Many students pursuing a degree in Nutrition Science within the department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN) plan to apply to nursing school, and this concentration is designed to prepare them for post-baccalaureate nursing programs, including accelerated Bachelor of Nursing programs. The coursework within this concentration covers common nursing school prerequisites and is tailored to equip students with skills relevant to nutrition, human health, and disease prevention. Students in this concentration are strongly encouraged to consult with their academic advisor and the Health Professions Advising Team to ensure they meet the specific prerequisites for their targeted nursing schools.
This concentration also serves as a pathway to CSU’s 3+2 Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program [hyperlink to 3+2 MSN Program Description], offered on the Fort Collins campus in collaboration with CSU Pueblo’s School of Nursing. Students interested in the 3+2 MSN program must begin in the Pre-Nursing Concentration and apply to the MSN program during their third semester. If accepted, students will transition from this concentration to the Major in Nutrition Science, Nursing Concentration. If not accepted, students will remain in the Pre-Nursing Concentration to complete the nursing prerequisite coursework and earn their Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition Science, after which they can apply to accelerated Bachelor of Nursing programs.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of scientific principles relating to physiology, chemistry, and nutrition science.
- Integrate information from scientific sources, critically analyze critique scientific information, and develop appropriate conclusions.
- Apply knowledge to issues relating to human health and disease.
Effective Fall 2026
If students would like to apply to the 3+2 Master's of Nursing and the corresponding Nutrition Science Nursing Concentration, students must earn a grade of C or better in all nursing prerequisite courses as well as any course substitutions fulfilling these requirements.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| AUCC | Credits | ||
| CHEM 107 | Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2) | 3A | 4 |
| CHEM 108 | Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 3A | 1 |
| CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | 1A | 3 |
| FSHN 115 | Health Equity | 1C | 3 |
| FSHN 150 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | 3 | |
| FSHN 340 | Food as Medicine | 3 | |
| HDFS 101 | Lifespan Development (GT-SS3) | 3C | 3 |
| MATH 117 | College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1) | 1B | 1 |
| MATH 118 | College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1) | 1B | 1 |
| PSY 100 | General Psychology (GT-SS3) | 3C | 3 |
| Select one group from the following: | 4 | ||
| Group A: | |||
| Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||
| Animal Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
| Group B: | |||
| Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
| Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |
| Historical Perspectives | 3D | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 35 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| FSHN 292 | Careers in Nutrition Science Seminar | 1 | |
| FSHN 350 | Human Nutrition | 3 | |
| FSHN 428 | Nutrition Teaching and Counseling Techniques | 3 | |
| FSHN 453 | Biology of Body Weight Regulation | 3 | |
| LIFE 205 | Microbial Biology | 3 | |
| LIFE 206 | Microbial Biology Laboratory | 2 | |
| MATH 124 | Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1) | 1B | 1 |
| MATH 125 | Numerical Trigonometry (GT-MA1) | 1B | 1 |
| SPCM 200 | Public Speaking | 3 | |
| STAT 201 | General Statistics (GT-MA1) | 1B | 3 |
| Select one course from the following: | 4 | ||
| Principles of Human Physiology | |||
| Physiology for Clinical Health Professions | |||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| Writing Arguments (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||
| Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | ||
| Junior | |||
| CHEM 245 | Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry | 4 | |
| CHEM 246 | Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| FSHN 449 | Pathophysiology of Nutrition-Related Diseases | 4B | 2 |
| FSHN 450 | Medical Nutrition Therapy | 4B | 3 |
| FSHN 459 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle | 4A | 3 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| Intro to Nutrition for Sports and Fitness | |||
| Integrative Wellness Coaching I | |||
| Community Nutrition | |||
| Pre-Nursing Concentration Course (see list below) | 3 | ||
| Electives | 7 | ||
| Total Credits | 26 | ||
| Senior | |||
| BC 351 | Principles of Biochemistry | 4 | |
| BMS 301 | Human Gross Anatomy | 5 | |
| FSHN 470 | Advanced Human Nutrition and Metabolism | 3 | |
| FSHN 492 | Seminar in Dietetics and Nutrition | 4C | 2 |
| HES 310 | Human Pathophysiology | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following: | 2 | ||
| Global Nutrition | |||
| Food Systems--Impact on Health/Food Security | |||
| Pre-Nursing Concentration Courses (see list below) | 7 | ||
| Total Credits | 26 | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 120 | ||
Pre-Nursing Concentration Courses2
Select a minimum of 10 credits from the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AGED 372/HDFS 372 | Inclusive Mentoring for Neurodiverse Peers | 2-4 |
| BMS 302 | Laboratory in Principles of Physiology | 2 |
| FSHN 220 | Intro to Nutrition for Sports and Fitness | 3 |
| FSHN 271 | Integrative Wellness Coaching I | 3 |
| FSHN 272 | Integrative Wellness Coaching II | 3 |
| FSHN 342A | Study Abroad--Italy: Food as Medicine | 3 |
| FSHN 360 | Nutrition Assessment | 2 |
| FSHN 361 | Global Nutrition | 2 |
| FSHN 435 | Lactation Benefits and Promotion | 2 |
| FSHN 445/HDFS 445 | Early Childhood Health, Safety, and Nutrition | 3 |
| FSHN 451 | Community Nutrition | 3 |
| FSHN 455 | Food Systems--Impact on Health/Food Security | 2 |
| HDFS 315 | Disability Across the Lifespan and Culture | 3 |
| HDFS 317 | Disabilities in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| HDFS 332 | Death, Dying, and Grief | 3 |
| HDFS 404 | Child Life Theory and Practice | 3 |
| HES 202 | Introduction to Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| HES 207 | Anatomical Kinesiology | 4 |
| HES 300 | Physiology for Clinical Health Professions | 4 |
| HES 345 | Population Health and Disease Prevention | 3 |
| HES 354 | Theory of Health Behavior | 3 |
| HES 434 | Physical Activity Throughout the Lifespan | 3 |
| PBHL 200 | Introduction to Public Health (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| PSY 320 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| SOC 344 | Health, Medicine, and Society | 3 |
- 1
Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).
