Welcome New Students!
Congratulations on your admission to UC Davis and welcome to the Department of Nutrition!
We are happy to welcome you as a member of our undergraduate nutrition community. By choosing this exciting field of study, you are joining a discipline grounded in biological and human science that is dedicated to understanding the profound role nutrition plays in health, disease management, and prevention of chronic conditions.
If you have not already completed Aggie 101 and reviewed the information for new students provided by the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, you should do so before moving on to this page.
Please mark your calendar for the upcoming events and webinars:
Wednesday, June 17 - New Student Welcome
Wednesday, June 24 - Course Selection and Registration Presentation
Wednesday, June 24 - Course Selection for Transfer Students (pre-recorded)
June 25 - Aug. 11 - Aggie Advising Dates
TBD - Pre-Registration Presentation
Recordings of the webinars will be posted in links above if you miss them.
We look forward to speaking with you soon during Aggie Advising!
Aggie Advising are individual advising appointments with your assigned Major Advisor. They are your opportunity to meet one-on-one with your assigned Major Advisor and to ask your specific questions prior to your registration day. (See ScheduleBuilder for your assigned day and time). Students with last names beginning with A-Ma are assigned to Martha Amésquita and students with last names beginning with Mb-Z are assigned to Jason Wong. Use the "Make an appointment" link on this page to schedule an appointment with your assigned Major Advisor. We look forward to supporting your academic and professional growth and to working alongside you as you contribute to improving and promoting individual and public health through nutrition.
Students from other Majors or Considering a Change of Major
Only students who are officially declared in nutrition will be able to schedule an advising appointment online with a Staff Advisor. If you are a new student declared in a different major but planning to switch to nutrition, schedule an appointment with a Peer Advisor in our office or e-mail [email protected] if you have questions about the nutrition majors. The recommendations below will help you create your first quarter schedule as a nutrition major until then.
If you are a first year and considering a change of major to a subject other than nutrition, you may be able to do so as early as Winter Quarter. The advisors of the major you plan to pursue can advise you of their requirements. Note that most human and biological sciences will have similar preparatory coursework their first two years at UC Davis; and, since most freshmen/ sophomore level courses (numbered 1-99) are open to all majors and often do not have prerequisites, there is usually not an urgency to officially change majors during your first year.
Calendars
- Orientation Dates and Deadlines
- Quarter Dates and Deadlines (Scroll down to see 2026-2027).
First Quarter Schedule Recommendations
First Year
First-year students take 12-15 units your first quarter (approximately 3-4 classes).
Online course registration will begin July 30 or 31.
- Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR)
- If you did not fulfill the ELWR, you should take the course that you tested into. This may be an ELWR course or UWP 21/22.
If you fulfilled the ELWR, you are not required to take an English Composition course your first quarter at UCD. - Chemistry
- Take CHE 2A or CHE 1/1V as indicated by your Chemistry Placement Exam score.
- First Elective
- Choose any non-science class that interests you. You can review course descriptions in the UC Davis General Catalog or Schedule Builder. As a freshman, you should only take courses numbered 1-99. Some options for this elective can be a non-science course in your major, an Arts and Humanities GE, or a Social Sciences GE.
Don’t take a course that is labeled a Writing Experience (WE) GE if you have not fulfilled the ELWR. - Second Elective (optional)
- You can choose to take a fourth class if you have not exceeded the 15 unit maximum recommended.
Choose any non-science class that interests you. You can review course descriptions in the UC Davis General Catalog or Schedule Builder. As a freshman, you should only take courses numbered 1-99. Some options for this elective can be a non-science course in your major, an Arts and Humanities GE, or a Social Sciences GE.
Don’t take a course that is labeled a Writing Experience (WE) GE if you have not fulfilled the ELWR.
Transfers
Transfer students take 12-15 units your first quarter (approximately 3-4 classes). If you are a declared nutrition major entering UC Davis for the first time in Fall Quarter, your Major Advisors will verify which courses they accepted towards your nutrition major requirements before registration for Fall begins (Aug. 12 or 13). Keep an eye out for this notification sent to your UC Davis e-mail address from OASIS.
- Prerequisite Science Courses
- If you did not complete your General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Cellular Biology courses before transferring, plan to take these courses at UCD your first year.
- Courses listed in Fall Quarter of Junior Year on the Sample 4-Year Plan of the nutrition major you plan to complete
- If you completed your General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Cellular Biology courses before transferring, you are ready to start the Fall Quarter classes listed in Junior Year on the Sample 4-Year Plan of the nutrition major you plan to complete.
Reminders
- You do not need to be in a specific major to take a class, you only need to meet the prerequisites. If a class is closed to specific majors in Pass 1, you can attempt to register for the class during Pass 2 or Schedule Adjustment.
- Courses that are offered in early mornings, late afternoons or evenings will have less demand. If you really want to take a specific class in Fall Quarter, look to these sections to improve your chances of finding a seat.
- Registration continues through the first 2 weeks of instruction.
Aggie Advising (Nutrition Major Advising)
Advising Appointments
Academic advisors in the Nutrition Department are available throughout the summer if you have general questions. They can be reached at [email protected] and (530) 752-2512, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Peer Advisors are also available at [email protected], Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
If you have follow-up questions for your Major Advisor after your scheduled, individual academic advising appointment as part of Aggie Advising, please feel free to contact them directly.
Students with last names beginning with A - Ma are assigned Major Advisor:
Martha Amesquita
3202 Meyer Hall, (530) 752-2512, [email protected]
Schedule an advising appointment
Students with last names beginning with Mb - Z are assigned Major Advisor:
Jason Wong
3202 Meyer Hall, (530) 752-7094, [email protected]
Schedule an advising appointment
Drop-In Peer Advising
Peer Advisors in our office are typically juniors or seniors studying nutrition. They can answer general questions and can give you an insight on what it’s like to study nutrition at UC Davis. Peer Advisors will also refer you to other advisors on-campus as needed.
Advising Hours:
Monday through Friday
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
3202 Meyer Hall
(530) 752-4657
[email protected]
Schedule an advising appointment
How to get Involved
New Student Resources
Clinical Nutrition Major
Nutrition Science (Nutritional Biology Option) Major
Nutrition Science (Nutrition in Public Health Option) Major
Pre-Health Students
While the nutrition majors are excellent preparation for a career in the health professions, a specific major isn’t required to attend a professional school after graduation. There are specific courses that you should take before applying to a professional school. If you would like to compare these requirements to your major requirements, visit Health Professions Advising for a list of prerequisite courses and additional information.