M.S. in Nutrition – Online Program
The 30-credit M.S. in Nutrition – Online Program combines advanced study in nutrition and health promotion with a unique
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 program enables students to achieve their educational goals in a convenient,
collaborative, and interactive format. Coursework is offered through distance learning
technology. All courses in the program are offered online, allowing learners to earn
the degree completely online. Students 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 M.S. in Nutrition –
Online Program is to provide excellence
and innovation in teaching and outreach
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. Students will:
- 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 lifelong learners in a global society.
- Promote professional leadership and ethical practice in a spirit of service to the community.
Program Options
The M.S. in Nutrition – Online Program offers three options for admission:
Option A : Designed for the registered dietitians (RDs)
or registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs)
or students who have 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 have received graduate-
level credit for this experience. Students accepted under Option A may be
eligible to receive up to 9 graduate credit
hours toward their Master of Science 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 to receive
transfer credits. In addition, students may
be asked to submit samples of their 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 students with a baccalaureate
degree in foods, nutrition, and/or dietetics
or students with a baccalaureate degree
in a non-nutrition area who desire 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 RDs or RDNs 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 students seeking a combined
Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetic
Internship Program. For this option, students must have a Didactic
Program in Dietetics Verification Statement
and participate in the Dietetic Internship
Centralized Application Service and D&D
Digital computer matching. Upon successful
completion, students will earn their master’s
degree in nutrition and a verification of
completion for the dietetic internship and will
be eligible to sit for the National Registration
Examination for Dietitians. To apply for this
option, see the Dietetic Internship Application
materials and separate Program Admissions
and Program Requirements available at www.steu.edu/di.
Additional Admission Criteria for the M.S. in Nutrition – Online Program
An individual seeking direct admission to this graduate program 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 admission criteria. Generally, applicants must have achieved a cumulative undergrad-
uate grade point average (GPA) of no less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students who have a
background in nutrition 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 9 graduate credits
may be accepted for transfer credit. Transfer of credit into the graduate program will be
subject to evaluation and approval by the director of the program. All transfer credits must
carry a minimum 3.0 GPA (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 12-credit Community Nutrition and Wellness concentration 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 nutrition, health
promotion and aging, global food issues, and program design and
management in community nutrition.
Requirements (12 credits)
| FN626 | Public Health Nutrition | 3 |
| 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 Entrepreneurial Nutrition Practice
concentration 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 |