Major Advising Page: Nutritional Sciences
To be effective in their careers, future nutritional sciences major graduates must seek to develop foundational knowledge and skills to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse society. Gaining awareness, knowledge, and sensitivity to the strong connection between food, nutrition, and culture is a life-long process.
Studying abroad can provide an excellent foundation to begin broadening students’ worldview surrounding food beliefs, customs, and values, cultivating awareness and an inclusive attitude toward how food and nutrition is used and perceived across cultures.
Course considerations
Nutritional sciences students face challenges in finding coursework that counts as direct equivalents for our curriculum because of its inclusion of general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, introductory biology, anatomy and physiology, core nutrition classes, and a capstone requirement.
Other options for courses that could be fulfilled by courses abroad are:
- Breadth courses (social sciences, humanities, CALS International Studies requirement)
- Nutritional sciences electives: Please see the nutritional sciences advisor for help determining what will count as electives. A syllabus or course title and description should be presented to the advisor.
Students who are participating in the field experiences through the global health certificate will fulfill elective credits. Please see the nutritional sciences advisor for specific information.
Map your experience as a
nutritional sciences student
Some courses within the four-year plan are taught at the same time during the week and therefore need to be taken in alternate semesters. These courses include: Microbio 303, Nutr Sci 510, and Anat&Phys 335. Please plan accordingly and check with your nutritional sciences advisor to make sure to avoid any scheduling conflicts.
Possible 4 year plan with a semester abroad
| Year | Fall | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Year | Chem 103Math (if needed)FY SeminarComm A | Chem 104 | |
| 2nd Year | Chem 343International Studies1Bio 151 | Chem 345Bio 152Ethnic Studies1STAT 301 or 3711 | Chem 3441 |
| 3rd Year | Anat & Phys 3352NS 3321Biochem 5011NS Elective1 | STUDY ABROAD:General Education1/Social Science1/Humanities1 | NS 4311 |
| 4th Year | Micro 3032Micro 304Physics 1031Gen 466 | NS 5102NS 500Physics 1041NS Elective1 |
1May be taken in different semesters. Please consult your academic advisor for planning options.
2Course will conflict if taken in the same semester as the following: Anat&Phys 335, Micro 303, or NS 510.
Freshman year
Students would be well served to start their first semester with general chemistry, or if they have chemistry completed, then introductory biology. Winter break, spring break, and summer provide opportunities for students to study abroad, especially if you are part of a FIG (First-Year Interest Group).
Sophomore year
If your foundational coursework, especially chemistry, is completed your first year, studying abroad for a semester during the sophomore year is a strong possibility. Spring semester is recommended so that you may use fall to start — or, if you have AP credit for Bio 151, complete — your Introductory Biology sequence. In addition, you need to think about how the three-course OChem sequence will fit into your academic plan, but it is not absolutely necessary that you start OChem right away. Winter break, spring break, or summer programs are also great options to complete electives or experiences that align with your academic, personal, and/or professional goals.
Junior year
Nutritional sciences students typically aim to complete semester abroad experiences their junior year; however, there are important items to consider. Summer of junior year is often the period when students take required admission tests for graduate programs (MCAT, PCAT, DAT, etc.) when they are planning to start a graduate program immediately following graduation. Please plan carefully with your advisor and the Centers for Pre-Health Advising and Center for Pre-Law Advising to ensure your study abroad will complement and not conflict with your professional pathway.
During junior year, students can choose to study abroad during the fall or spring semester. You will need to take Physiology 335/435 during your semester here at UW–Madison (or an approved transfer course) in order to be eligible for Nutr Sci 431 (Pre-Reqs: C or greater in Anat&Phys 335 and NS 332). Nutr Sci 431 is a spring/summer only course and a prerequisite for Nutr Sci 500 (Nutritional Sciences Capstone) which is taken in the final semester of undergraduate study with the exception of summer.
Depending on the study abroad program, you may be able to take Biochemistry 501 while abroad for a semester during your junior year.
Winter break or spring break programs are also great options and will likely not affect course sequencing or your professional timeline.
