Explore the biochemical and physiological study of nutrient utilization.
The Bachelor of Science program in Nutrition and Metabolic Biology in the Rausser College of Natural Resources is an excellent option for those interested in studying nutrition as it relates to human biology and chemistry. Formerly Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, the Nutrition and Metabolic major explores the following topics: the delivery of nutrients from foods to cells and the function of nutrients in energy metabolism; the cellular and molecular regulatory mechanisms by which humans respond metabolically to changes in the nutritional environment; dietary patterns causing nutrient imbalances and the effect these imbalances have on the function and health of humans; and the methodological and conceptual processes of nutrition and food science laboratory research.
The major is offered by the Department of Metabolic Biology & Nutrition along with a minor in Nutritional Sciences.
Highlights
- Get involved with the Student Nutrition Advocacy Club.
- Take a class at the Nutritional Sciences Teaching Kitchen.
- Apply for student grants and fellowships with the Berkeley Food Institute.
Curriculum
The Nutrition and Metabolic Biology major provides a strong foundation in the biological and chemical sciences. Students in the major pursue lower division coursework in math and statistics, chemistry, physics, and biological science. Advanced coursework focuses on the biochemical and physiological study of nutrient utilization.
In addition to coursework, there are many opportunities to participate in research projects conducted in faculty laboratories. Our faculty members are especially interested in the interaction among nutrition, metabolism, and disease risk. Students can earn credit for laboratory work by enrolling in a Supervised Independent Study Research (MBN 199).
Learn more at nature.berkeley.edu/advising/majors/nutrition-metabolic-biology
About MBN
The Department of Metabolic Biology & Nutrition focuses on the metabolic biology of nutrients and toxicants in relation to human health and disease. Our research and curriculum span a breadth of topics, from the delivery of nutrients to mammalian cells and their molecular functions, through the influence of genetics on diet-associated human disease, to programs and policies that address human and environmental health and safety. We invite you to explore our academic programs and encourage you to pursue a course of study in one of MNB’s exciting and vital disciplines.
Declaring the Major
First-year and transfer students accepted to UC Berkeley and who selected Nutrition and Metabolic Biology on their undergraduate admissions application will be admitted directly to the Rausser College of Natural Resources and the NMB major (no declaration required).
If you are currently a Rausser student and wish to declare a new major within the college, you must meet with the advisor for your intended major after completing the requirements to declare. If you are a UC Berkeley student in another college, you must meet the requirements to change into Rausser and declare a new major.
The Nutrition and Metabolic Biology degree provides an excellent foundation for employment in research, education, industry, and government, as well as advanced studies in nutrition, health, and bioscience fields. The degree offers ideal preparation for medical school and other health careers such as pharmacy and dentistry. Many of the required pre-med courses are part of our curriculum. Our graduates find that our programs have informed their medical studies and have helped them to sustain and promote good health as professionals.
UC Berkeley offers a number of career resources for students studying Nutrition and Metabolic Biology. Rausser College partners with Berkeley Career Engagement to help students access resources, events, and professional opportunities related to their studies. Additionally, Berkeley Career Engagement provides career counseling, professional and graduate school advising, job and internship listings, and events such as career and graduate school fairs.
Employment
Alumni find employment in a variety of fields and industries after graduation. Examples include:
- Dietitian
- Food Safety Auditor
- Food Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Life Science Consultant
- Nutritionist
- Pharmacy Technician
- Research Associate
- Technical Support Specialist
Graduate Study
Alumni pursue graduate education to gain more depth of knowledge in their field as well as prepare for jobs that require advanced degrees. Examples include:
- Biochemistry
- Biological Sciences
- Dentistry
- Medicine
- Optometry
- Organic Chemistry
- Pharmacy
- Public Health
- Nutrition and Dietetics
Vitto, class of 2024
Vitto Resnick graduated with bachelor degrees in Chemical Biology, Psychology, Molecular and Cell Biology - Neurobiology, and Nutritional Sciences - Physiology and Metabolism (now Nutrition and Metabolic Biology). As a Haas Scholar, Vitto conducted translational research on the use of light-sensitive proteins in retinal bipolar cells to restore vision in mouse models of inherited blindness. After Berkeley, he trained as a research associate at the UCSF Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, and is currently pursuing his MD-PhD at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine.
