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The University of Pennsylvania’s Second Major in Nutrition Science is an interdisciplinary program offered through Penn Nursing and Penn Arts & Sciences, allowing eligible undergraduates to complement their primary degree with a strong understanding of nutrition, metabolism, and the relationship between diet and health. Students explore how nutrients influence the human body and contribute to conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity, combining scientific knowledge with perspectives from public health and the social sciences.
Curriculum Structure
The Nutrition Science second major does not follow a separate four-year sequence; students complete its requirements alongside their primary degree. The curriculum combines foundational science courses, required nutrition science courses, and four electives, with the precise requirements depending on whether the student’s primary school is Penn Nursing or Penn Arts & Sciences.
Foundational Coursework
Students develop a scientific understanding of the human body through subjects such as Cellular Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Chemistry. These foundations help students understand how nutrients interact with cells, tissues, organs, and overall human health.
Nutrition Science Coursework
Students build their understanding of dietary behaviors, metabolism, and the physiological roles of nutrients. They also examine the relationship between nutrition and major health conditions, developing a scientific perspective on nutrition in disease prevention and health promotion.
Electives and Interdisciplinary Study
Four electives allow students to broaden their understanding of nutrition through approved coursework. This interdisciplinary approach helps students connect nutrition science with their primary field of study and develop knowledge relevant to healthcare, research, and public health.
Focus Areas
Nutrition science, dietary behaviors, metabolism, cellular biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, nutrient physiology, nutrition and chronic disease, public health, interdisciplinary health science.
Learning Outcomes
Students develop a strong foundation in nutrition science, learn to evaluate peer-reviewed nutrition research, communicate health information to audiences from different academic backgrounds, collaborate on group projects, and strengthen scholarly writing and presentation skills.
Professional Alignment and Accreditation
The second major complements a student’s primary degree with nutrition science knowledge relevant to healthcare, health promotion, research, and public health. It is an academic second major rather than a standalone professional qualification; students should check the specific education and credential requirements for regulated careers such as registered dietitian or nutrition professional.
Reputation and Employability
Penn Nursing emphasizes evidence-based science, research, and interdisciplinary education to prepare students to contribute to health and wellness. Because career pathways depend on the student’s primary major as well as the Nutrition Science second major, graduates can use this additional expertise to strengthen their preparation for further study and nutrition-related work.
Penn’s Nutrition Science second major encourages students to connect scientific knowledge with real-world health questions through research evaluation, collaborative projects, and scholarly communication. Students can also explore undergraduate research opportunities through Penn Nursing and the wider university, including faculty mentoring and research programs that help students develop practical research skills.
Students can develop practical skills through:
Research and evidence evaluation: Assess peer-reviewed nutrition science literature and strengthen skills in scientific reasoning.
Group projects: Collaborate with students from different academic backgrounds to develop and present projects related to health and nutrition.
Undergraduate research opportunities: Explore faculty-mentored projects through the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships and Penn Nursing research programs.
Research facilities: Penn Nursing’s Laboratory of Innovative and Translational Nursing Research supports interdisciplinary investigations involving nutrition science, physiology, neuroscience, and other health-related fields.
Research communication: Develop scholarly writing, presentation, and research-reporting skills.
The Nutrition Science second major can complement a student’s primary degree and support future opportunities in nutrition-related research, healthcare, health promotion, and public health. Career options depend on the student’s first major, additional qualifications, and experience; relevant pathways may include nutrition research assistant, public health program assistant, health promotion specialist, and clinical research coordinator.
Career Development and Graduate Outcomes
Career services: Penn Career Services offers career advising, employer connections, job-search resources, and access to Handshake for exploring opportunities.
Research experience: Students can investigate faculty-mentored research opportunities and undergraduate research programs to strengthen their academic and professional preparation.
Employment and salaries: No specific employment rate or starting-salary figure for graduates of the Nutrition Science second major was identified in the official program information.
Professional recognition: The second major builds nutrition science knowledge but does not, by itself, guarantee professional licensure or qualification as a registered dietitian.
Graduate pathways: The major can complement preparation for further study in nutrition science, medicine, dentistry, advanced nursing, physician assistant training, and related health fields, depending on the student’s primary degree and admission requirements.
Further Academic Progression: Eligible Penn Nursing BSN and Penn Arts & Sciences students may apply for the accelerated Master of Science in Nutrition Science (MSNS) pathway, allowing them to begin graduate coursework while completing their undergraduate degree. The online master’s program develops advanced knowledge in nutrition science, research methods, and evidence-based practice for further opportunities in healthcare, research, industry, and public health.
Applicants must submit the Common Application or Coalition Application with the Penn-specific essay, official high school transcript, school report, counselor recommendation, and two letters of recommendation. US universities use a holistic admissions review. Beyond grades and standardized test scores, they weigh the strength of your overall profile to understand who you are as a student and a person.
Profile Assessment: Applicants are generally expected to show strong preparation in Biology and Chemistry, with Mathematics or Physics helpful for some programs. Healthcare volunteering, public-health initiatives, scientific research, first-aid training, community service and supervised clinical exposure may demonstrate empathy, responsibility and understanding of healthcare. Requirements differ considerably by program, particularly for direct-entry Nursing, Pharmacy and allied-health degrees.Extracurricular activities: Estimated extracurricular contribution: 20–30%. Penn values initiative, collaboration, practical engagement, and community contribution. Activities that naturally connect with the selected undergraduate school—Wharton, Engineering, Nursing or Arts and Sciences—may strengthen the application, but students should avoid creating an artificial connection solely for admission.Advanced Placement(AP) Guidance: AP availability depends on the student's school. Relevant APs can strengthen an application and may earn university credit, but are not compulsory unless the university or programme explicitly requires them.Essays & recommendations: Personal essays and teacher/counselor recommendations give context to your achievements and help demonstrate fit with the program.NutritionistCommunity Nutrition EducatorPublic Health Nutrition AssistantNutrition Research AssistantHealth Promotion SpecialistFood Safety SpecialistWellness CoordinatorDietary AideNutrition Program CoordinatorFood Quality AnalystHealth and Wellness Coach
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