Nutritional Science, MS
ASU Health - Clinical, Athletes, Dietician, Dietitian, Health, Nutrition, Nutrition Counselor, Nutritionist, Obesity Prevention, RD, Research, Sports, Weight Management, approved for STEM-OPT extension, foods, medical
Do you want to be at the forefront of nutritional science and its intersection with food, biology, chemistry and sociology? Through rigorous internships and research, you'll expand your skill base for a future career or further study.
In the Master of Science program in nutritional science, you prepare to translate nutritional science into practice for human health and wellness. Partnered with accomplished faculty, you immerse yourself in the latest nutrition topics and research as you develop practical understanding through internship experiences and your own guided research.
Building on the scientific foundations of human nutrition, you learn strong writing and problem-solving skills and increase your interpretive expertise. The program offers two specialized focus area options: sports nutrition and maternal-child health. You can also customize the focus area to your specific interests in nutrition under the guidance of faculty.
The sports nutrition focus enables you to specialize in exercise science and the nutritional needs of athletes. If you're following this focus area, you complete classes that cover topics such as exercise physiology, hydration, electrolyte regulation and evaluation of sports supplements.
In the maternal-child health focus, you tailor your learning to promote the health and well-being of women and children. This focus area includes courses on policy and advocacy, communication and ethics, leadership development, and medical nutrition therapy.
If you've completed an accredited didactic program in dietetics, you may also elect to apply to the ASU dietetic internship program to meet the requirements to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.
This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 24 months. This OPT work authorization period may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S. Those interested in an OPT extension should review ASU degrees that qualify for the STEM-OPT extension at ASU's International Students and Scholars Center website.
The OPT extension only applies to students on an F-1 visa and does not apply to students completing a degree through ASU Online.
- College/school:
College of Health Solutions
- Location: Downtown Phoenix
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes
This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. Accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for high-achieving students who want the opportunity to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of their master's degree. These programs feature the same high quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
30 credit hours and a thesis, or
30 credit hours including the required applied project course (NTR 593)
Required Core (6 credit hours) Focus Area Courses (15 credit hours) Research (3 credit hours) Culminating Experience (6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information This degree program may be pursued concurrently with the Arizona State University Dietetic Internship (MS-DI or MS-VA). Students must apply and be accepted to both the MS program and the internship program. Students who pursue the Veterans Affairs (MS-VA) Dietetic Internship must complete an applied project as their culminating experience.
BST 501 Biostatistics for Research and Practice (3)
NTR 527 Nutrition Policy (3)
NTR 500 Research Methods (3)
NTR 593 Applied Project (6) or
NTR 599 Thesis (6)
The program offers focus areas in sports nutrition and maternal-child health. Students may additionally customize focus area coursework to their academic interests or career goals under the guidance of faculty.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S.
applicants | International
applicants | English
proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the College of Health Solutions.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree (nutrition or science is recommended) from a regionally accredited institution. Students who are pursuing the MS in nutritional science need to complete the following prerequisites: anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, general chemistry with lab, general nutrition for majors, organic chemistry with lab and statistics.
If an applicant has completed a didactic program in dietetics (frequently termed a DPD), these prerequisites are considered complete. Prerequisite courses can be in progress when the student submits the application; however, if the student is accepted to the MS program, all prerequisites must be completed before the program begins in the fall semester.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- resume or curriculum vitae
- personal statement
- one reference (academic or professional)
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
The personal statement should include the following:
- a description of the applicant's significant professional responsibilities
- the applicant's professional goals and the reasons they wish to enroll in ASU's program
- the applicant's strengths that will enable their success in the program and in reaching their professional goals
- the applicant's personal research interests, described as specifically as possible and including any previous research experience, along with indication of any interest in pursuing a focus in sports nutrition or maternal-child health
Contact information for one reference is required. The reference is contacted via email to submit a letter of recommendation, and must be an instructor at the applicant's undergraduate institution.
Finalists may be invited by the program to an interview.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 02/15 | Priority |
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:
- Integrate knowledge of research design that incorporates ethical conduct in nutrition research studies.
- Apply statistical methodology in nutrition research.
- Interpret an emerging issue as it relates to advanced practice nutrition science.
Nutritional science applies the principles of food and nutrition to health. It is a vital, growing profession with many career possibilities. In this field, graduates share their knowledge of food and nutrition to help people make healthful food choices.
Graduates have gone on to:
- apply to medical and professional school to become medical doctors, physician assistants, pharmacists, dentists and other medical professionals
- become registered dietitian nutritionists
- pursue academic doctorates
Graduates can pursue careers in a number of settings, including:
- community and public health organizations
- corporations
- food manufacturing industries
- government agencies
- hospitals and other medical facilities
- long-term care facilities
- nonprofit organizations
- schools
ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.
College of Health Solutions
|
HLTHN 401AA
CHSGrad@asu.edu
602-496-3300
Program term definitions
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
