Master of Science with a major in Health Sciences

Program description
The Master of Science with a major in Health Sciences and a concentration in Nutrition is a 36-semester hour program. This program does not meet requirements for becoming a Registered Dietitian (RD). However, if a student desires to meet educational requirements to become a RD, it is possible to complete the required dietetics coursework while enrolled in the graduate program.

Major Objectives for the Program Include:

Preparing graduates to formulate research questions, organize and test research problems, and evaluate research study results
Fostering critical thinking, inquiry, and professional leadership
Providing graduates with advanced study in nutrition
Enhancing career development
Providing the framework for advanced degree study

Program Options
Students complete a M.S. in Health Sciences with a specialization in nutrition and may choose a general program with several electives or a professional practice option that combines the M.S. program with a certificate in Public Health or an emphasis in sports nutrition.

Curriculum for M.S. in Health Sciences with a Specialization in Nutrition
The curriculum includes core health science courses, nutrition courses, elective courses and a thesis, master's project, or portfolio capstone project.

Health Science Core (6 semester hours)
SNHP 6000: Research Methods for the Health and Human Science Professions (3)
SNHP 8000: Trends Affecting Health Policies, Practices and Laws (3)

Nutrition Courses (15 semester hours)
Nutr 6101: Nutrition Research Methods (3)
Nutr 6102: Nutrition Intervention (3)
Nutr 6104: Advanced Normal Nutrition I (3)
Nutr 6106: Advanced Normal Nutrition II (3)
Nutr 7101: Nutrition Issues (3) OR Nutr 7950: Advanced Topics in Medical Nutrition Therapy (3)

Elective Courses (9 semester hours)
Chosen in Consultation wiht Graduate Program Committee of Faculty Advisor**

Capstone Project (Minimum of 6 semester hours)
Nutr 7999: Thesis Research (3,3) OR Nutr 7990: Portfolio Seminar (1,1,1) + Elective (3)

**Students with a special interest in Sports Nutrition may choose from the following electives:

Nutr 7106: Advanced Sports Nutrition (3)
KH 7500: Physiology of Exercise (3)
KH 7620: Clinical Exercise Physiology (3) OR KH 7550: Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription

Curricula for M.S. in Health Sciences with Professional Practice Options
The professional practice option provides students with an opportunity to select one of the following specialty areas of practice within the basic curriculum for an M.S. in Health Sciences with a Specialization in Nutrition. Professional practice options that include certificate programs require acceptance into those programs as well as into the M.S. degree program. Courses taken outside the Division of Nutrition may require additional prerequisite coursework.

MS in Health Sciences with a Certificate in Public Health

Health Science Core (6 semester hours)
SNHP 6000: Research Methods for the Health and Human Science Professions (3)
SNHP 8000: Trends Affecting Health Policies, Practices and Laws (3)

Nutrition Courses (15 semester hours)
Nutr 6101: Nutrition Research Methods (3)
Nutr 6102: Nutrition Intervention (3)
Nutr 6104: Advanced Normal Nutrition I (3)
Nutr 6106: Advanced Normal Nutrition II (3)
Nutr 7101: Nutrition Issues (3) OR Nutr 7950: Advanced Topics in Medical Nutrition Therapy (3)

Public Health Courses (Elective Courses) (9 semester hours)
PH 7010: Foundations of Public Health Administration & Policy (3)
PH 7107 Public Health Biostatistics (3)
PH 7011: Epidemiology for Public Health (3)

Capstone Project (Minimum of 6 semester hours)
Nutr 7999: Thesis Research (3,3) OR Nutr 7990: Portfolio Seminar (1,1,1) + Public Health Elective (3)

*Choose one of the following courses as a PH elective:
PH 7012: Health Planning and Program Development (3)
PH 7013: Health Care Quality Issues and Strategies (3)
PH 7016: Introduction to Health Promotion (3)
PH 7130: Law and Public Health Practice (3)
PH 7140: Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health (3)
PH 7150: Environmental Health (3)
PH 7160: Introduction to Business and Health Care (3)
PH 7170: Using Research to Develop Health Policy (3)
PH 7250: Health Care Finance and Resource Management (3)
PH 7500: Health Communication (3)
PH 7521: Evaluation Research (3)
PH 7530: Prevention Effectiveness and Economic Evaluation (3)

Expenses

Details about expenses can be found on the Tuition & Fees web site. This information is the official information for the University and includes all updates.
A limited number of graduate assistantships are available which cover partial or full tuition costs (not fees) and provide a semester stipend. Students who receive full tuition remission must enroll in the mandatory health insurance program or provide proof of insurancec

Application Requirements
The selection of potential degree candidates for the Master of Science degree program in Health Sciences with a concentration in Nutrition is competitive. Applicants must be graduates of accredited institutions with baccalaureate degrees, have acceptable grade point averages and scores on admission tests, and show potential for academic development and professional leadership.

Admissions Criteria:

College-level courses in Anatomy, Physiology, Inorganic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry. Additionally, a biochemistry course (Nutr 6700 or equivalent) and a normal nutrition and metabolism course (Nutr 6500 or equivalent) are prerequisites for graduate coursework but may be taken after acceptance into the graduate program. The biochemistry and nutrition/metabolism courses must have been completed within 10 years prior to beginning the graduate program if they are not taken as a part of the graduate program.
A minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 in all college-level course work.
Minimum rank in the 50th percentile or greater on both the GRE Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning measures.
An analytical writing score of 4.0 or greater is preferred
Two letters of recommendation.
A Statement of Professional Goals.

Students interested in professional practice options that include certificate programs must also apply to and be accepted in those programs.

Application Process and Required Application Materials
(Application forms available below)

Applications for admission must be received no later than May 15 for students wishing to begin during the Fall Semester and no later than October 1 for students wishing to begin during the Spring Semester.

There are several ways to apply to the Masters Program with a concentration in Nutrition. You may apply online, you may print/download the application materials, or you may request a printed application packet from the Office of Academic Assistance. Please go to the Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions Graduate Admissions Page to either apply online or download application materials.

If you do not apply online, application packets should be requested from and mailed to:

Office of Academic Assistance
College of Health and Human Sciences
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3995
Atlanta, GA 30302-3995