Nutrition, M.S.
Program Director: Joanna Eaton, MSPH, RDN; jeaton@hood.edu
The Master of Science in Nutrition program requires the completion of 32-42 credits, and has two different tracks: Dietetics 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 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 (4 credits), Organic Chemistry (4 credits), Biochemistry, Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology (8 credits), Food Preparation or Food Science, Life Cycle Nutrition or Intro to Nutrition; Macronutrient and Micronutrient Metabolism and one of the following; Human Nutrition, Medical Nutrition Therapy or Clinical Nutrition.
Degree Requirements
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 (18 credits)
Electives (14 credits)
| BMS 512/BIOL 412 | Biochemistry of Intermediary Metabolism | 3.0 |
| COUN 504 | Counseling Techniques | 3.0 |
| ENV 501 | Introduction to Environmental Biology | 3.0 |
| NUTR 502 | Nutrition Assessment | 2.0 |
| NUTR 506 | Global Health and Nutrition | 3.0 |
| NUTR 512 | Nutritional Genomics and Microbiome | 3.0 |
| NUTR 525 | Food Service Management | 2.0 |
| NUTR 556 | Nutrition Across the Life Span | 3.0 |
| NUTR 599 | Special Topics in Nutrition | 3.0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14.0 |
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 plus 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 (42 credits)