University of Massachusetts Amherst

Department of Nutrition

>Academics >Graduate Programs >Online MPH in Nutrition >FAQs

FAQs : Frequently Asked Questions

If you have additional questions, e-mail Dr. Patricia Beffa-Negrini, Program Coordinator. Please be sure to include a current email address and telephone number with all requests for information. Because this is an online program, email is the preferred method of communication.


For a list of courses being offered in the upcoming semester, go to http://UMassULearn.net. Under "Programs" click "Graduate," scroll down to "School of Public Health and Health Sciences," and click "Online Master of Public Health in Nutrition" (where you can also click on a course for its description).


For directions on how to register for courses, go to http://UMassULearn.net. In the navigation bar click "Registration Info." To register you should contact the Division of Continuing and Professional Education at (413) 545-3653 or e-mail the Registrar at regoff@contined.umass.edu.

Q: Am I eligible to apply for admission to the program and to the Graduate School?


A: To be eligible to apply for admission, you must have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree, a minimum GPA of 2.75 out of 4.00, and a minimum of three (3) years work experience in nutrition, public health or health care. >back to top

 


Q: How do I apply?


A: You can apply to the Online MPH Nutrition by requesting application materials online at the Graduate School's web site (application information and materials available here), or by writing the Graduate School, 530 Goodell Building, University of Massachusetts, 140 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003-9333, or by calling the University at (413) 545-0722. We encourage applicants to the Online MPH Nutrition program to use professional references whenever possible, and to have their personal statements emphasize their experience as a nutrition, public health or health care professional.

If you use the online application form, in the drop-down menu under #14 Graduate Educational Objective, be sure to choose "Public Health [Nutrition - Online] (M.P.H.)" so we know you are interested in the online program and not the in-person program or the online MPH in Public Health Practice.>back to top

 


Q: What are the deadlines for applying?


A: Learners are accepted into the Online MPH Nutrition Program on a biannual admissions schedule, based on entry into the program in the fall and spring semesters. The deadlines you must meet in order to be considered for admission are as follows: applications must be completed by February 1st for acceptance in the fall term and completed by October 1st for acceptance for the spring term. >back to top

 


Q: How are admission decisions made?


A: Your application material will be forwarded from the Graduate School to the Department of Nutrition. The Department’s Graduate Admissions Committee will review your application and consider your GPA, GRE scores, TOEFL (if applicable), and letters of recommendation. No single criterion determines your eligibility. The committee recognizes individuals will not be equally strong in each of the admission criteria. If you have a concern about your qualifications, contact the Program Coordinator. The School of Public Health and Health Sciences encourages individuals from all cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds to apply to the School. To read the entire UMass non-discrimination policy, please go to the UMass Affirmative Action and Non-Discrimination Policy web site. >back to top

 

 

Q: I have an advanced degree; do I have to take the GRE?


A: Perhaps. The Graduate School requires all applicants to take the GRE. The Graduate School grants waivers in very limited cases. Please contact the Graduate School at gradques@resgs.umass.edu for more information about who qualifies for the GRE requirement waiver. >back to top

 


Q: When do I hear whether I have been accepted?


A: The Department of Nutrition Graduate Admissions Committee will forward their decision to the Graduate School, and the Graduate School will send letters to applicants by mail confirming the decision. This process will be completed as quickly as possible. >back to top

 


Q: How do I contact the Division of Continuing and Professional Education?


A: For information about the classes or programs in public health and nutrition offered online through Continuing and Professional Education go to http://UMassULearn.net. Under "Programs" click "Graduate," scroll down to "School of Public Health and Health Sciences" and click "Online Master of Public Health in Nutrition" (where you can also click on a course for its description). For general information regarding Continuing and Professional Education registration, payments, and course offerings visit the UMass Amherst Continuing and Professional Education web site or call (413) 545-2414. >back to top

 


Q: How do I register for classes?


A: You register for classes through the Division of Continuing and Professional Education at the University of Massachusetts. For directions on how to register for courses, go to http://UMassULearn.net. In the navigation menu bar click "Registration Information." Continuing and Professional Education's online registration procedure simplifies and streamlines the process. In addition, online courses are password protected. This means that only students registered for the class have access to the courses, but that once you are enrolled, you can access the course from remote sites wherever there is a connection to the Internet. >back to top

 


Q: When do classes start?


