for admission to most Physician Assistant schools:

Course(s)	Included in Nutritional Science degree requirements?
ENGL 150 & 250	Yes
BIOL 255/L & BIOL 256/L	Yes, students take BIOL 255/L and 335 (a higher-level physiology course)
BIOL 211/L & 212/L	Yes
MICRO 201/ OR 302/L	Yes
CHEM 177/L & 178/L	Yes, 178 lab is not required but can be opted into
CHEM 331/L & 332/L	Yes
BIOL 314	Yes
STAT 101 or 104	Yes
Psychology 101 & 230	Yes, courses can be taken to fulfill social science or elective requirements

As with all programs, students should contact the admissions counselor at the physician assistant school they plan to attend to determine specific program requirements. Additional information about physician assistant school admissions can be found at: http://www.las.iastate.edu/academics/prehealth/.

For information about how the Nutritional Science major fulfills requirements for other health professional programs (ex: nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, physical therapy school) contact the Food Science and Human Nutrition advisor.

The Nutritional Science curriculum provides an equivalent science foundation to other basic science degrees at Iowa State University, but the Nutritional Science program provides an additional understanding of the food-health interconnection that is not available through other more traditional degree paths.

How could a degree in Nutritional Science help me as a future health professional?

A study by the American Dietetic Association found that only about 40% of medical schools require a nutrition course and of those that do most only offer one class in nutrition (Today’s Dietitian, February 2004, pg. 21). This means that even though physicians are often being asked about nutrition-related topics by patients, they may not have received extensive training in this area (http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/nutrition_8555_ENU_HTML.htm).  The nutritional science degree at Iowa State University provides additional background in this field.

How will health professional schools view a degree in Nutritional Science?

Professional programs and schools do not require specific majors for entrance. This means that students can and in fact should choose a major that interests him/her. Professional schools do not give preference to any major; instead, students must have completed the pre-requisite courses required by the school. (Preparing for Health Professions)

The American Medical Association indicates that it takes a “well-rounded high school and college education, including classes related to the study of human beings” to enter and succeed in medical school (http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2371.html).

Additionally, the Association of American Medical Schools states, “You'll need a strong foundation in mathematics and the sciences that relate most to medicine: biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. But it's important for your college experience to be broad” (http://www.aamc.org/students/considering/decision.htm).

The American Dental Education Association suggests that students need simply to take the required science courses for admission to dental school but can (and do) choose to be many majors (about half of all students enrolled in dental school in 2007-2008 choose a major other than “biological science”). (http://www.adea.org/dental_education_pathways/Documents/2009%20Official%20Guide%20Chapters%201-4.pdf)

The American Pharmacists Association indicates, “you are not required to major in ‘pre-pharmacy’ in college to be eligible for admission to pharmacy school. Pharmacy students… come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds…” (http://www.pharmacist.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Preparing_for_the_Pharmacy_Admissions_Process).
The Nutritional Science degree at Iowa State University combines the pre-requisites for entry into health professional schools with a unique focus on how nutrition impacts human beings.

What if I do not end up going to a health professional program?

“Have a backup plan. Less than 10% of new freshman who declare themselves Pre-Med ever apply to medical school, usually because they change their mind. This is an important reason to choose a major that interests you.”(Preparing for Health Profession)

Nutritional Science graduates are prepared to go on to graduate education in nutrition and participate in nutrition research and education. Some Nutritional Science students also choose to double major in Dietetics so that they have the option to complete a supervised practice experience and take the national registration exam to become a registered dietitian.

Who should I contact for more information about the Nutritional Science major?

Sarah Bender Miller, M.Ed.
Academic Advisor, Food Science & Human Nutrition Department
220 MacKay Hall
515-294-2553
smbender@iastate.edu