Nutrition, M.S.
Program Director: Anne Davis, Ph.D.; davis@hood.edu; 301-696-3299
The Master of Science in Nutrition program requires the completion of 32-42 credits, and has three different tracks: Dietetics, Sustainability Studies and Applied Nutrition, and general Nutrition.
Application Requirements
To be considered for admission to the M.S. in Nutrition program, applicants should have a minimum undergraduate GPA of at last 3.0. Nutrition prerequisite coursework for all three tracks include: Future Graduate RDN-eligible, Sustainability Studies, Applied Science. All prerequisite courses must earn a B or higher and must be completed prior to the M.S. program start. Applicants should be from a DPD program or Nutrition Major or Nutrition Minor with a science degree.
Applicants are required to submit:
Official transcripts from all institutions attended
Statement of Purpose essay (no greater than 2 pages, double-spaced), which should include the following:
Why you chose your field of interest;
Why you are prepared for graduate school and why you feel graduate school is necessary for you;
Why you chose Hood College in particular;
What you hope to achieve in your program and with your degree.
Two letters of recommendation - one letter must be from an attended academic institution
Dietetics Track Requirements: A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above and a verification statement from ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics; or a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above and completion of the following prerequisite courses with a grade of B or better: Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology, Human Nutrition, Food Preparation, Food Science, Life Cycle Nutrition, Quantity Foods or a Food systems Management course.
Degree Requirements
Dietetics Track
The Dietetics track is a 20-month, 42-credit-hour, full-time, Future Graduate (FG) Future Education Model (FEM) Demonstration hybrid Program. Our FG FEM nutrition and dietetics program integrates didactic coursework with 1000 hours of supervised experiential learning (SEL) using competency-based education hybrid curriculum. It is designed to prepare nutrition and dietetics practitioners for future entry-level practice. Upon fulfilling all program graduation requirements, our program awards students the degree of Master of Science in Nutrition and graduates are eligible to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) to become a credentialed registered dietitian/ nutritionist (RDN). Our program is designed to prepare nutrition and dietetics leaders through evident-based practice and research. The program has received candidacy accreditation as a future graduate program by the Accreditation Council on Education for Nutrition and Dietetics. It combines didactic coursework and 1,000 supervised experiential learning completed in 5 continuous semesters and 42 credits. Hood College’s MS in Nutrition was granted candidacy accreditation status for a FG FEM nutrition and dietetics program in 2022. Students enrolled in this program will advance as a full-time cohort class.
Required Courses
Sustainability Studies and Applied Nutrition Track
The Sustainability Studies and Applied Nutrition track is a hybrid, 32-credit-hour, full- or part-time program that explores sustainable food and nutrition issues. This program is a collaboration with the sustainability studies major at Hood College and focuses on sustainable food systems/regenerative agriculture practices and community engagement to increase access to high-quality nutritious foods, improving health outcomes, while protecting the environment. Relevant research and theoretical foundations towards best practices and evidence-based practice guides the curriculum. Issues related to food sustainability, traditional food practices, food justice and complementary approaches to nutrition are examined. Students in this program have a variety of undergraduate degrees including dietetics, nursing, health promotion, medicine, education, exercise science, food science, biology, anthropology, community health, psychology, and others. The program provides an advanced degree option for members of the workforce with food and nutrition responsibilities employed by schools, industry, health care, government, food and nutrition systems, and non-profit organizations. Students enrolled in this track will progress at their own pace, within the 7-year time limit to complete the degree.
This program does not lead to becoming a registered dietitian. If interested in becoming a registered dietitian, a dietetic internship would be needed with this degree.
Required Courses
| BIFX 503 | Biostatistics in R | 3.0 |
| | or | |
| ENV 505 | Biostatistics | 3.0 |
| | or | |
| MATH 500 | Statistics | 3.0 |
| NUTR 500 | Sustainable Food Systems & Food Security | 3 |
| NUTR 505 | Leadership, Management & Advocacy Sem | 2 |
| NUTR 506 | Global Health and Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 509 | Program Planning, Management & Eval | 3 |
| NUTR 511 | Nutrition Concepts and Controversies | 3 |
| NUTR 579 | Non-Thesis Research | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 20.0 |
Electives
General Nutrition Track
The General Nutrition track is a hybrid 32-credit-hour, full- or part-time program that offers a strong foundation in evidence-based advanced practice and analysis of nutrition science, its application, biochemistry, and research a focus on leadership and management. Students in this program may be registered dietitians looking to complete a graduate degree for industry competitiveness and advancements or students looking for a broad exploration of nutrition science. Students enrolled in this track will progress at their own pace, within the 7-year time limit to complete the degree.
This program does not lead to becoming a registered dietitian. If interested in becoming a registered dietitian, completion of an accredited didactic program in dietetics (DPD) for a verification statement and a dietetic internship would be needed with this degree.
Required Courses
Electives