A: Fall and spring semester courses follow the usual UMass Amherst Academic Calendar available at http://www.umass.edu/registrar/gen_info/academic_calendar.htm. There are two six-week summer sessions. Students are welcome to take courses while preparing their applications. >back to top

 

 

Q: How many credits must I take in order to earn the Online MPH Nutrition degree?


A: Forty- four (44) credits are required for the Online MPH in Nutrition. >back to top

 


Q: What is the statute of limitations for completing the Online MPH Nutrition degree?


A: Online MPH Nutrition students have a four (4) year statute of limitation. If students need extensions, they should contact the Online MPH Nutrition Program Coordinator to request the extensions and to explain their reason(s) for the request. If the Graduate Program Director approves, s/he will make a request to the Graduate School to grant the extensions. >back to top

 


Q: Do I have to take any courses on campus in Amherst?


A: No, the entire degree may be completed online; there are no residency requirements. >back to top

 


Q: Will the diploma indicate that the degree was earned online?


A: No, the diploma is the same for all degrees at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The mode of delivery is not relevant to the degree. >back to top

 


Q: May I take courses before being enrolled in the program?


A: Yes, you can take classes as a non-degree student. If your application should be successful and if you earn grades of "B" or better in the courses, you can transfer up to twelve (12) UMass credits towards your Online MPH Nutrition degree. This provision allows you to experience online education before deciding whether to apply to the Online MPH Nutrition program.>back to top

Download the Transfer of Credits Nondegree PDF Form

 


Q: May I transfer credits from other institutions?


A: Yes, up to six (6) credits, or two courses, from regionally accredited institutions with approval from the Graduate Program Director and the Graduate School. Each course needs to cover the same subject matter as one of the courses in the Online MPH Nutrition, which you would need to demonstrate by including a completed Transfer of Credits External form below along with a description of the course, the name, e-mail address, and phone number of the professor who taught it, and a copy of the course syllabus. This material needs to go to the Program Coordinator, who will forward the information to the Graduate Program Director. >back to top


Download the Transfer of Credits External PDF Form

 

Q: May I audit classes?


A: You may audit classes with the permission of the instructor. Different instructors have differing criteria for class participation. These courses do not count for loan deferment purposes, but if you do not need or wish to receive graduate credits for a class, auditing classes may be a good choice for you. Learners are assessed full tuition for audited courses. Continuing and Professional Education's policy on auditing courses is available at this web site: http://UMassULearn.net. In the navigation menu click "Registration Info" and next then choose "Auditing" from the menu on the left-hand side. >back to top

 


Q: Is academic advising available?


A: Yes! Academic advising is available through the program office by e-mail, telephone, or in person throughout your Online MPH Nutrition studies. You can also e-mail the Program Coordinator, Dr. Patsy Beffa-Negrini, or the Graduate Program Director, Dr. Atallah, with your academic questions. The administrators of the Online MPH Nutrition program are committed to making your academic experience personally rewarding as well as professionally enriching and year-round advising is an important part of that commitment. >back to top

 


Q: What is the cost of the program?


A: The Online MPH Nutrition is a distance education degree program and thus has a different fee schedule than the on-campus programs. For the current fee schedule, please see the Continuing and Professional Education's website at https://www.umassulearn.net/. All courses are three (3) credits, except the two seminars, which are one (1) credit each.

Newly matriculated students will be billed for the Graduate School Registrar's Service fee. This one-time fee covers the costs of unlimited official transcripts, library binding, and commencement fees. Your total cost for the entire degree program will vary by how quickly you complete the required coursework and if fees need to be increased. The University of Massachusetts is committed to making distance learning available to everyone who qualifies and will make every effort to maintain reasonable course fees. >back to top

 


Q: Is there financial assistance available?


