M.S. in Nutrition – Online Program
The 30-credit online graduate program in nutrition combines advanced study in nutrition and health promotion with a unique, competency-based curriculum that provides nutrition and health professionals with a broad perspective of current issues in nutrition research and ethics, health promotion and healthy aging, counseling and communications, and public health and program planning. The Program emphasizes ways to incorporate new research and technology, evidence-based applications, and entrepreneurial skills into the practice of nutrition.
The online Graduate Program in Nutrition at Saint Elizabeth University enables students to achieve their educational goals in a convenient, collaborative, and interactive format. Course work is offered through distance learning technology. All courses in the M.S. in Nutrition are offered online, allowing learners to earn the degree completely online. Students in the M.S. in Nutrition may choose a concentration in Entrepreneurial Nutrition Practice or Community Nutrition and Wellness.
Nutrition professionals develop skills to assume leadership roles in delivering nutrition and wellness-related services in a variety of settings. The Program prepares students for a variety of career opportunities in business, government, health care, and education. Graduates work in private practice, nutrition education, school systems, the food and pharmaceutical industries, clinical and corporate research, community organizations, hospitals, public health agencies, work site wellness and health promotion programs, and fitness facilities.
Mission and Goals
The mission of the Master's in Nutrition Program is to provide excellence and innovation in teaching and outreach in order to engage learners in a collaborative, interactive learning environment that encourages critical inquiry and informs ethical, evidence-based nutrition practice in a spirit of service, social responsibility and leadership.
- Demonstrate acquisition of knowledge and the ability to evaluate and communicate nutrition information through completion of a capstone experience.
- Demonstrate attributes of professional development to be effective and productive citizens and life-long learners in a global society.
- Promote professional leadership and ethical practice in a spirit of service to the community.
Program Options
The online Graduate Program in Nutrition offers three options for admission:
Option A : Designed for the Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RD/RDN) or student who has recently completed a supervised practice program accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and who has received graduate-level credit for this experience. Students accepted under Option A may be eligible to receive up to nine (9) graduate credit hours towards their M.S. in Nutrition if graduate level courses were completed during their dietetic internship and meet program requirements. Credits must be pre-approved by the graduate program director. Eligible students must submit a copy of their official transcripts, a catalog description, a course outline, and an original ACEND DI verification statement in order to receive transfer credits. In addition, the student may be asked to submit samples of his/her work completed during the supervised program as part of the review process. Courses identified as supervised practice will not be considered for transfer.
Option B : Intended for the person with a baccalaureate degree in foods, nutrition, and/or dietetics or the person with a baccalaureate degree in a non-nutrition area who desires an advanced degree in nutrition. All applicants must have completed the prerequisites for the graduate program in nutrition including: Introductory and organic chemistry, statistics, human physiology, biochemistry, and advanced nutrition (or the equivalent). Note that the Option B pathway does not make a student eligible for a dietetic internship. Students interested in becoming a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RD/RDN) who have an undergraduate degree in a non-nutrition area are advised to pursue the Second Degree Nutrition and Dietetics Concentration.
Option C: Designed for the student seeking a combined M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetic Internship Program. Upon successful completion, the student earns an M.S. in Nutrition and a Verification of Dietetic Internship Completion and is eligible to sit for the National Registration Examination for Dietitians (RD/RDN). To apply to this option, see the Dietetic Internship Application materials at www.steu.edu/di. Applicants to this option must participate in the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Service (DICAS) and D&D Digital computer matching. See separate Program Admissions and Program Requirements available at www.steu.edu/di.
