Nutritional Sciences (M.S.) Program Details
Degree Requirements
❱ Required coursework
❱ Qualifying or comprehensive examination
❱ Graduate School writing proficiency requirement
❱ Graduate School Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) requirement
❱ Thesis
❱ Final oral examination/thesis defense
Research Specializations
❱ Community nutrition
❱ Experimental nutrition
❱ Dietetics
Program Objectives
- To foster a program of excellence with specialized expertise in the study of human nutritional issues with particular emphasis on the needs of the underserved poor, ethnic minorities, and disadvantaged populations.
- To prepare competent graduate professionals in human nutrition with the skills and abilities to improve nutritional well-being and the quality of life for individuals and families.
- To conduct interdisciplinary research to improve the nutritional well-being and the quality of life of ethnic minorities and the underserved.
Research Areas & Interests
Faculty Research Interests
A sampling of research interests
- Nutrigenomics: The role of diet in chronic disease prevention (obesity, diabetes, cancer)
- The role of exercise in health and disease
- Impact of sleep on dietary intake
- Diabetes and cardiovascular disease in minority males
- Molecular bases for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and metabolic syndrome
- Bioactive herbal constituents and functional genomics
- Nutrition education in patients with chronic diseases
- Risk factors for overweight/obesity
- Cardiovascular health in faith-based populations
- Nutrition competencies of health care professionals
- Use of technology for tailored interventions
- Regulatory toxicology: Safety evaluation and risk assessment of food ingredients and color additives
Program of Study*
COMMUNITY NUTRITION TRACK
CORE COURSES (25 CR)
NUTG 516 Macronutrients I (4 CR)
NUTG 517 Micronutrients I (4 CR)
NUTG 284 Community Nutrition (3 CR)
NUTG 316 Evaluation of Nutritional Status (3 CR)
NUTG 503 Nutrition Policy (3 CR)
NUTG 318 Techniques in Community Nutrition (2 CR)
NUTG 518 Nutrition Health and Disease (3 CR)
NUTG 502 Health Planning and Promotion (3 CR)
ELECTIVE COURSES (14-15 CR)
A sampling of elective courses
NUTG 310 Graduate Seminar in Nutrition
NUTG 301 M.S. Research
NUTG 208 Nutrition for Aging
PSYC 207 Statistics I
HUDE 205 Introduction to Statistical Methods
BIOG 430 Biostatistics
HUDE 400 Intermediate Statistics
Courses may be selected from graduate courses in NUTG- Nutrition, BIOC-Biochemistry, PSYC-Psychology, SOCI-Sociology, CHEM-Chemistry, EDUC-Education, COMM-Communications, or ANTG-Anthropology level 200 and above. Courses outside of these codes can be considered for approval by the program director.
THESIS (3 CR)
EXPERIMENTAL NUTRITION TRACK
CORE COURSES (18 CR)
NUTG 516 Macronutrients I (4 CR)
NUTG 517 Micronutrients I (4 CR)
NUTG 319 Research Methods in Experimental Nutrition (4 CR)
NUTG 316 Evaluation of Nutritional Status (3 CR)
NUTG 518 Nutrition Health and Disease (3 CR)
ELECTIVE COURSES (21-22 CR)
A sampling of elective courses
NUTG 310 Graduate Seminar in Nutrition
NUTG 301 M.S. Research
NUTG 208 Nutrition for Aging
PSYC 207 Statistics I
HUDE 205 Introduction to Statistical Methods
BIOG 430 Biostatistics
HUDE 400 Intermediate Statistics
Courses may be selected from graduate courses in NUTG- Nutrition, BIOC-Biochemistry, PSYC-Psychology, SOCI-Sociology, CHEM-Chemistry, EDUC-Education, COMM-Communications, or ANTG-Anthropology level 200 and above. Courses outside of these codes can be considered for approval by the program director.
THESIS (3 CR)
DIETETICS TRACK
CORE COURSES (27 CR)
NUTG 501 Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism (3 CR)
NUTG 510 Dietetics and Nutrition Education (3 CR)
NUTG 519 Food Service Systems Management (3 CR)
NUTG 521 Organization and Management (3 CR)
NUTG 318 Techniques in Community Nutrition (2 CR)
NUTG 410 Medical Nutrition Therapy I (3 CR)
NUTG 413 Medical Nutrition Therapy II (3 CR)
NUTG 504 Health Disparities (3 CR)
NUTG 410 Medical Nutrition Therapy Dry Lab I (2 CR)
NUTG 413 Medical Nutrition Therapy Dry Lab II (2 CR)
ELECTIVE COURSES (5 CR)
A sampling of elective courses
NUTG 310 Graduate Seminar in Nutrition
NUTG 301 M.S. Research
NUTG 208 Nutrition for Aging
PSYC 207 Statistics I
HUDE 205 Introduction to Statistical Methods
BIOG 430 Biostatistics
HUDE 400 Intermediate Statistics
Courses may be selected from graduate courses in NUTG- Nutrition, BIOC-Biochemistry, PSYC-Psychology, SOCI-Sociology, CHEM-Chemistry, EDUC-Education, COMM-Communications, or ANTG-Anthropology level 200 and above. Courses outside of these codes can be considered for approval by the program director.
SUPERVISED PRACTICE COURSES (16 CR)
NUTG 325 Nutrition Care Management I (3 CR)
NUTG 411 Nutrition Care Management II (4 CR)
NUTG 520 Practicum Food Service Systems Management (1 CR)
NUTG 522 Practicum Organization and Management (1 CR)
NUTG 523 Practicum Community Nutrition (1 CR)
NUTG 420 Practicum Comprehensive (6 CR)
THESIS (3 CR)
*Courses included in the sample program of study are subject to change. Students should consult with their programs regarding their required program of study.
Admission to Candidacy
Students are admitted to formal candidacy by the Graduate School when they have completed the required coursework, passed the qualifying or comprehensive examination, submitted an approved topic for research, and been recommended by the Department. Candidates must also have satisfied the Graduate School writing proficiency requirement and Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) requirement.
Graduate Funding
Graduate research or teaching assistantships may be available at the department level that provide tuition remission and/or a stipend during the academic year. Research assistants and teaching assistants work no more than 20 hours a week under the program's direction, usually in support of faculty research (research assistants) or in support of assigned courses (teaching assistants).