A: Financial aid in the form of University loans or other loan programs may be available if you qualify. Because the Online MPH Nutrition program in not campus-based, several of the traditional graduate school approaches to financial support are not available, such as teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships. Several other options such as University loans or other loan programs may be available by contacting Continuing and Professional Education at (413) 545-2414. Information on tuition waivers and remission can be found at the Continuing and Professional Education web site: http://UMassULearn.net. After clicking on "Financial Info" from the navigation menu bar then choose "Waivers" from the menu at the left-hand side. There may be other forms of financial assistance described at the SPHHS financial assistance web page.


We also encourage you to check your workplace for financial assistance opportunities such as partial tuition remission programs for employees. These forms of assistance may originate in the Office for Employee Relations or through your Human Resources Department. >back to top

 

Q: What is the refund policy?


A: Please refer to the Department of Continuing and Professional Education's web site (http://UMassULearn.net) for the refund policy. After clicking on "Financial Info" in the navigation menu bar, then choose "Refunds" from the menu at the left-hand side. >back to top


Q: What is the Add/Drop and Withdrawal Policy?


A: Please refer to the Continuing and Professional Education's web site (http://UMassULearn.net) for the add/drop and withdrawal policy. After clicking on "Registration Info" from the navigation menu bar then choose "Add/Drop & Withdrawal" from the menu at the left-hand side. >back to top

 


Q: If I am unfamiliar with using the Internet, can I still take an online course?


A: Yes. Because online education differs in many respects from the traditional mode of classroom delivery of courses, our Online MPH Nutrition program begins with an orientation to Internet-based learning. >back to top

 


Q: What kinds of equipment will I need to take an online course?


A: Classes will be delivered online with interactive class assignments using specific courseware provided on a distant server. The courseware is supported by UMassOnline. They maintain a 24/7 helpline by phone (1-800-569-6505) and via email (amherstsupport@umassonline.net). Prospective students wishing to see a Demonstration Course can go to http://amherst.umassonline.net. Please log in with the username "demo" and password "welcome".


Here are the technical requirements (equipment and software) you must meet in order to take an online course. You will need a personal computer, an Internet connection with at least a 56 kbps modem, an email program and account, a Java capable browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer), the Shockwave plugin, a sound card, and speakers. You will need to use either Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator for your browser, and Real Player, which you can download for free off the web. For more information see Amherst Tech Support and Tech Requirements. >back to top

 


Q: With the online courses, can I complete my coursework ahead of time?


A: If by that you mean take the entire course in a compressed timeframe, the answer is no. Courses are organized for learners to take time with the material, digest it, and synthesize the information with your personal and professional experiences. These learning opportunities take time. For this reason, class notes and weekly assignments will be posted online each week. Discussion through chat rooms or threaded discussion will also take place each week.


There will usually be textbooks that you purchase to accompany the online lecture notes and assignments. Just as with classes you attend, you can read ahead in your text and begin to work on some types of assignments ahead of time. Be aware that while the program allows you complete flexibility in scheduling your studies each week, courses within the Online MPH Nutrition program are designed for learning over the entire semester. >back to top

 

 

Q: What is it like to take an online course?


A: Just like with anything new you try, taking courses online may at first seem strange. Be assured that it will become second nature after a few sessions online! If you are new to computers it will take you longer to adjust to the new learning medium than those used to surfing the Internet. But the design of all our courses is to make them so user-friendly that the technology becomes invisible and what remains is a superb learning experience.


A demonstration course provided by UMassOnline can give you an idea of the way courses are organized and presented. Prospective students wishing to see a Demo Course can go to http://amherst.umassonline.net. Please log in with the username "demo" and password "welcome". Survey results have found that students particularly enjoy the flexibility of scheduling their study hours online and the ability to work on the readings and assignments at home at any hour of the day or night. >back to top

 

Q: Are you accredited?


A: Yes, the University of Massachusetts is accredited by the Northeast Association of Schools and Colleges. The School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS) is a member of the Association of Schools of Public Health and accredited, since 1979, by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). >back to top

Q: What are the qualifications for course instructors and practicum/project supervisors?

A: Instructors for online nutrition courses required by the Online MPH Nutrition will be from among the Department of Nutrition’s Graduate Faculty as well as Clinical or Adjunct Faculty, who teach in the Online MPH Nutrition program under annual or multi-year contracts, and bring current, practical experiences and expertise to the program. >back to top

 
http://www.umass.edu/sphhs/nutrition/