- NUTR 531 credits: For NUTR 531, select 3 credits if pursuing a capstone or 6 credits if pursuing a thesis.
- Capstone or Thesis: Students may select either a 4 -credit capstone, completed via NUTR 531, or 9-credit thesis or a 4-credit capstone as the culminating event for their degree.
- Electives: GCPD courses satisfy the elective credits required for the MS degree.
- Degree Requirements: Minimum 46 credits for MS with Capstone; Minimum 54 credits for MS with Thesis.
- Courses are subject to change.
Graduate Study
MS Curriculum
Master of Science (MS) curriculum involves coursework in biostatistics, epidemiology and nutritional sciences, and culminates in a capstone or thesis.
If completing the MS with RDN training, you will take an additional 30 credits RDN practice experience.
Autumn 2021
Course requirements listed on this page apply to students entering the MS program, or the MS and RDN training programs in autumn 2021. Refer to curriculum archives in Current Students if you entered the program in a previous year.
1st Autumn (14-15 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOST 511 | Medical Biometry | 4 | All MS |
| EPI 511 | Introduction to Epidemiology | 4 | All MS |
| NUTR 513 | Food and Society | 2 | All MS |
| NUTR 520 | Nutrition and Metabolism I | 4 | All MS |
| NUTR 561 | GCPD Seminar | 1 | GCPD only |
1st Winter (9-11 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSERV 579 | Structural Racism and Public Health | 1 | All MS |
| NUTR 500 | Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Seminar | 1 | All MS |
| NUTR 512 | United States Food Systems Policy | 3 | All MS |
| NUTR 521 | Nutrition and Metabolism II | 4 | All MS |
| NUTR 536 | Nutrition Education Principles & Practice | 2 | GCPD required; all welcome |
1st Spring (11-13 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUTR 514 | Food Systems and Public Health | 3 | All MS |
| NUTR 526 | Maternal and Pediatric Nutrition | 4 | All MS |
| NUTR 560 | Nutritional Counseling for Chronic Disease | 2 | GCPD only |
| NUTR 562 | Nutrition and Chronic Disease | 4 | All MS |
1st Summer
| Program | Course Requirement |
|---|---|
| GCPD Students | Supervised Practice/Practice Experience: The timing of this 3 week rotation varies depending on the sites. |
2nd Autumn (7-14 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUTR 531 | Public Health Nutrition | 3 or 6 [see note] | All MS |
| NUTR 559 | Orientation to Clinical Dietetics | 3 | GCPD only |
| NUTR 563 | Nutrition in Acute Care | 4 | GCPD only |
| NUTR 596 | Nutrition Practice Capstone | 4 | MS Capstone only |
2nd Winter/Spring/Summer – GCPD Only (30 credits)
| Course | Name | Credits | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUTR 561 | Supervised Practice/Practice Experience | 10 per quarter | GCPD only |
Requirements For MS Students Not Tied to Specific Quarter
| Course | Name | Credits | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electives | 5 | All MS | |
| NUTR 700 | Thesis | 9 | MS Thesis only |
Upon satisfactory completion of the Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences, graduates will be able to:
- Meet the competencies established by the School of Public Health and the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) for all SPH students.
- Meet the core competencies established by the Nutritional Sciences Program for all Nutritional Sciences students:
- Apply knowledge of human nutrient requirements in relation to genetics, metabolic pathways, and physiological function across the life course.
- Assess nutritional status of individuals and groups.
- Appraise how nutritional factors across the lifespan are linked to non-communicable diseases (NCD) and quality of life.
- Apply evidence-based approaches to improve diet quality and nutritional status.
- Apply appropriate methodologies to a research question.
- Explain, critique, and apply the process of public health practice and nutrition policy development.
- Describe the basic components and determinants of the US food and nutrition systems.
- Translate knowledge and skills from Nutritional Sciences competencies to nutrition research or evidence-based clinical practice (when combined with dietetics training).
Master of Science students typically complete a practice-based capstone with mentorship from an NSP faculty adviser and a community partner. Some students may choose to complete a research-based thesis under the direction of a faculty thesis chair and committee.
See past student projects
