The Master of Professional Studies in Nutritional Sciences is a 30-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.
To earn this degree, you must successfully complete 30 credits. All students must enroll in NUTR 860 Capstone Project in Nutritional Sciences and successfully complete the Capstone Project in order to earn the MPS degree.
Most students will complete the degree program in two years (based on taking two courses per semester).
The MPS program also offers an Experiential Track, which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and ultimately can lead to the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential. This track requires completion of a minimum of 39 credits, which includes the 30 MPS credits, plus a minimum of 9 additional credits. The Experiential Track of the MPS program is a full-time 24-month program that runs from summer semester year 1 through spring semester year 2 and includes an in-residence component for 3 consecutive semesters during year 1 (fall, spring, and summer).
Course List - Master of Professional Studies in Nutritional Sciences
| 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 |
| 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
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