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The Master of Professional Studies in Nutritional Sciences is a 30- to 39-credit online program offering a strong foundation in evidence-based advanced practice, with a focus on leadership in various nutrition practice settings including clinical, research, community, and management.

Most students will complete the degree program in two years (based on taking two courses per semester).

The MPS in Nutritional Sciences offers an Experiential Track, which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and may lead to the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential. This track requires completion of a minimum of 39 credits, which includes the 30 master's degree credits, plus a minimum of 9 additional credits for the optional Experiential Track.

The Experiential Track of the MPS in Nutritional Sciences is a full-time 24-month program that runs from summer semester year one through spring semester year two and includes an in-residence component for three consecutive semesters during year one (fall, spring, and summer).

Required Courses (30 credits)
Title Abbreviation Description Credits
Research Methods NUTR 540 Review of different studies that utilize various nutrition research designs and data analyses.

Prerequisite: NUTR 850, STAT 500  		 3 credits
Leadership in the Nutrition Profession NUTR 801 Development of the skills necessary for effective leadership within the field of nutrition.  2 credits
Advanced Nutrient Metabolism NUTR 805 Integration of biochemical, physiological, and hormonal processes involved in nutrient metabolism and function in humans. 4 credits
Nutritional Assessment and Diagnosis NUTR 810 Evaluation of assessment methods and interpretation of results to assess and diagnose nutritional status of individuals and groups.  3 credits
Advanced Clinical Nutrition NUTR 820 Advanced study of acute and chronic illnesses and conditions and how these events influence the nutritional needs of patients.  3 credits
Advanced Nutrition and Health Program Planning NUTR 830 Application of relevant theories, models, and strategies designed to disseminate nutrition information with a focus on voluntary behavior change. 3 credits
Advanced Nutrition Counseling NUTR 840 Application of theories and counseling techniques to the nutrition care process in different practice settings with diverse patients/clients.  3 credits
Leadership Concepts and Application for the Nutrition Profession NUTR 850 Exploration and application of concepts essential to effective leadership within the nutrition profession.

Prerequisite: NUTR 801   		 3 credits
Capstone Project in Nutritional Sciences NUTR 860 Completion of a capstone project involving research and application of leadership principles in nutrition practice.

Prerequisite: NUTR 540, NUTR 850 		 3–5 credits
Applied Statistics STAT 500 Descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, power, estimation, confidence intervals, regression, one- and 2-way ANOVA, Chi-square tests, diagnostics.

Prerequisite: one undergraduate course in statistics 		 3 credits
Experiential Track Courses (9 credits)
Title Abbreviation Description Credits
Food Systems and Organization Management NUTR 800 This course provides an opportunity to acquire an in-depth knowledge of food systems management and develop the skills necessary to guide practice in the management and leadership of food and nutrition service operations. 3 credits
Supervised Experiential Learning Clinical NUTR 895A Supervised, professional oriented, off-campus, non-group instruction, including field experiences, practicums, or internships. Written and oral critique of activity required.  2 credits
Supervised Experiential Learning Food Systems and Organization Management NUTR 895B Supervised, professional oriented, off-campus, non-group instruction, including field experiences, practicums, or internships. Written and oral critique of activity required. 2 credits
Supervised Experiential Learning Community NUTR 895C Supervised, professional oriented, off-campus, non-group instruction, including field experiences, practicums, or internships. Written and oral critique of activity required. 2 credits

 

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.