Nutritionists study the relationship between food and health and apply their learnings to solving pervasive public health challenges. A master’s degree in this growing field prepares you for careers in research, clinical nutrition, community nutrition, and nutrition education, or for doctoral studies in nutrition.

UMass Amherst’s MS in nutrition offers both thesis and non-thesis options. The thesis option lays a foundation for research or a PhD. The non-thesis option is designed for students interested in completing coursework to become a registered dietitian (RD), as required by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This includes completion of the didactics program in dietetics (DPD) option.

Nutrition master’s program course requirements (33 total credits):

  • Six advanced core courses (18 credits)
  • One public health course (3 credits)
  • Two graduate seminars (2 credits)
  • Culminating experience/thesis: one nutrition elective (3) and the MS thesis (9 credits)
  • Culminating experience/non-thesis: Four electives with one or two outside nutrition (12 credits)

*NOTE: All graduate MS/DPD students will earn their Verification Statement through the undergraduate DPD program.