Bachelor of Science in Nutrition

A woman teaches a class in nutrition.

Quick Facts

Location

Kenmore, Washington campus

General Requirements

  • Completion of the equivalent of two years of college course work
  • 2.5 cumulative GPA
  • Grade of C or better in all basic proficiency and science requirement courses
  • 90 quarter credits (60 semester credits), including a minimum number of credits in the basic proficiency, science and general education categories 

Length of Program

2 years, full-time

Tuition and Financial Aid

Career Opportunities

  • Food consultant with public and private companies and organizations (for example, sports organizations, fitness centers, patients' organizations and associations)
  • Manager of food and meal production in catering companies
  • Information and communication employee in the private and public sectors
  • Health promotion consultant within public and private companies
  • Product developer in the food industry
  • Project manager or project associate
  • Food journalist for digital and print media, magazines and cookbooks
  • Sales consultant (e.g. nutraceutical or supplement industry)
  • Food/diet technician (may require certificate)
  • Food service manager
  • Personal chef/catering manager

See examples of how our graduates use their nutrition degrees. 

Summary

In the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition program, you’ll gain a comprehensive education that merges the science of nutrition with a broad view of wellness, community and the environment. Bastyr's experienced faculty guides you through the physiological, biochemical, socioeconomic, political and psychological dimensions of human nutrition.

The University's curriculum emphasizes that good nutrition involves understanding and meeting the greater needs of the planet. This includes using food as affordable medicine and learning how growing and processing food impacts the environment.

Program Features

  • A rigorous science-based curriculum prepares you for a mainstream profession with a natural health perspective.
  • Highly qualified faculty coupled with small class sizes and a strong advising program.
  • A modern and fully equipped whole food nutrition kitchen where students develop their culinary skills
  • Whole food Dining Commons featuring organic, local meals.
  • Nutrition students help maintain the University's Medicinal Herb Garden and its 350 species of herbs and seasonal crops. The garden serves as a laboratory for organic, sustainable and renewable agriculture.
  • Access to elective classes in other programs, including herbal sciences, naturopathic medicine, and health psychology.

Learn about career opportunities and see examples of how graduates use their nutrition degrees.

Prerequisites

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Looking for a low-cost alternative to completing your prerequisites? See which courses can be fulfilled through the Alternative Credit Project.

Entering undergraduates must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 with a grade of C or higher in all basic proficiency and science requirement courses. Exceptional applicants who do not meet these requirements will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Before enrolling, students must have completed 90 quarter credits (60 semester credits), including a minimum number of credits in the basic proficiency, science and general education categories. Surplus credits not used to satisfy basic proficiency or science requirements may be applied to the appropriate general education requirements.

Note: You may apply to the program while completing prerequisite coursework.

Basic Proficiency and Science Requirements

English Literature or Composition9 quarter credits
General Psychology3 quarter credits
Public Speaking3 quarter credits
College Algebra or Statistics4 quarter credits
General Chemistry I & II (science-major level with lab)8 quarter credits
General Cell Biology (science-major level with lab)4 quarter credits
Introductory Nutrition5 quarter credits

General Education Requirements

Natural Sciences8 quarter credits
Arts and Humanities15 quarter credits
Social Sciences15 quarter credits
Electives16 quarter credits The number of elective credits may vary depending upon the exact number of quarter credits earned in the other prerequisite categories. Total prerequisite credits must equal at least 90 quarter credits.

Want to know which classes fulfill these prerequisites? Check these lists:

Curriculum

This table lists the tentative schedule of courses for each quarter. Also included: the number of credits per course (Credits), lecture hours each week (Lec.) and lab/clinic hours each week (L/C). Course descriptions are available in the Course Catalog.

Junior Year (Year I)

Expected Learning Outcomes

The Department of Nutrition & Exercise Science has established the following expected learning outcomes for all its Bachelor of Science programs:

  • Biological/Medical Sciences
  • Quantitative and Qualitative Reasoning
  • Research
  • Critical Thinking Skills
  • Communication
  • General Health and Wellness
  • Nutrition, Whole Foods and Exercise Science
  • Professionalism
  • Promotion of the University's and the Department's  mission and vision

The attached PDF is the proposed curriculum for students starting in Fall 2019. Please note that changes to the curriculum may still occur before the start of the Fall 2019 academic year. For the 2019-2020 course catalog, click here.

PDF icon 2019-20 BSN.pdf

Professor Highlights

Professor Highlights: 

Debra A. Boutin, MS, RDN

Portrait of Debra A. Boutin, MS, RD
I am thrilled to be the Chair of the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Science. Our programs are developed to match the passion you have for whole foods nutrition! I am here to help you decide which of our programs is the best fit for you and your career goals.

Kenmore Campus Location

The 51-acre Bastyr University campus, nestled among fields and woodlands on the northeast shore of Lake Washington, is uniquely suited for the study of natural health sciences.

Page Index

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