PROGRAM INFORMATION
Department: Biochemistry	Faculty: Science	Campus: St. John's
Honours available: Yes	Length: Four years
University Calendar: Nutrition
Prospective students: Fill out our student inquiry form to receive updates from Memorial.

Nutrition is the science that studies the process of taking in and utilizing food for maintaining cell, organ, and organism health. Nutritionists study how foods are converted into simpler compounds used by the body, and how food choices can lead to greater overall health or contribute to disease development.

Nutrition at Memorial

The nutrition program provides in depth courses on nutrient metabolism; later courses apply that knowledge to specialized topics in nutrition, such as nutrition and disease treatment or prevention, sports nutrition, nutrition through the life cycle or gene-nutrient interactions. Many of our undergraduates become involved in research through the Memorial University Career Experience Program (MUCEP), Student Undergraduate Research Award (SURA) and other summer research programs. Ongoing research activities include studying nutrient requirements of the developing infant, the impact of dietary fat on the brain health, the role of sleep on food choices and body weight, and the role of maternal and early life nutrition in the development of chronic diseases in adulthood.

In addition to the major and honours options in nutrition, a joint program is offered in nutrition/behavioural neuroscience (B.Sc. honours).

Admission requirements

New Memorial students

Intake: Fall, winter or spring semesters

Application deadline: Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Students are encouraged to apply by: March 1 for fall admission, Oct. 1 for winter admission and Feb. 1 for spring admission

You may apply for admission into the Faculty of Science by indicating bachelor of science as your program of choice on the undergraduate application for admission. 

Direct entry into the Faculty of Science from high school is subject to meeting the general admission requirements for Memorial University, including appropriate courses in mathematics and a laboratory science.

Sample first year

Admission into the nutrition major requires the completion of university level courses. Wondering what courses you should take in your first year? Check out a sample program of suggested courses you need to complete before applying for the nutrition major.

Admission to the major for current students

Intake: Fall, winter or spring semesters

Application deadline: May 31 (recommended) via departmental application (details below)

Entry to the nutrition major is based on academic standing. To be considered for admission to the major, you must have at least 30 credit hours (10 courses), including the following: 

• six credit hours in critical reading and writing (CRW) courses, including at least three credit hours in English 
• Mathematics 1090, 1000 (or Mathematics 1000 and an elective) 
• Chemistry 1050, 1051 (or 1010, 1050) 
• Physics  1020 & 1021 or 1050 & 1051 or Biology 1001 & 1002

You must successfully complete the courses mentioned above with a minimum overall average of 60%.

Upon completion of these courses, you must apply to the major. You are strongly recommended to apply by May 31 of your first year. Failure to apply by this date may result in your application not being processed before your registration time.

Sample courses beyond first year

BIOC 2005 - Food, Food Safety and Health
BIOC 3203 - Fundamentals of Human Nutrition
BIOC 4301 - Nutrition and Disease

Career opportunities

A bachelor of science degree, with a major in nutrition, prepares students for a variety of careers including:

• health educator
• sports nutritionist
• research laboratory technician
• government health policy
• food product developer or marketer
• food safety inspector
• food/nutrition writer/journalist
• clinical research co-ordinator

Note: some of these careers may call for supplementary education or preparation in the form of graduate studies, experiential learning or professional courses and exams.