Nutritional Science, M.S.

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The Master of Science degree in Nutritional Science is an individualized program designed to develop specialized professional competence in the selected areas of food science, dietetics and nutrition, while also providing breadth in related areas. The program is designed for persons preparing for positions as public health nutritionists or supervisors in dietetics and food production and service, or doctoral study in nutrition and dietetics.

Graduate students seeking to qualify for the Registered Dietitian examination may complete appropriate course work and clinical experiences concurrently with requirements for the master’s degree by also completing courses in the Coordinated Dietetics Program (CDP), or the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). The CDP requires a separate application for admission.

Admission to the Program

Graduate degree applicants must meet the university requirements for admission, which include a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. To be admitted into the Master of Science degree program in Nutritional Science, applicants must also meet the following:

Grade point average of at least 2.75 in last 90-quarter units (60 semester units) attempted.
Appropriate undergraduate preparation for desired specialization within the discipline of nutritional science.
Two letters of recommendation.
Statement of goals for graduate study.
Submission of G.R.E. general test scores.
Completion of the following prerequisites:

Requirements for the Degree (45 units)

A total of 45 units is required, with at least 23 in 500-level courses

Required 400-level courses (0-20 units)

All of the following courses are required. Students who took these courses as an undergraduate must select (with the approval of their adviser) additional 400 or 500-level courses that contribute to their professional and scholarly objectives.

Students may not enroll in 500-level courses in nutritional science before completing all of the 400-level courses listed below.

NTRS 410 - Experimental Foods (4)
NTRS 415A - Medical Nutrition Therapy (4)
NTRS 415B - Medical Nutrition Therapy (4)
NTRS 417A - Advanced Nutrition I (4)
NTRS 417B - Advanced Nutrition II (4)
NTRS 417L - Nutritional Assessment Laboratory (1)
NTRS 419ABC and NTRS 419S may not be included in a student’s course of study for the Master’s Degree in Nutritional Science.

Required 500-level courses (8-9 units)

NTRS 511 - Research Concepts and Methodology in Nutritional Science (4) *
or
KIN 504 - Research Design in Kinesiology (5) *
NTRS 513 - Advanced Problems and Topics in Nutritional Science (4)
*An upper division statistics course, approved by adviser, must be completed prior to taking NTRS 511 or KIN 504

Select two or more of the following (8-16 units):

Electives (0-29 units)

NTRS 519 - Seminar: Special Topics in Food and Nutritional Science (4)
NTRS 595 - Fieldwork in Nutritional Science (2–4)
NTRS 597 - Graduate Research (1–4) (4)

Note:

Other courses that contribute to the student’s professional and scholarly objectives, selected with approval of adviser. No more than 12 units may be counted in disciplines other than nutritional science.

Comprehensive Examination, Thesis or Project (0, 6 units)

Students planning to take the comprehensive exam should enroll in NTRS 596 during the quarter in which they complete all other course work listed on their course of study.

NTRS 596 - Comprehensive Examination (0)
or
NTRS 599 - Thesis or Project (1–6)

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