- 2
Nursing pathophysiology is a common prerequisite for BSN programs. A recommended external option is NSG 207 online from CSU Pueblo. Students should consult with their advisor for additional options.
Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
Students seeking admission to the Major in Nutrition Science Nursing Concentration must begin in the Nutrition Science Pre-Nursing Concentration and formally apply to the Master's of Nursing (MSN) after completing all coursework in Semesters 1 - 3 with a grade of C or better. Notification of acceptance occurs during Semester 4 and if admitted, students will change to the Nursing Concentration prior to Semester 5. Students must complete all remaining MSN prerequisites in Semesters 5 and 6 with a grade of C or better and will not be allowed to enroll in MSN nursing courses until all prerequisites are complete.
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| FSHN 115 | Health Equity | X | 1C | 3 | |
| FSHN 150 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | X | 3 | ||
| HDFS 101 | Lifespan Development (GT-SS3) | X | 3C | 3 | |
| MATH 117 | College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1) | X | 1B | 1 | |
| Select one group from the following: | X | 4 | |||
| Group A: | |||||
| Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||||
| Animal Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||||
| Group B: | |||||
| Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||||
| Arts and Humanities | X | 3B | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 17 | ||||
| Semester 2 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| CHEM 107 | Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2) | X | 3A | 4 | |
| CHEM 108 | Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1) | X | 3A | 1 | |
| CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | X | 1A | 3 | |
| FSHN 340 | Food as Medicine | X | 3 | ||
| MATH 118 | College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1) | X | 1B | 1 | |
| PSY 100 | General Psychology (GT-SS3) | X | 3C | 3 | |
| Historical Perspectives | X | 3D | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Semester 3 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| FSHN 292 | Careers in Nutrition Science Seminar | X | 1 | ||
| FSHN 350 | Human Nutrition | X | 3 | ||
| MATH 124 | Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1) | X | 1B | 1 | |
| MATH 125 | Numerical Trigonometry (GT-MA1) | X | 1B | 1 | |
| SPCM 200 | Public Speaking | X | 3 | ||
| STAT 201 | General Statistics (GT-MA1) | X | 1B | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following: | 4 | ||||
| Principles of Human Physiology | X | ||||
| Physiology for Clinical Health Professions | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 16 | ||||
| Semester 4 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| FSHN 428 | Nutrition Teaching and Counseling Techniques | X | 3 | ||
| FSHN 453 | Biology of Body Weight Regulation | X | 3 | ||
| LIFE 205 | Microbial Biology | X | 3 | ||
| LIFE 206 | Microbial Biology Laboratory | X | 2 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| Writing Arguments (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Sciences (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||||
| Arts and Humanities | X | 3B | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 17 | ||||
| Junior | |||||
| Semester 5 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| FSHN 449 | Pathophysiology of Nutrition-Related Diseases | X | 4B | 2 | |
| FSHN 459 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle | X | 4A | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| Intro to Nutrition for Sports and Fitness | |||||
| Integrative Wellness Coaching I | |||||
| Community Nutrition | |||||
| Electives | 4 | ||||
| Total Credits | 12 | ||||
| Semester 6 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| CHEM 245 | Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry | X | 4 | ||
| CHEM 246 | Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory | X | 1 | ||
| FSHN 450 | Medical Nutrition Therapy | X | 4B | 3 | |
| Pre-Nursing Concentration Course (see list on Concentration Requirements tab) | X | 3 | |||
| Elective | X | 3 | |||
| Total Credits | 14 | ||||
| Senior | |||||
| Semester 7 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| BC 351 | Principles of Biochemistry | X | 4 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 2 | |||
| Global Nutrition | |||||
| Food Systems--Impact on Health/Food Security | |||||
| Pre-Nursing Concentration Courses (see list on Concentration Requirements tab) | X | 7 | |||
| Total Credits | 13 | ||||
| Semester 8 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| BMS 301 | Human Gross Anatomy | X | 5 | ||
| FSHN 470 | Advanced Human Nutrition and Metabolism | X | 3 | ||
| FSHN 492 | Seminar in Dietetics and Nutrition | X | 4C | 2 | |
| HES 310 | Human Pathophysiology | X | 3 | ||
| The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study. | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 13 | ||||
| Program Total Credits: | 120 | ||||