BS Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Case Western Reserve University

Program Overview

The B.S. in Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism at Case Western Reserve University examines how nutrients influence metabolism, health and disease, combining nutrition with chemistry, biology, biochemistry, mathematics, physics and statistics. It is particularly suited to students interested in nutritional and metabolic research, biomedical science, medicine, dentistry and other health professions, while also offering flexibility to combine the degree with areas such as Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Sociology or Communication Sciences.

Curriculum Structure

First Year

Students establish their scientific foundation through BIOL 214 – Genes, Evolution and Ecology, CHEM 105 – Principles of Chemistry I and CHEM 113 – Principles of Chemistry Laboratory, alongside MATH 121 – Calculus for Science and Engineering I. In the second semester, BIOL 215 – Cells and Proteins, CHEM 106 – Principles of Chemistry II, MATH 122 – Calculus for Science and Engineering II and NTRN 201 – Nutrition introduce students to cellular biology, chemistry, quantitative science and the fundamentals of human nutrition.

Second Year

The second year develops a deeper understanding of biological systems and organic chemistry through BIOL 216 – Development and Physiology, CHEM 223 – Introductory Organic Chemistry I and CHEM 233 – Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory I. Students continue with CHEM 224 – Introductory Organic Chemistry II, CHEM 234 – Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory II, MATH 223 – Calculus for Science and Engineering III and MATH 224 – Elementary Differential Equations, strengthening the chemical and quantitative skills needed for metabolic science.

Third Year

Students begin applying their foundational sciences directly to nutrition and metabolism through BIOC 307 – Introduction to Biochemistry: From Molecules To Medical Science, NTRN 363 – Human Nutrition I: Energy, Protein, Minerals and PHYS 115 – Introductory Physics I. The spring semester adds NTRN 364 – Human Nutrition II: Vitamins, NTRN 397 – Research Methods and Disciplinary Communications in Nutrition, PHYS 116 – Introductory Physics II and STAT 201 – Basic Statistics for Social and Life Sciences, giving students stronger research, analytical and scientific-communication skills.

Fourth Year

The final year brings the programme's nutritional biochemistry focus together through NTRN 452 – Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism, NTRN 398 – SAGES Senior Capstone Experience and PHYS 221 – Introduction to Modern Physics. Students then advance into NTRN 454 – Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism: Investigative Methods and choose additional NTRN electives, allowing them to explore areas such as clinical nutrition, sports nutrition, lifestyle and preventive medicine, or nutrition for women and children.

Focus Areas

Nutritional biochemistry, metabolism, human nutrition, molecular nutrition, metabolic regulation, nutrition and chronic disease, biochemistry, organic chemistry, physiology, molecular biology, statistics, investigative methods, clinical nutrition, sports nutrition, preventive medicine

Learning Outcomes

Students learn to explain the roles of macronutrients and micronutrients in health and disease, understand relationships between nutrition and chronic disease, evaluate nutrition interventions, explain nutrient regulation and metabolic dysregulation, critically evaluate scientific literature, apply statistical concepts to nutrition decisions, integrate foundational sciences into nutrition and metabolism, and use physics and calculus principles to analyse metabolic processes such as energy balance and nutrient transport.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The B.S. in Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism itself is not identified as separately accredited by ACEND. However, students who wish to pursue dietetics can complete the university's Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) coursework, which is currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; students interested in this pathway are advised to work with a department advisor from their first year.

Reputation (Employability / Official Recognition)

Case Western Reserve University states that its Department of Nutrition has been selected as one of the top 10 nutrition programs in the country, while the department describes itself as a research-based department within the School of Medicine with research spanning molecular nutrition, metabolism, clinical and community interventions and other biomedical sciences.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students gain practical experience through research-focused coursework, laboratory science and faculty-mentored research rather than studying nutrition only from a theoretical perspective. The Department of Nutrition offers both paid and unpaid opportunities specifically for students majoring in Nutrition and Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism, including guided laboratory research in nutritional biochemistry or molecular nutrition and the paid Wharton Summer Student Research Program.