Senior year
Students interested in studying abroad their senior year will need to consider their professional school applications and remaining credits. Graduate schools and medical schools typically conduct interviews in the fall semester for immediate acceptance after graduation.
If you do not plan on having interviews in the fall, you may study abroad during the Fall semester with relative ease, but it may become more challenging in the spring semester for the following reasons:
- You are required to complete an Independent Study (699) or Capstone course (Nutr Sci 500) your final semester. The students who need to take the Capstone course must take it in their last semester here on campus and it is not offered over the summer.
- Studying abroad spring of senior year can be difficult for CALS students if you do not have any requirements remaining, as CALS policy is that students will be graduated if all requirements are met. Sometimes students save a requirement they are very sure to find abroad (such as humanities, social science) for spring of senior year if they’d like to study abroad then.
Ask questions
- What classes must I complete for my degree (breadth/depth, major requirements, etc.)?
- Do I need to be on UW–Madison’s campus for any courses in my major?
- How many electives do I have outside of my major?
- What kinds of courses abroad could count for nutrition electives?
- What classes cause scheduling conflicts when planning?
- How do my goals (summer research experiences, attending professional or graduate school, taking a gap year, etc.) fit in with my coursework and timeline?
- What classes can I take abroad?
- How and when do I select courses for my program?
- When will I know course equivalents for my program?
- What is the class structure like abroad?
- What skills do careers related to my major require, and how might participating in a particular program help me gain those skills?
- When would be the best time to participate in a program based on my career goals?
- How will participating in a study abroad, study away, or international internship make me stand out?
- What are my post-graduation plans (dietetic internship, PA or medical school, graduate school, work, etc.?)
- Do I intend to pursue any post-undergraduate education right away or take time off? This may influence when you take certain standardized tests, when you need to take certain prerequisite courses, and when study abroad is most feasible.
- What are my priorities for my undergraduate education — is it graduating in 4 years, studying abroad for a semester, completing multiple majors/certificates, being able to attend medical school right away? Which of these are most important if it becomes difficult to fit everything in?
Discover programs that are right for you
The following are programs that may be of interest to you! Durations and courses vary and may count toward electives or degree requirements. If you do not have specific requirements, there’s more flexibility in program type and location.
These opportunities are not an exhaustive list of all programs.
In this section
Semester and academic year programs
Australia
Czech Republic
Greece
Perrotis College (semester and summer)
Netherlands
New Zealand
Trinidad and Tobago
Short-term programs
The programs with an asterisk (*) indicate that they meet the Global Health Field Experience Requirement for the Global Health Certificate.
To find public/global health-related programs, select Academic Credit: “Certificate in Global Health” on the program search. View public/global-health related programs.
Costa Rica
France
Greece
Perrotis College (semester and summer)
6 credits; This six-week summer program includes a 3-credit class on the Greek Cultural Experience and the option to take an additional 3-credit class or engage in a 3-credit research or work internship.
Italy
Japan
Sri Lanka
UW Global Health, Community Health, and Asset-Based Community Development in Sri Lanka* (winter intersession)
Tanzania
UW Health, Education, and Tanzanian Culture in Tanzania* (summer and winter intersession)
Japan
- UW Agriculture, Health, and Nutrition in Uganda* (winter intersession)
- UW Mobile Clinics and Health Care in Uganda* (summer)
International Internships
International internships allow you to apply your academic skills to the real world and gain valuable professional experience abroad while earning UW–Madison course credit.
As you consider your academic and professional goals for studying abroad, explore the different internship options, including UW Signature internships, internship-focused programs, part-time internships, or applying for credit for an external internship.
Check with your academic advisor to see if earning credit for your internship abroad can fulfill a major or certificate requirement.
Hear from students in your major
Explore student blogs and reflections to see how your peers have connected international experiences to their studies. Discover real stories about the skills, challenges, and professional insights gained through our programs.
Photo credit: Veronica Goveas (Tanzania)
Want more information?
Dive deeper into how courses and credits work on our programs, or connect with an advisor to find the best fit for your goals.
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