2024-2025 Catalog 
    
    Dec 03, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog

Human Physiology and Nutrition, BS


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The Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology and Nutrition offers students a degree that is specifically designed for those who want to study human-specific aspects of health and disease as they prepare for careers that require advanced professional degrees and/or licensure (e.g. medical doctor, osteopathic doctor, physician assistant, chiropractor, dentist, registered dietitian nutritionist).

General Information

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Physiology and Nutrition requires the following:

  • A minimum of 120 credit hours is required to complete the bachelor’s degree.
  • A minimum of 39 credit hours of HPNU coursework is required for the major; at least 33 of those hours must be upper-division (courses numbered 3000 or higher) course work.
  • A grade of “C-” or better is required on all HPNU courses for the major.
  • A minimum CU cumulative GPA of 2.0 is needed to graduate.

Additional course work is required to complete the Human Physiology and Nutrition, BS degree.  Please see the advising guides on the Academic Advising website for more information.

Learning Outcomes

The specific Program-Level Learning Objectives were developed with the intention of preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals and scientists for employment in rapidly growing and evolving settings.

  1. Students will form a strong foundational knowledge in the basic life sciences, including biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, physiology, and nutrition
  2. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary for entry level employment in health-related fields or pursue advanced degrees in clinical practice or applied sciences by:
  • Applying principles and knowledge gained through coursework to novel problems and situations in clinical and/or applied research settings.
  • Demonstrating effective communication skills in both academic and clinical settings.
  • Demonstrating the ability to use equipment and technology germane to the fields of human physiology and nutrition.
  • Exhibiting the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
  • Employing professional and ethical behavior in clinical and/or applied research settings.

Human Physiology and Nutrition Major Options

There are two options available for completing the Human Physiology and Nutrition degree. Students must select one of the two options.

  • Biomedical Science
  • Dietetics and Nutrition

Course Requirements


HPNU Electives (15 credit hours)


Complete an additional 15 credit hours of upper-division HPNU electives (the electives must carry the HPNU prefix and be a 3000-level or higher course).

Biomedical Science Option


Additional courses are recommended for application to professional programs. Because requirements vary between institutions and from year to year, students need to check the requirements of specific schools they plan to apply to at least 1 year prior to application. Note that these programs are all highly competitive. Additional course work and experience within the field are encouraged to improve the strength of the application.  Additional courses can fulfill general electives toward the bachelor’s degree.  See the advising guide on the Academic Advising website for course recommendations for programs with the CU system.

Nutrition and Dietetics Option


Additional Auxiliary Courses (7 credit hours)


In addition to the Core Courses, Auxiliary Requirements, and HPNU Upper-Division electives listed above, complete the following for the Nutrition and Dietetics option:

Suggested Electives


Starting in 2024, a master’s degree will be required to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Elective courses should be selected to strengthen a student’s application to graduate programs.

Suggested general and upper-division HPNU electives are listed below.

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