Nutrition Master's Degree Requirements

Program | Faculty | Master's | Doctoral | Courses

The Master of Science Degree Program

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.

Degree Requirements

The thesis option requires a minimum of 32 graduate credits and the non-thesis option a minimum of 36 graduate credits according to the following:

1. Nutrition Core:

These courses must be taken by those who do not have a B.S. degree in nutrition. Graduate credits are given for courses numbered above 500.

NUTRITN 352 Life Cycle Nutrition
NUTRITN 572 Community Nutrition
NUTRITN 577 Nutritional Problems in the U.S.
NUTRITN 580 Medical Nutrition Therapy
EXERSCI 574 Energy Metabolism or
NUTRITN 430 Nutrition and Metabolism

2. Advanced Nutrition Core—11 credits

These courses must be taken by all enrolled in the M.S. program.

630 Nutrition and Chronic Diseases
NUTRITN 731 Nutritional Assessment
NUTRITN 793/4 Seminar (2 semesters, 2 credits)
BIOST&EP 540 Introductory Biostatistics

3. Nutrition Concentration—6 credits

Choose either the Nutrition Sciences or the Community Nutrition concentration:

a. Nutrition Sciences

NUTRITN 714 Advanced Nutrition— Vitamins
NUTRITN 715 Advanced Nutrition— Minerals

b. Community Nutrition:

585 Practical Skills in Nutrition Counseling
640 Public Health Nutrition

4. Electives—6 credits

a. Nutrition Sciences:

Two courses, with at least one from outside the Department.

b. Community Nutrition:

BIOST&EP 630 Principles of Epidemiology and One course from outside the Department.

5. Culminating Experience:

Choose from Thesis or Non-thesis Option:

a. Thesis Option (9-13 credits):

BIOST&EP 640 Intermediate Biostatistics
NUTRITN 699 M.S. Thesis (6-10 credits)

b. Non-thesis Option (13 credits):

6 credits of coursework at the 500 level or above, within or outside the Department, plus:

1. Nutrition Sciences :

NUTRITN 696 Research Problems (6 credits), and one additional seminar, special topics course or journal club (1 credit)

2. Community Nutrition :
NUTRITN 696 Research Problems (4 credits)
NUTRITN 698 Practicum (3 credits)

All students are encouraged to gain practical experience and to complete the requirements of the American Dietetic Association for eligibility to become a Registered Dietitian (R.D.).

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

This degree program prepares those with an advanced degree and three to five years of relevant, post-B.S. experience for practice and career advancement in a public-health nutrition setting. Two courses in nutrition are also required.

Degree Requirements

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

1. Public Health coursework—15 credits. One course from each of the following categories:

Biostatistics—
BIOST&EP 540 Introductory Biostatistics

Environmental Health Sciences—
ENV-HLTH 565, 550, 561, or 666

Community Health Education—
COM-HLTH 601, 602, 603, 604, or 608

Health Program Management—
COM-HLTH 620 or 622

Epidemiology—
BIOST&EP 630 Principles of Epidemiology

2. Nutrition coursework—17 credits

BIOST&EP 634 Nutritional Epidemiology
NUTRITN 572 Community Nutrition
NUTRITN 577 Nutritional Problems in the U.S.
NUTRITN 640 Public Health Nutrition
NUTRITN 731 Nutritional Assessments
NUTRITN 793/4 Graduate seminars (2 credits)
NUTRITN 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.