Within the UConn Department of Nutritional Sciences, this 100% online graduate certificate in Precision Nutrition will provide you a unique opportunity; students have the option to take courses in nutrigenomics, clinical nutrition, and nutritional biochemistry to provide focused knowledge and skills.
A minimum of twelve credits (4 courses) are required and must be fulfilled via three online Precision Nutrition core courses and your choice of one online elective course.
| Fall '24 | Spring '25 | Summer '25 | Fall '25 | Spring '26 | Summer '26 |
| NUSC 5200* | NUSC 5300* | NUSC 5325 | NUSC 5200* | NUSC 5300* | NUSC 5280 |
| NUSC 5700* | NUSC 5600 | NUSC 5700* | NUSC 5410 | ||
| NUSC 6313 | NUSC 6313 | NUSC 6311 | |||
| NUSC 6410 |
*Required Courses: NUSC 5200, 5300 and 5700
NUSC 5280, 5325, 5410, 5600, 6311, and 6410 are offered on a rotating basis. Please see the descriptions on this page for further information.
REQUIRED COURSES (3 Courses, 9 Credits)
NUSC 5200 – Macronutrient Metabolism (3 credits)
The digestion, absorption/transport and metabolism of carbohydrates, protein/amino acids and lipids; their functions, metabolic pathways and interrelationships; mechanisms regulating their metabolism; methodologies for studying metabolism and assessing nutrient requirements in man and animals.
NUSC 5300 – Vitamins & Minerals (3 credits)
Comprehensive study of vitamins and macro-/trace minerals on the levels of biochemical and physiological functions, metabolic pathways, interactions, and deficiencies/toxicities.
NUSC 5700 – Precision Nutrition (3 credits)
Studies the foundation of precision nutrition which encompasses research focusing on the interaction between nutrients and human/microbial genes and identifies genetic backgrounds contributing to individual differences in macro and micronutrient metabolism. Examines the effects of dysregulated nutrient-gene interactions in pathophysiological conditions.
ELECTIVE COURSES (Choose One 3-Credit Course)
NUSC 5280 – US Food Laws and Regulations (3 credits)
Development of new nutrition products; regulations applicable to foods, medical foods, dietary supplements and ingredients; accurate and appropriate representation of scientific evidence for substantiating label claims and advertisements.
NUSC 5325 – Principles of Nutritional Assessment (3 credits)
Nutritional assessment as a systematic process of obtaining and interpreting data to characterize nutritional status in association with health and nutrition-specific problems for individuals and selected populations. Interpretation of dietary, anthropometric, and laboratory data as applied to case studies.
NUSC 5410 – Clinical Nutrition (3 credits)
Application of principles of human nutrition, physiology, and biochemistry to progressive pathology of selected diseases and associated effects on nutritional status, nutritional needs, nutrient intake and utilization in the context of the nutrition care process.
NUSC 5600 – Pathophysiology of Metabolic Diseases (3 credits)
Biochemical, physiological and molecular aspects of energy metabolism and inflammatory pathways involved in pathogenesis of metabolic diseases; diet and dietary component contribution to pathogenesis.
NUSC 6311 – Regulation of Food Intake and Energy Balance (3 credits)
Central and peripheral regulation of energy balance and how this affects body weight and risk for chronic disease. Relative contribution of genetic and metabolic factors, diet, and exercise on the pathophysiology of obesity.
NUSC 6313 – Nutrition & Gene Expression (3 credits)
Studies the regulations of eukaryotic gene expression by various macro-/micronutrients and their metabolites in the scope of epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational mechanisms.
NUSC 6410 – Advanced Clinical Nutrition (3 credits)
Continued investigation of the interrelationships of physiology and biochemistry of disease and dietary intervention with a focus on more complex conditions, alternative approaches to therapeutic nutrition, and extension to special populations. Clinical nutrition research in the context of therapeutic practice and case studies will be emphasized.