The programme also connects students with the research environment of the CWRU School of Medicine, where more than 40 core facilities provide specialised scientific equipment, technologies and research services. Students can build practical experience through these programme-specific opportunities:

NTRN 397 – Research Methods and Disciplinary Communications in Nutrition: develops research-methods and scientific-communication skills.
NTRN 398 – SAGES Senior Capstone Experience: gives students a culminating opportunity to integrate their undergraduate learning through a substantial capstone experience.
NTRN 454 – Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism: Investigative Methods: introduces investigative approaches to whole-body metabolism, energy balance and disease, including the use of stable-isotope tracers and mass-spectrometric analysis.
NTRN 390 – Undergraduate Research: students can undertake guided laboratory research in nutritional biochemistry or molecular nutrition under the sponsorship of a nutrition faculty member.
Wharton Summer Student Research Program: a paid, 10-week research experience for eligible Nutrition and Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism students, working under faculty and Cleveland-area nutrition researchers; students devote 40 hours per week to their projects and present their work at the Intersections undergraduate research symposium.
Research topics: previous Wharton projects have included human microbiome and mycobiome analysis, stable-isotope metabolic research, small-molecule inhibitors, single-cell transcriptomics, diabetes-focused culinary nutrition and dietary-intake research.
Exercise and Nutrition Research Group (ENRG): students can gain hands-on clinical and research experience in sports nutrition, exercise physiology, fueling, metabolism and recovery; the group has worked with the CWRU Athletics Department and the university's varsity student-athletes.
Department of Nutrition research environment: research spans molecular nutrition, metabolism, maternal and child health, public/community health and basic and translational biomedical sciences.
School of Medicine Core Facilities: students involved in suitable research can work within a broader biomedical research environment supported by more than 40 specialised core facilities.
Student employment: eligible junior and senior Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism students can apply for departmental teaching-assistant positions, including roles involving Canvas maintenance and classroom activities.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. provides a strong foundation for graduate study in nutritional biochemistry, metabolic research and other biomedical sciences, while also accommodating pre-health preparation for medicine, dentistry and allied health professions. CWRU's Nutrition Department specifically identifies careers and further training in nutritional biochemistry and metabolism, molecular nutrition, dietetics, public health nutrition, medicine, dentistry, nursing, physical therapy and physician-assistant pathways.

Typical job roles include Nutritional Biochemistry Research Assistant, Nutrition Research Technician, Metabolic Research Assistant, Dietary Technician.

Career support: CWRU's Center for Career Success collects graduate destination data and provides career resources, while its pre-health career support includes advising for medical, dental, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, optometry, public health, physician-assistant and veterinary pathways.
Experiential preparation: In the CWRU Class of 2024, 98% of graduates reported participating in at least one experiential-education activity; 85% participated in research or a creative endeavour and 73% completed an internship, practicum or co-op.
Employment outcomes: CWRU's Class of 2024 reported 96% with secured plans involving employment, advanced education or other destinations, with 42% pursuing graduate or professional school.
Salary information: For CWRU's Class of 2024, the median starting-salary range for permanent employment positions was $75,000–$79,999; this is a university-wide undergraduate figure, not a programme-specific Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism salary.
Healthcare and research network: CWRU works within a major Cleveland healthcare ecosystem, and university nutrition programmes highlight relationships involving Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, MetroHealth Medical Center and Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.
Research partnerships: The Department of Nutrition's MENtoR programme has been a joint venture with Louisiana State University's Pennington Biomedical Research Center, providing students with exposure to metabolism, exercise physiology and nutrition research; the department states that MENtoR is not being offered in 2026.
Graduate outcomes: CWRU's 2026 alumni information includes a recent Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism graduate working as a dietary technician at MetroHealth in Cleveland, illustrating one direct healthcare-related pathway from the major.
Long-term professional preparation: Students seeking dietetics can complete the accredited DPD requirements, while students pursuing research or health professions can use the degree's biochemistry, nutrition, statistics and research foundation as preparation for advanced education.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into master's or doctoral study in nutritional biochemistry, molecular nutrition, nutrition, metabolic research, public health nutrition and related biomedical sciences. The degree can also be used as preparation for professional programmes in medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, pharmacy and other allied health fields; CWRU also offers accelerated bachelor's/master's pathways for eligible undergraduate students.