Additional Admission Criteria for the M.S. in Nutrition Program
An individual seeking direct admission to the graduate program in Nutrition must hold a baccalaureate degree in nutrition, foods, or dietetics from an accredited undergraduate institution. Other individuals with a degree in other areas are encouraged to apply with the understanding that they may be required to take various undergraduate courses as prerequisites to satisfy the admissions criteria. Generally, applicants must have achieved a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of not less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students who have background and potential for success but whose GPA is less than 3.0 may be admitted to the graduate program on a provisional basis. A maximum of nine graduate credits may be accepted in transfer credit. Transfer of credit into the graduate program will be subject to evaluation and approval by the Director of the Graduate Program in Nutrition. All transfer credits must carry a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).
Requirements (Minimum of 30 Credits):
Fifteen (15) credit hours in required core courses
| FN625 | Health Promotion & Aging | 3 |
| FN630 | Interventions and Strategies for Weight Management | 3 |
| FN650 | Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism | 3 |
| FN655 | Research Methods in Nutrition | 3 |
| MC626 | Ethical Issues | 3 |
Twelve (12) credit hours in program-approved elective courses
- Concentration in Community Nutrition and Wellness: Includes courses in Introduction to Public Health, Global Food Issues, Child and Adolescent Nutrition, Nutrition and Aging, Program Design and Management in Community Nutrition
- Concentration in Entrepreneurial Nutrition Practice: Includes courses in Concepts in Nutrition Counseling, Integrative Nutrition and Health Therapies, Interventions and Strategies for Weight Management, and Program Design and Management in Community Nutrition
- Other Program Electives: Choose from Service Learning in Community Nutrition, Nutrition Research Seminar, Critical Care Nutrition, Food, Society and Spirituality, Women's Nutrition and Health Issues, Nutrition Assessment, Food Security, Pharmacology, Principles of Food Law and Regulation, among others.
Three (3) credit hours in a Capstone Experience (Choose one):
| FN695 | Capstone Evidence Analysis Portfolio | 3 |
| FN680 | Action Research Project | 3 |
| FN699 | Thesis | 3 |
Concentration in Community Nutrition and Wellness
This 14-credit Concentration in Community Nutrition and Wellness emphasizes ecological public health strategies and demonstrates how communities can think globally and act locally to improve the public's health. The current status of research on key nutrition issues across the lifespan is examined. The incidence, risks, development, and recommendations for prevention of chronic conditions and diseases are discussed.
Courses are designed to prepare students to develop, implement, and evaluate public health programs for various groups. The concentration provides training in Public Health, Child and Adolescent Nutrition, Nutrition and Aging, Global Food Issues, and Program Design and Management in Community Nutrition.
Requirements (14 credits)
| FN626 | Public Health Nutrition | 3 |
| FN620 | Child and Adolescent Nutrition | 2 |
| FN625 | Health Promotion & Aging | 3 |
| FN663 | Global Food Sustainability Issues | 3 |
| FN677 | Program Design & Management in Community Nutrition | 3 |
Concentration in Entrepreneurial Nutrition Practice
Many lifestyle habits, including poor nutrition habits, contribute to obesity and overweight and other chronic degenerative health problems. The 12-credit Concentration in Entrepreneurial Nutrition Practice prepares students to develop programs and provide counseling to clients with an emphasis on behavior change, health promotion and disease prevention. Courses are designed to help students improve their nutrition education and counseling skills for individuals and groups with an emphasis on health, wellness and weight management. Strategies to design, implement, and evaluate health and nutrition intervention programs are included.
The concentration provides training in Weight Management, Concepts in Nutrition Counseling, Program Design and Management in Community Nutrition, and either Integrative Nutrition and Health Therapies, or Sports Nutrition for Health and Performance. This concentration also meets the criteria for continuing education credits, as required for dietetics professionals by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Courses include:
Requirements (12 credits)
| FN630 | Interventions and Strategies for Weight Management | 3 |
| FN653 | Concepts in Nutrition Counseling | 3 |
| FN677 | Program Design & Management in Community Nutrition | 3 |
| FN624 | Integrative Nutrition & Health Therapies | 3 |
| or | |
| FN671 | Sports Nutrition for Health & Performance | 3 |