First Year
Plan Your Studies
- Familiarize yourself with the NMB major; check out the Major Snapshot and Sample Degree Plans.
- Meet with your college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Begin lower division chemistry, calculus, and humanities/social science courses; enroll in an elective and NATRES 76: How to Be a Rausser CNR Scientist.
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
- Discover new interests in a Freshman Seminar, Berkeley Changemaker, or DeCal course.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Explore the Rausser Student Resource Center and Virtual Bulletin Board.
- Join a Rausser student group like the Student Nutrition Advocacy Club.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Find support from the Student Learning Center and Biology Scholars Program.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Take a class at the Nutritional Sciences Teaching Kitchen.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out the NMB Career Snapshot.
- Begin making a plan to get career-ready.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Start using Handshake to connect with career events and opportunities.
- Look into UC LEADS and the Goldwater Scholarship.
Second Year
Plan Your Studies
- Focus on lower division calculus, chemistry, biology, and physics; continue with electives.
- Continue exploring with a Sophomore Seminar or Big Ideas course.
- Look into study abroad and learning a foreign language; see options in Biology abroad.
- Enrich your studies with a certificate or minor such as CalTeach or Food Systems.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend events from Rausser, MBN, and the Berkeley Food Institute.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Explore research opportunities from Rausser and OURS; apply to SPUR or URAP to work on a faculty project.
- Browse programs from the Student Environmental Resource Center.
- Look into student grants and fellowships with the Berkeley Food Institute.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields; look into QB3 for biotech and apply for the Rausser Summer Internship Grant.
- Browse graduate school resources from the Graduate Division and BCE; meet with Health Careers Counseling if pre-health.
Third Year
Plan Your Studies
- Begin upper division core courses and electives (including biology electives); continue with humanities/social science coursework and satisfy your statistics requirement.
- Review your degree progress with your college advisor.
- Spend a term off-campus with UCDC or a field program at Gump Station or UC Nature reserve.
- Consider applying to the Rausser College Honors Program; look into Haas Scholars.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Help other students as a Rausser Peer Advisor.
- Check out the Public Service Internship, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Address real-world problems in the Fung Fellowship or Big Ideas Contest.
- Get involved with the Lawrence Hall of Science or Berkeley Natural History Museums.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
- Join a professional association such as the American Society for Nutrition.
- Interested in public service careers? Look into the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, and Truman Scholarship.
- Connect with alumni groups like Rausser Alumni.
Fourth Year
Plan Your Studies
- Finish upper division core courses, electives (including biology electives), and humanities/social science coursework.
- Enroll in MBN H196 if doing the honors program; join a thesis writing workshop at the Student Learning Center.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by facilitating your own DeCal course.
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Present at a Rausser Research Showcase or outside conference with the Conference Travel Grant.
- Get published! Submit your work to Perennial, Cell Mates, or the Berkeley Scientific Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs; consider the Hertz Fellowship or NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs like the Nonprofit, Environment and Public Service Career Fair.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course like MBN W104.
- Learn the art of STEM communication in ENGIN 185 Science Writing.
- Go abroad through UCEAP or Berkeley Study Abroad; look into the Mediterranean Nutrition and Food Systems program in Chios.
- Participate in an NSF research experience or DOE lab internship.
- Conduct research with support from SPUR.
- Learn about health science with the UCSF Summer Research Training Program, Summer Student Research Program, or Undergraduate Research Internship.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
First Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Get your bearings with L&S 198 Transitioning to Cal.
- Familiarize yourself with the NMB major; check out the Major Snapshot and Sample Degree Plans.
