NUTRITION AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
What is Nutrition and Medical Sciences?
The Nutrition and Medical Sciences major is a great fit for students who want to work in healthcare or medical fields, such as becoming a doctor, physician assistant, dentist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, or other health professional. Students build a strong background in science through courses in biology, chemistry, and human physiology. They also learn how the body uses nutrients, how diseases affect health, how medications work, and how diet can help prevent and manage illness.
Eligible students in this major may apply for one of three reserved seats in Widener University's Physician Assistant Program.
What Can I Do with a Degree in Nutrition and Medical Sciences?
A degree in Nutrition and Medical Sciences opens the door to a wide range of careers and advanced educational opportunities. After graduation, you may choose to begin your career in areas such as:
● Scientific or pharmaceutical industries
● Food and nutrition companies
● Healthcare sales and marketing
● Research and laboratory settings
● Public health and community health programs
● Health policy and advocacy
Our students have been extremely successful in pursuit of their educational and career goals. Want to hear from some Nutrition and Medical Sciences students? View interviews with recent graduates Jon Martin, Olivia Jordan, Jae Jong, Karin Ueda, and Annie Antonov.
Interested in Continuing Your Education?
Many students use this degree as a pathway to graduate and professional programs, including:
- Medical School
- Physician Assistant (PA) Programs
- Dental School
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Programs
- Occupational Therapy (OT) Programs
- Physical Therapy (PT) Programs
- Accelerated Nursing Programs
- Genetic Counseling Programs
- Graduate School in nutrition, health sciences, or related fields
With a strong science foundation and personalized faculty support, you'll be well prepared to pursue your career goals—whether you enter the workforce or continue your education.
The Department of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences also offers a Nutrition and Dietetics major, which can be combined with the Nutrition and Medical Sciences major if you want to keep your options open. This path can prepare you to apply to medical, dental, PA, or other health professional programs—or pursue becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) after graduation.
The Nutrition and Medical Sciences curriculum is designed to allow students to take all of the necessary prerequisite courses for admission into their chosen pre-health profession or graduate education pathway and prepare for entrance exams, while obtaining a strong background in nutrition science. There is flexibility in the curriculum, allowing students to tailor their coursework to fulfill application requirements for their chosen postgraduate health-professional program or their desired career.
For example, students applying to medical, dental, or pharmacy school are required to take Organic Chemistry and Calculus; in contrast, those pursuing other health-related professions may not need these courses. The Nutrition and Medical Sciences curriculum accommodates both paths with tailored course offerings.
To earn a Bachelor of Science degree, students must complete a minimum of 122 credits and meet specific requirements as outlined in the University of Delaware Catalog. The average number of credits per semester ranges from 14-17 credits; winter and summer sessions can help to lighten the load of regular semesters.
In addition to working directly with their Advisor, students can access the Center for Health Profession Studies for further advice and peer mentorship.
Nutrition double major embodies healthy lifestyle at UD: youtube.com/watch?v=8u0L_ELp5kA
Reserved Seats in Widener University’s MS in Physician Assistant Studies Program
Up to 3 eligible students annually may apply for reserved seats in Widener University’s MS in Physician Assistant Studies program using the CASPA centralized application system.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Enrolled in BS in Nutrition and Medical Sciences major
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 throughout undergraduate studies with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 by the end of the fall semester of senior year
- Grade of B or better in the following courses:
- General biology or zoology - 3 credits with lab (BISC207/217)
- Microbiology - 3 credits (BISC300 or MMSC270)
- Other biology courses recommended: genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, embryology, histology, or immunology - 3 credits (BISC208).
- Anatomy and physiology (completed within 5 years of attending MS program) - 8 credits with lab (KAAP309 and KAAP310).
- General chemistry - 4 credits with lab (CHEM103/CHEM133)
- Organic chemistry - 4 credits (CHEM213/CHEM215)
- General psychology or behavioral psychology - 3 credits (PSYC100)
- Statistics - 1-2 credits (STAT200)
- Medical terminology (can be taken online) - 1 credit or certificate of completion (MMSC200).
- Documentation of at least 500 hours of direct patient/client care through employment or volunteer experience. It is recommended to complete at least 40 hours of shadowing with a Physician Assistant. The remaining hours may be completed in other clinics with other professions, such as the Nutrition Clinic, Health Coaching Clinic, Physical Therapy Clinic, etc.
Benefits of applying for one of the reserved seats:
- Expedited application review
- Guaranteed invitation to interview
- Priority consideration for acceptance
Note: Students in the Nutrition and Medical Sciences major who do not meet all of the above eligibility criteria for application to reserved seats may still apply to the Physician Assistant program and benefit from the expedited application review, guaranteed invitation to interview, and priority consideration for acceptance.
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Connect
Tower at STAR: 100 Discovery Blvd, Newark, DE 19713 | Health Sciences Complex: 540 S. College Ave, Newark, DE 19713 chs-info@udel.edu Phone: 302-831-1060