Nutrition/Dietetics (MS)

What is A Nutrition/Dietetics (MS) Degree?

The field of nutrition has to do with what you eat, what medications/drugs you take, and your general overall health.  The basic of the science is mainly biology and chemistry, but the behavioral sciences like psychology and sociology can be important, too. Professionals in the field may work as dietitians in hospitals or clinics, as nutrition researchers for corporations, as nutrition specialists in schools or institutions, home healthcare aide, etc.

The MS degree program in Nutrition/Dietetics is for students who want to enhance their educations in the field of Nutrition for advancement in their career or for the opportunity to teach or do research.  Some programs may offer the chance for graduates of Bachelor’s programs in a discipline other than nutrition or dietetics to earn the MS degree while also completing work in dietetics sufficient to serve an internship to qualify to be a registered dietitian. These students may need to complete a few prerequisites before being fully admitted to the MS program.

Coursework in the program will include advanced study of subjects like biostatistics, clinical nutrition, disease prevention, and metabolic regulation, among others.  A practicum may be included, and, if you are planning to practice in dietetics while also doing other professional work in education or research, you may need to take coursework on interprofessional practice topics.  Also, depending on what program you choose, you may be held to higher grade requirements than are usually required of Master’s level students in other fields.