Nutrition Master's Degree Requirements

Program | Faculty | Master's | Courses

For the Master of Science program, a bachelor's degree in nutrition or a related field such as biochemistry, biology, exercise science, food science, physiology or public health is appropriate. Students with other bachelor's degree emphases may also apply if prerequisite coursework is completed. At least five out of seven of the following core preparation courses must be taken before admission: Introductory Biology or Zoology, Human Physiology, General Chemistry (2 semesters), Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Basic Human Nutrition. The remainder must be taken while enrolled in the Master's program, but not for graduate credit. The focus of the M.S. degree program can be on either Nutrition Sciences or on Community Nutrition. The M.S. student can select either the thesis or the non-thesis route to complete the degree requirements.

Nutrition Sciences Option

Degree Requirements

a. The thesis option requires a minimum of 30 graduate credits including up to 10 credits of Nutr 699 Master's thesis. Requirements are:

1. 12 credits of 600 or above courses (4 courses, 3 credits each); of these, 9 credits shall be Nutrition courses from the series Nutr 713-716, and 3 credits from outside the Department.

2. 2 credits of graduate Nutrition seminar.

3. An oral thesis defense that includes a general M.S. examination.

b. The non-thesis option requires a minimum of 36 graduate credits. The program should include the following:

1. 15 credits of 600 or above courses (5 courses, 3 credits each); of these, 9 credits shall be Nutrition courses to be selected from the series Nutr 713-716, 3 credits from some other department, and 3 credits in either category.

2. 2 credits of graduate Nutrition seminar.

3. 3-6 credits for Nutr 696, a research project.

4. An oral general M.S. examination.

Public Health Nutrition Option

Degree Requirements

All candidates must complete 38 graduate credits including 6 credits of thesis or practicum, as follows:

1. Nutrition coursework - 14 credits

Nutr 577 Nutritional Problems in the U.S.

Nutr 678 Topics in International Nutrition

or

Nutr 578 Nutritional Problems of Developing Nations

Nutr 731 Nutritional Assessment

Nutr 797A Advanced Topics in Nutrition

Nutr 793/794 Seminar, 2 semesters (2 credits)

2. Public Health coursework - 15 credits

a. Required courses - 9 credits:

Bioepi 640 Intermediate Biostatistics

Bioepi 630 Principles of Epidemiology

Bioepi 634 Nutritional Epidemiology

b. Elective courses - 6 credits:

Students may choose courses to broaden their background in public health or to focus on one area such as environmental health, health management, epidemiology, or health education.

3. Practicum - 6 credits:

Nutr 698 Nutrition Practicum, 6 credits. In addition to working 240 hours in the field, students are required to research a project in the field, prepare a paper, and present the project to the Nutrition Department as part of the general M.S. examination.

4. Thesis Option (only)

a. Up to 10 credits of Nutr 699, Master's Thesis. Up to 3 credits of Nutr 698 (Practicum) can be applied to the thesis requirements.

b. Final oral thesis defense and general M.S. examination.

5. Non-thesis Option (only):

a. 3 credits for a Graduate Course in NUTR

b. 3-6 credits for Nutr 696, Research Project

c. Oral Project Presentation and general M.S. examination.

The Master of Public Health Degree (M.P.H.) in Nutrition

This degree program prepares those with advanced degree and experience for practice and career advancement in a public-health nutrition setting.

Degree Requirements

All candidates must complete 41 graduate cred-its as follows:

1. Public Health coursework - 15 credits

Bioepi 540 Introductory Biostatistics

Env Hl 565 Environmental Health Practices

Com Hl 601 Principles of Community Health Education

Com Hl 620 Principles of Public Health Practice

Bioepi 630 Principles of Epidemiology

2. Nutrition coursework - 20 credits

BioEpi 634 Nutritional Epidemiology

Nutr 572 Community Nutrition

Nutr 577 Nutritional Problems in the U.S.

Nutr 578 Nutritional Problems in Developing Nations

Nutr 731 Nutritional Assessments

Nutr 793/4 Graduate seminars (2 credits)

Nutr Elective graduate course (3 credits)

3. Practice Experience

All M.P.H. students are required to complete a practice experience as part of their degree requirement, and may receive credit for the practice experience depending on their major department's policy. Practice experiences may be paid or unpaid. Placements are arranged in consultation with the student's faculty adviser or the Office of Public Health Practice and Outreach in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences. The adviser reviews the student's interests, preferences, financial standing, experience, and skills, and is usually able to arrange for interviews with a suitable organization either directly or through another faculty member.

4. Project or additional courses - 6 credits as:

a. Project and oral project-presentation, or

b. Additional 6 credits of coursework (2 courses, 3 cr. each), and a final oral exit examination.