- Meet with your college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Enroll in an upper division core course, electives (including biology elective), and humanities/social science course.
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Explore the Rausser Student Resource Center and Virtual Bulletin Board.
- Join a Rausser student group like the Student Nutrition Advocacy Club.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Find support from the Student Learning Center and Biology Scholars Program.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
- Look into student grants and fellowships with the Berkeley Food Institute.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out the NMB Career Snapshot.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Look into UC LEADS and the Goldwater Scholarship.
Second Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Enroll in an upper division core course and biology elective; continue with humanities/social science coursework and satisfy your statistics requirement.
- Look into study abroad and learning a foreign language; see options in Biology abroad.
- Enrich your studies with a certificate or minor such as CalTeach or Food Systems.
- Consider applying to the Rausser College Honors Program; look into Haas Scholars.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend seminars and events from Rausser, MBN, and the Berkeley Food Institute.
- Check out the Public Service Internship, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Explore research opportunities from Rausser and OURS; apply to SPUR or URAP to work on a faculty project.
- Browse programs from the Student Environmental Resource Center.
- Take a class at the Nutritional Sciences Teaching Kitchen.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields; look into QB3 for biotech and apply for the Rausser Summer Internship Grant.
- Browse graduate school resources from the Graduate Division and BCE; meet with Health Careers Counseling if pre-health.
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options.
Third Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Continue with upper division core courses, upper division electives (including biology elective), and humanities/social science coursework.
- Review your degree progress with your college advisor.
- Spend a term off-campus with UCDC or a field program at Gump Station or UC Nature reserve.
- Enroll in MBN H196 if doing the honors program.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Help other students as a Rausser Peer Advisor or Transfer Student Center Leader.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Address real-world problems in the Fung Fellowship or Big Ideas Contest.
- Get involved with the Lawrence Hall of Science or Berkeley Natural History Museums.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Join a professional association such as the American Society for Nutrition.
- Interested in public service careers? Look into the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, and Truman Scholarship.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs; consider the Hertz Fellowship or NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
- Connect with alumni groups like Rausser Alumni.
Fourth Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Finish upper division core coursework and electives (including biology electives).
- Enroll in MBN H196 if doing the honors program; join a thesis writing workshop at the Student Learning Center.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by facilitating your own DeCal course.
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Present at a Rausser Research Showcase or outside conference with the Conference Travel Grant.
- Get published! Submit your work to Perennial, Cell Mates, or the Berkeley Scientific Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs like the Nonprofit, Environment, and Public Service Career Fair.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Learn about alumni career services.
Summer
- Make progress on degree requirements with a Summer Sessions course like MBN W104
- Learn the art of STEM communication in ENGIN 185 Science Writing.
- Go abroad through UCEAP or Berkeley Study Abroad; look into the Mediterranean Nutrition and Food Systems program in Chios.
- Participate in an NSF research experience or DOE lab internship.
- Conduct research with support from SPUR.
- Learn about health science with the UCSF Summer Research Training Program, Summer Student Research Program, or Undergraduate Research Internship.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
Undergraduate Advising
Have questions about Nutrition and Metabolic Biology or the Rausser College of Natural Resources?
Rausser College provides undergraduate advising to prospective and current undergraduate students. College Advisors are available on a drop-in and appointment basis to assist students with course enrollment and academic planning, explain college and university policies and procedures, and connect students to faculty and other campus student resources. Peer Advising Leaders are trained in understanding college and University requirements, policies, and procedures, and offer personal viewpoints and experiences to current and prospective students.
Advising services are available in 260 Mulford Hall in the Office of Instruction and Student Affairs. For advising hours and contacts, visit nature.berkeley.edu/advising/undergraduate-advising or email advising.rcnr@berkeley.edu.
Related Programs
Looking for programs similar to Nutrition and Metabolic Biology? UC Berkeley also offers the following major, minor, and certificate programs:
