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). Current UNH students considering a master’s degree in nutritional sciences may qualify for our accelerated degree option. This allows students to complete both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years.
This master’s degree in nutritional sciences places emphasis on active participation in original, hypothesis-driven research of publishable quality and is well-suited to students who anticipate a professional career involving research or discovery. The UNH nutrition program offers state-of-the-art assessment and teaching facilities including a simulation clinic and an applied research laboratory. The curriculum includes experiential learning opportunities to build research, nutrition care, food system and epidemiology 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 program is for students who anticipate a professional career involving research or discovery, with a strong background in the basic biology and chemistry of nutrition. This degree may be most appropriate for students who expect to pursue further advanced study, e.g., additional graduate studies or professional school, after graduation. Graduates of the Master of Science (M.S.) in Nutritional Sciences will be valued in the marketplace as they will have a demonstrated capacity to engage in critical and systems thinking, convey and apply nutrition concepts in clinical, research and community settings, work as individuals and in teams, and identify strategies for lifelong learning.
The program of study must include a minimum of 30 graduate credits including 6 credit Master's Thesis based on a research project. Courses will be taken to fulfill expected competency requirements in experimental design and analysis and in scientific writing and communication. In consultation with the student’s graduate committee and the area of research specialization, other courses will be taken as appropriate.
1. Core Course Requirements:
2. Competency Requirements: A thesis committee will be appointed early in the program and will consist of at least three members of the graduate faculty; one of these will be the primary mentor. Students will design a program of study in close consultation with their thesis committee, including their academic courses and scientific research project. The student's committee may require certain undergraduate courses as part of the graduate program if additional competencies would be beneficial to the student. No more than 4 credits of NUTR 895 Investigations can apply toward the total credit count.
3. Additional Requirements: All students in the Nutritional Sciences Graduate Programs are expected to:
Additional information can be found in the program graduate handbook, which includes expectations, guidelines, and detailed policies.
Annual Evaluation: The annual evaluation of graduate students ensures that students receive the mentorship they deserve and are making progress toward completion of their degrees. The annual evaluation of graduate students consists of a collaborative effort between faculty adviser and student to:
Program Requirements
The accelerated path to a M.S. Nutritional Sciences requires a minimum of 34 graduate credits. Qualified students who are admitted under the Accelerated Master's program may complete up to 12 credits at the 800-level during their senior year, earning dual credit toward their B.S. and M.S. degrees.
During the fifth year (Sept-May), enrolled students will complete a minimum of 22 additional credits toward the program requirements. There are five core courses that include a year-long research experience (i.e. NUTR 960 Research Methods in Nutritional Science I and NUTR 961 Research Methods in Nutritional Science II) during the last year of the student's program. Students will be required to earn a B- or better in graduate courses to earn credits toward their degree.
Core Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUTR 809 | Nutritional Epidemiology | 4 |
| NUTR 850 | Nutritional Biochemistry | 4 |
| NUTR 851 | Nutritional Biochemistry of Micronutrients | 4 |
| NUTR 855 | Treatment of Adult Obesity | 4 |
| NUTR 860 | Behavioral Nutrition and Counseling | 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 | 1 |
| ANFS 997 | Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems Seminar | 1 |
To be taken at the earliest opportunity, typically in the initial fall semester of the graduate program.
Nutrition knowledge-related
Research design and analysis
Scientific method
Critical thinking
Communication skills
Professionalism
*Applications completed by Jan 15 will be given priority consideration for admission and financial support. Applications completed after Jan. 15 will be considered based on openings and funding.
Note: If you are applying to the Dietetic Internship program please visit that programs specific program of study page as it has different deadline and application requirements.
Application fee: $65 for thesis option; currently enrolled UNH juniors and seniors applying as accelerated masters applicants to the non-thesis option have the fee waived.
Campus: Durham
New England Regional: No
Accelerated Masters: Yes (for more details see the accelerated masters information page)
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.
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:
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.
Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.
Thesis-based applicants: Applicants applying to the thesis-based program are required to submit 3 letters. At a minimum 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. The third should come from someone relevant to the program you are applying to.
Non-Thesis Applicants: Currently enrolled UNH juniors and seniors applying to the non-thesis option as accelerated masters applicants 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.
Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:
Thesis-based Option
Applicants who apply to the thesis-based program should consult with a Nutrition Program faculty member to discuss their undergraduate coursework and career goals. Competitive applicants typically have completed a rigorous science-based curriculum and have a strong interest in conducting publishable nutrition research.
Non-Thesis Option
The non-thesis option is only available to currently enrolled UNH juniors or seniors who are applying as accelerated masters applicants.
At time of application, students must have a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and be currently enrolled in a baccalaureate program at UNH. The following prerequisite coursework (or equivalent) is also required: nutrition, anatomy and physiology (2 semesters), statistics, general chemistry w/lab, organic chemistry w/ lab plus biochemistry (BMCB 501 is acceptable).
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.
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.
