News & Events

UW undergraduate courses in nutrition and food systems in autumn 2022

If you are a UW student looking for an interesting elective focused on a topic related to nutrition, health, culinary arts, or food systems, check out these exciting offerings for autumn 2022.

All course offerings on this list are open to any UW undergraduate student regardless of declared major with some courses prioritized for majors. Check MyPlan to review any course restrictions.

New first-time courses added for autumn

This list includes two new special topic courses which are new offerings available for the first time this autumn. NUTR 490 A examines how weight stigma affects health and the NUTR 490 C explores food systems innovation.

These new 400-level offerings count as an elective course for students in the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Major or Nutrition Minor, but are open to any UW undergraduate student regardless of major.

Courses

NUTR 141 Introduction to Foods (5) NW

Examines how foods are used by different people and cultures to deliver nutrients and energy. Explores the evolution of the global food supply, food preparation techniques, food patterns, and eating habits as they relate to diets, nutrition, and personal and public health. Check seat availability

NUTR 200 Nutrition for Today (4) NW

Examines the role of nutrition in health, wellness, and prevention of chronic disease. Topics include nutrients and nutritional needs across the lifespan, food safety, food security, wellness, body weight regulation, eating disorders, sports nutrition, and prevention of chronic disease. Check seat availability

NUTR 302 Food Systems: Harvest to Health (5) NW/I&S

Examines the many facets of the modern food supply from production and processing to distribution, marketing, and retail. Systems approach to foods studies considers geopolitical, agricultural, environmental, social, and economic factors along the pathway from harvest to health. Prerequisite: NUTR 200. Check seat availability

NUTR 341 Exploration of Multisensory Dining (3) NW

Critically evaluates, through the study of research and practical applications, the multisensory relationship between our brains and the food we consume. Prerequisite: either NUTR 141 or NUTR 241. Check seat availability

NUTR 400 Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Seminar (1, max. 4) I&S

Examines emerging issues in food systems, nutrition, and health as they relate to personal and public health. Reviews evidence in the context of food systems and health policy. Credit/no-credit only. Check seat availability

NUTR 402 Food Systems Modeling and Analysis (5)

Provides a foundation in methods of modeling and analysis used to study food systems. Production, consumption, carrying capacity, food shed analyses, life cycle assessment, system dynamics, and integrated modeling will be addressed. Learn what types of questions are best addressed through modeling approaches, the methods used to conduct food systems models, and the data required to complete the analyses. Prerequisite: NUTR 200; NUTR 302; and NUTR 303. Check seat availability

NUTR 405 Physical Activity in Health and Disease (3) NW

Impact of physical activity on individual and public health. Overview of physiological adaptations to activity, exercise prescription, exercise epidemiology, and prevention of chronic diseases. Public health recommendations for activity in the U.S. population, and the effects of the built environment on activity. Prerequisite: either BIOL 118 or BIOL 220. Check seat availability

NUTR 412 United States Food Systems Policy (5) I&S

Offers a broad introduction to food and nutrition policies in the United States and their impacts on population health. Real-world controversies and debates used to illustrate policy principles, research tools, and policy analysis. Includes topics on public health nutrition, food policy related to population health, and food security. Prerequisite: NUTR 302. Check seat availability

NUTR 420 Global Nutrition: Challenges and Opportunities (3) I&S

Examines global dimensions of malnutrition, its assessment and classification, and global policies and programs to improve nutritional status in developing countries. Emphasizes global consequences of poor nutrition on health, cognition, and development with a focus on the first 1,000 days from conception to age two. Prerequisite: NUTR 200. Check seat availability

New courses for autumn 2022

NUTR 490 A Special Topics: Body Weight & Size-Inclusivity: Clinical, Behavioral, and Societal Perspectives

Explores our culture’s obsession with micromanaging our food and our bodies and the impact this may have on physical health, mental health, body image, and embodiment.

Check seat availability | More about the course

NUTR 490 C Special Topics: Food Systems Innovation

Examines multi-sectoral approaches to innovation in the food system, with a focus on sustainability as it relates to public health. Explores the process and case examples in the context of food systems and health practice.