Prospective Students

Online Master of Public Health in Nutrition Degree

Prospective Students

Welcome

Welcome to the UMass Amherst online MPH in Nutrition degree homepage. This program is specifically designed for public health, health care, and nutrition professionals looking to earn a Master of Public Health degree.

The MPH in Nutrition is 100% online, flexible, part-time and interactive, which allows individuals to earn an MPH while continuing their careers in the nutrition, public health, and health care fields. Through online learning, e-mail, and Internet library resources, the Master’s Degree of Public Health in Nutrition allows you to gain knowledge and skills in nutrition and public health while maximizing flexibility in where and when you study.

***This program does not prepare students to become Registered Dietitians, nor is it a master of science in nutrition degree. The program is also not designed for career changers; students should come into the program with at least a bachelor’s degree in a science related area.***

Admissions

Qualifications (may not be waived):

The online MPH-Nutrition degree program requires that all applicants meet one of the following minimum criteria:

An advanced degree in a health-related area or status as a Registered Dietician.
- Examples: MS-Nutrition or Food Science, MD, DMD, PhD

Or all of the following:

A Bachelor’s Degree in a science-related area with a minimum 2.75 GPA. Extensive background in biology and chemistry preferred.
- The Bachelor’s degree must be from an American college or University, or an international equivalent degree. "Equivalent" means four years of university undergraduate work, preceded by at least 12 years of elementary and secondary school studies. Most international four-year degrees are recognized as being equivalent; however, the three-year Indian Bachelor of Arts, Sciences and Commerce degrees are not considered to be equivalent.
3-5 years of professional, full-time experience in either public health or health care. Experience completed as part of undergraduate degree completion, internships, and volunteer work will not substitute for professional experience.
At least 2 undergraduate level courses in Nutrition.

Deadlines:

The spring admissions deadline is October 1st and the fall admissions deadline is February 1st.

If you are interested in simply trying one or two courses in the program, you do not have to submit an application. Please click on the “non-degree” tab for more information.

Required Application Materials:

A completed formal, online, application.
Application fee ($75.00).
A minimum of two letters of recommendation.
One official transcripts for each previously attended educational institution, including UMass Amherst if you have taken non-degree courses.
Current resume or CV.
Personal statement.
GRE Requirement:
- The GRE is waived for those students who have a Doctoral level degree and foreign medical doctors who have ECFMG certification.
- Those with a Pharm.D. receive a waiver only if the degree was preceded by the completion of a Bachelor’s degree.
- To find a testing center or schedule the exam, please visit the GRE website.
TOEFL (if applicable).

To Apply:

If you are ready to apply please proceed to the UMass Amherst Graduate School Application website. If you have additional questions please contact us.

Cost

Cost:

Tuition for the program is currently $590.00 per credit. The following fees also apply:

Application fee: $75.00
Registration fee (once per semester): $45.00
Graduate School Entrance fee (once upon matriculation, covers graduation costs and transcripts): $357.00

Total cost of the program depends on the number of semesters enrolled and if you request time away from your studies.

Financial Aid:

We offer several forms of financial aid for students:

Agency/corporate billing: Some employers offer tuition assistance to students pursuing advanced education. Contact your human resources department to determine if your company participates. For Massachusetts state employees, the state offers a 50% tuition reimbursement. Students interested should submit a purchase order or letter of authorization from the company to:

UMass Bursar's Office Attn: CPE
215 Whitmore Bldg.181 President's Dr.
Amherst, MA 01003
For more information please call 413-545-0337 or email busoff@contined.umass.edu

FAFSA: This is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This awards students subsidized and unsubsidized government student loans. Please visit the FAFSA website for complete information. If you receive this type of aid, there are specific rules regarding part-time status. It is highly recommended that you work closely with the graduate financial aid department.
Payment Plans: These are arranged with the UMass Amherst Bursar’s office.
Students are also encouraged to identify any fellowships, scholarships, and grants that may be available. For more information, please contact us.

Military and Veterans:

The program accepts all forms of military education benefits. Information on active duty and veterans services can be found on the UMass Amherst website.

To Apply:

If you are ready to apply, please proceed to the UMass Amherst Graduate School Application website. If you have additional questions, please contact us.

Curriculum

The MPH in Nutrition is interdisciplinary in its scope. You will need to complete a total of 44 credits.

The program requires public health core, nutrition core, nutrition electives, a practicum, and a 6 credit final independent study project. Students follow a set course of study that enables them to complete the program on a part-time basis in 3 years. All courses are online.

These are the 5 required public health core courses (15 credits):

PUBHLTH 540: Introduction to Biostatistics
PUBHLTH 565: Environmental Health Practices
PUBHLTH 601: Application of Social and Behavioral Theories in Public Health Interventions
PUBHLTH 620: Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System
PUBHLTH 630: Principles of Epidemiology

These are the required nutrition core courses (17 credits):

PUBHLTH 634: Nutritional Epidemiology
Nutrition 572: Community Nutrition
Nutrition 577: Nutritional Problems in U.S.
Nutrition 640: Public Health Nutrition
Nutrition 731: Nutritional Assessment
Nutrition 793/794: Nutrition Graduate Seminars (2 credits each over 2 semesters)

Elective Course: (3 credits):

Students must complete one graduate level nutrition course of their choice.

Practicum: (3 credits):

The practicum is a 200-hour field experience arranged with the help of a practicum advisor. All students attend a virtual practicum orientation early in their program. The practicum culminates in a virtual PowerPoint presentation.

Final Independent Study Project: (6 credits):

The MPH in Nutrition does not include a thesis or a comprehensive exam. Upon completion of all other program requirements, the student enrolls in the first of a 2 semester independent study. The student will complete a public health nutrition related research project, write a comprehensive paper, and conclude with a virtual presentation.

MPH-N Curriculum for Fall Admissions
MPH-N Curriculum for Spring Admissions

Non-Degree Options

The MPH-Nutrition program encourages all potential students to try our courses prior to submitting an application. Non-degree students may complete up to 4 courses prior to matriculation. In addition, we allow students matriculated at outside institutions to fulfill a requirement with one of our online courses.

No application is required to enroll as a non-degree student. Please visit the UMass Amherst Continuing & Professional Education website for current semester course offerings and to enroll.

Please refer to the curriculum tab when choosing courses. Once you have selected your course/s follow the instructions for enrolling. There are instances where you will be unable to enroll. These include:

The course has prerequisites.
You have attempted to enroll outside of the open enrollment period.
The course is full.
You have attempted to enroll in the practicum or capstone. (Practicum and Capstone courses are open to program students only)

In each of these instances you must contact the program administrator to request permission to enroll.

If you are submitting an application or have been admitted to the UMass Amherst Department of Public Health, any courses taken as a non-degree student must be transferred into the degree. Contact the program administrator to request the course transfer. The following rules apply for transferring non-degree courses:

You must not have taken the course more than 3 years prior to your date of matriculation.
You must have received a B or better.
You may not complete more than 4 courses (12 credits) as a non-degree student; if you complete more than this, the excess will not transfer.

For more information please contact the program administrator at 413-545-4530 or phonline@schoolph.umass.edu.

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Prospective Students

Online Master of Public Health in Nutrition Degree

Prospective Students

Qualifications (may not be waived):

Deadlines:

Required Application Materials:

To Apply:

Cost:

Financial Aid:

Military and Veterans:

To Apply: