Elevate your educational training and experience in the field of nutrition with advanced coursework that enhances your knowledge, skills and confidence and prepares you to take the next step in your career. Throughout the intensive, two-semester master’s degree in nutrition at UNH, you will receive focused guidance from experienced mentors, be challenged to think critically and gain experience in applied research and science communication.
Credit Hours: 32 | Courses: 10 | Program Length: 1 year
WHY GET YOUR MASTER’S DEGREE IN NUTRITION?
Earning a master’s degree demonstrates advanced understanding of nutrition science and the role of nutrition in human health. Our curriculum is designed to position students for employment opportunities in a variety of sectors (e.g., community nutrition, public policy, sales, higher education, government or non-profit, media/communications). This program also meets the needs of individuals seeking to increase their academic training for highly competitive programs (dietetic internships, medical school or other health professions).
WHY CHOOSE UNH FOR YOUR DEGREE?
This master’s degree in nutrition places emphasis on active participation in small class settings and is well-suited to students who seek a challenging but supportive environment. The curriculum includes experiential learning opportunities to build research, nutrition care, food system, epidemiology and communication skills to give students a strong foundation for work in a variety of clinical, community or research settings, or for further study in graduate or professional schools. The UNH nutrition program offers state-of-the-art assessment and teaching facilities including a simulation clinic and an applied research laboratory. Current UNH students considering a master’s degree in nutrition may qualify for our accelerated degree option. This allows students to complete both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years.
POTENTIAL CAREER AREAS
- Community nutrition
- Government agencies
- Healthcare
- Higher education
- Industry
- Nonprofit organizations
- Public health
- Research
Curriculum & Requirements
The M.S. in Nutrition delivers a content-rich core and substantial learning experiences to prepare students for careers in nutrition and professional health fields. Students with appropriate undergraduate preparation can complete the program within one academic year. The M.S. in Nutrition program is well-suited for students interested in pursuing subsequent professional allied health pathways (e.g., medical school) or dietetic internships that require a master’s degree for admittance. As part of the program, students will demonstrate capacity to engage in critical and systems thinking, convey and apply nutrition concepts, work as individuals and in teams, and identify strategies for lifelong learning.
The M.S. Nutrition requires a minimum of 32 graduate credits. There are eight core courses* that include a year-long research experience (NUTR 960 and NUTR 961). Elective coursework support students’ diverse interests and career goals. Students will be required to earn a B- or better in graduate courses to earn credits toward their degree.
*Students who previously complete any required core 800-level courses at the 700-level as part of the UNH undergraduate degree will substitute a graduate NUTR elective alternative from a prescribed list.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Core Course Requirements | ||
NUTR 820 | Community Nutrition | 4 |
NUTR 850 | Nutritional Biochemistry | 4 |
NUTR 873 | Clinical Nutrition | 4 |
NUTR 880 | Critical Issues in Nutrition | 4 |
NUTR 960 | Research Methods in Nutritional Science I | 4 |
NUTR 961 | Research Methods in Nutritional Science II | 4 |
ANFS 901 | Introduction to Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems Graduate Studies | 1 |
ANFS 997 | Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems Seminar | 1 |
Electives | ||
Select two courses from the following: | ||
NUTR 809 | Nutritional Epidemiology | 4 |
NUTR 810 | Advanced Diabetes Care | 2 |
NUTR 815 | Advanced Sports Nutrition | 4 |
NUTR 830 | From Seed to Sea: Examining Sustainable Food Systems | 4 |
NUTR 840 | Nutrition for Children with Special Needs | 4 |
NUTR 860 | Behavioral Nutrition and Counseling | 4 |
NUTR 851 | Nutritional Biochemistry of Micronutrients | 4 |
NUTR 855 | Concepts and Controversies in Weight Management | 4 |
NUTR 860 | Behavioral Nutrition and Counseling | 4 |
NUTR 876 | Advanced Pathophysiology and Clinical Care | 4 |
NUTR 895 | Investigations | 1-4 |
NUTR 927 | Nutrition and Gut Microbes in Human Health | 4 |
This graduate program is approved to be taken on an accelerated basis in articulation with certain undergraduate degree programs.
General Accelerated Master's policy, note that some programs have additional requirements (e.g. higher grade expectations) compared to the policy.
Please see the Graduate School website and contact the department directly for more information.
Nutrition knowledge-related
- Build knowledge and understanding in key content areas of nutritional sciences and public health nutrition issues
Research design and analysis
- Identify the strengths and weaknesses of study designs utilized in nutrition-related research
- Conduct nutrition-related data analyses
- Interpret the results and scientific literature to inform dietary recommendations, public policy, or chronic disease intervention
Scientific method
- Demonstrate the ability to design and defend an original, hypothesis-driven project to advance the field of nutritional sciences
Critical thinking
- Integrate scientific evidence and critically evaluate research findings in specific fields related to nutritional sciences
Communication skills
- Disseminate evidence-based information on nutritional sciences and public health
- Deliver nutrition research findings to multiple scientific audiences (i.e. research conference, academic journal)
- Incorporate critical feedback in their research and academic work
Professionalism
- Conduct research in an ethical manner
- Demonstrate collaboration and leadership skills
- Master concepts of equity, diversity, and inclusion in different settings (e.g., healthcare, education, community health)
Deadlines
- Fall: May 15
- Spring: November 15
- Summer: N/A
- Special: N/A
Campus: Durham
New England Regional: No
Accelerated Masters: Yes (for more details see the accelerated masters information page)
New Hampshire Residents
Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission, or you will not be able to register for classes.
Transcripts
If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC.
If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.
If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:
- Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
- Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.
Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.
Letters of recommendation: 3 required
Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.
Currently enrolled UNH juniors and seniors applying to the accelerated masters option are only required to submit two letters of recommendation. One letter of recommendation should come from a current or past teacher or advisor and one letter of recommendation should come from a non-academic supervisor or mentor.
Personal Statement/Essay Questions
Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:
- Reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives.
- Your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field.
Important Notes
Applicants should visit the Nutritional Sciences program website and review the list of faculty in their area of interest. The applicant should contact potential faculty advisors to discuss their interests and determine whether the faculty member(s) may be willing and able to serve as the student’s advisor before applying to the program. See the Nutritional Sciences Faculty List for a current list of faculty.
All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program specific application questions.
International Applicants
Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.
Explore Program Details
Highly motivated and qualified UNH students with junior or senior standing are eligible to apply to the M.S. in Nutrition via the accelerated pathway. Accelerated master's admission is designed for students seeking additional training to further their career goals. This program is an optimal way for qualified undergraduate students to begin earning graduate credits during their senior year.
Our M.S. in Nutrition degree program offers UNH undergraduate students the opportunity to begin graduate study while completing a bachelor's degree—making you stand out among other job applicants and increase your earning potential. Qualified and motivated students can begin earning up to 8 graduate credits during their senior year, allowing them to maximize their time on campus and return on their educational investment.
To qualify for the accelerated pathway, you must be a current UNH student with a GPA of 3.2 or higher. More information regarding the accelerated master's pathway at UNH can be found here. Undergraduates are encouraged to work with their advisor early to map out their academic plan and take advantage of this pathway.
For admission, competitive program applicants will be expected to meet the following prerequisites:
• GPA > 3.0 in prior academic programs; for students entering via UNH's accelerated pathway during their senior year, a 3.2 GPA is required
• Demonstration of English proficiency for non-native, English-speaking applicants (i.e., TOEFL score).
• Completion of the following courses: nutrition, anatomy and physiology (2 semesters), statistics, general chemistry w/lab, biochemistry
As part of the application process, applicants will be required to submit:
• Three letters of recommendation (only 2 letters for current UNH students applying via the accelerated pathway)
• Personal statement specifying the applicant’s professional development and career plan.
Please note that teaching or research assistantships are not available to students admitted into our non-thesis graduate programs. Information regarding tuition and fees is located here. Information about other types of financial aid can be found here.