Students in the Nutritional Sciences M.S Thesis option conduct an in-depth research study in one of the department’s specialized program areas in conjunction with supporting coursework. This option is best if you plan to pursue a doctoral degree or career in research.
The Nutritional Sciences M.S. Non-Thesis option provides you with the knowledge and experience to prepare you for clinical, community, industry, government, and basic science careers. We’ve designed our curriculum to develop your: a) Application of research in real world settings such as program planning, policy development our counseling b) Concentration in a specialty to expand your career c) Speaking and writing skills for a variety of audiences d) Skills to be lifelong learners and consumers of new and emerging information
This major is part of a Double Dawgs pathway: Culinary Science and Nutrition BSFCS/Nutritional Sciences MS Culinary Science and Nutrition BSFCS/Nutritional Sciences MS(non-thesis) Dietetics BSFCS/Nutritional Sciences MS Dietetics BSFCS/Nutritional Sciences MS(non-thesis) Exercise and Sport Science BSEd/Nutritional Sciences MS (Nutrition for Sport and Exercise)(non-thesis) Nutritional Sciences BSFCS/Nutritional Sciences MS Nutritional Sciences BSFCS/Nutritional Sciences MS(non-thesis) For more information, go to doubledawgs.uga.edu
Director of Graduate Studies: Alex Anderson, Professor fianko@uga.edu Graduate Program Administrator: Lora Shue ldshue@uga.edu 706.542.4869 Graduate Program Administrator: Donna Holcomb Email: dholcomb@uga.edu Phone: 706-542-9920 www.fcs.uga.edu/fdn
31 hours
Preference for Admission: a) Degree in Nutritional Sciences/Dietetics, Food Science, Biology, Zoology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Nursing, Public Health, or other closely related health science. b) The following undergraduate courses with grades of “B” or better on your transcript: 2 semesters of inorganic (general) chemistry, 1 semester of organic chemistry, 1 semester of biochemistry, and 1 semester of physiology. c) Minimum GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale. d) Work or volunteer experience in at least one of the following: laboratory research, clinical research, food industry, nutrition education, health promotion, or other areas related to health, nutrition, or food science. e) International students – If applicable per country of origin, TOEFL iBT score of 90 with a minimum score of 20 in each of the four exam sub-sections or IETLS overall band of 6.5 with no single band (score) below 6.0 is required for admission. f) Agreement from faculty member to be major professor (thesis track only)
| NUTR 4100/6100 ^ | Micronutrient Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 6400 * | Advanced Macronutrients | 3 |
| NUTR 7000 | Master's Research | 1-12 |
| NUTR 7300 | Master's Thesis | 1-12 |
| NUTR 8560 | Proposal Writing | 3 |
| NUTR 8900 | Seminar in Nutritional Sciences | 1-6 |
| NUTR 6900 * | Current Topics in Nutritional Sciences | 2 |
* These courses apply towards the required 12 credit hours of graduate-only courses. ^ These courses cannot be repeated if taken as an undergraduate, and do not apply towards the required 12 credit hours of graduate-only courses. May be substituted with another course if similar course was taken in undergrad; needs Graduate Coordinator approval.
Choose 4 to 7 credit hours from the following:
(Thesis track - 4 credit hours, Non-Thesis track - 7 credit hours)
| FDST(NUTR) 8150 * | Food and Nutritional Biochemistry | 3 |
| IDIS(NUTR) 4200/6200 ^ | We Are What We Eat! How Your Gut Influences Your Overall Health | 3 |
| KINS(NUTR) 4700/6700 ^ | Weight Management Coaching | 3 |
| NUTR 4050/6050 ^ | Optimal Nutrition for the Life Span | 3 |
| NUTR 4070/6070 | Research Methodology in Human Foods and Nutrition | 2 |
| NUTR(KINS) 4220E/6220E ^ | Nutrition in Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sport | 3 |
| NUTR 4500/6500 ^ | Medical Nutrition Therapy I | 3 |
| NUTR 4510/6510 ^ | Nutrition Related to the Human Life Cycle | 3 |
| NUTR 4520/6520 ^ | Clinical Nutrition Interventions | 2 |
| NUTR 4530/6530 ^ | Medical Nutrition Therapy II | 4 |
| NUTR 4540/6540 ^ | Public Health Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 4570/6570 ^ | Inherited Metabolic Disorders | 3 |
| NUTR 4590/6590 ^ | Metabolism and Physiology of Energy Balance and Obesity | 3 |
| NUTR 4600E/6600E ^ | Food and Nutrition Policy | 2 |
| NUTR 4610/6610 ^ | Foodservice Procurement and Financial Management | 1 |
| NUTR 4630/6630 ^ | Cultural Aspects of Foods and Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 4640E/6640E * | Food Sanitation and Safety | 3 |
| NUTR 4645/6645-4645L/6645L ^ | Functional and Nutritional Properties of Foods | 2 |
| NUTR(FDST) 4647/6647-4647L/6647L ^ | Sensory Evaluation of Food | 3 |
| NUTR 4650/6650-4650L/6650L ^ | Experimental Study of Food | 3 |
| NUTR 4660S/6660S ^ | Nutrition Education Methods | 3 |
| NUTR(EPID) 5040/7040 ^ | Nutritional Epidemiology | 3 |
| NUTR 5710/7710 ^ | Study Tour in Nutritional Sciences | 1-12 |
| NUTR 6230E * | Current Issues in Sports Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 6240E * | Nutrition and Obesity Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NUTR 6560E * | Nutrition, Health, and Aging | 3 |
| NUTR 4620E/6620E * | Management of Foodservice Organizations | 2 |
| NUTR 6665E * | Childhood and Adolescent Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 6670E * | Nutrition Intervention | 3 |
| NUTR 6800E * | Nutrition and Pharmacotherapy for Disease Management | 3 |
| NUTR(KINS) 7940 * (2-3 hours) | Nutrition, Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sport Internship | 2-9 |
| NUTR(KINS) 8230 * | Advanced Nutrition in Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sport | 3 |
| NUTR 8530 * | Nutrition and Disease Processes I | 3 |
| NUTR 8550 * | Nutrition and Disease Processes II | 3 |
| NUTR(KINS)(HPAM)(HPRB)(ECHD) 8595 * | Survey of Obesity and Weight Management | 1 |
* These courses apply towards the required 12 credit hours of graduate-only courses. ^ These courses cannot be repeated if taken as an undergraduate, and do not apply towards the required 12 credit hours of graduate-only courses.
Choose 12 credit hour(s) from the following:
NUTR courses at the 6000, 7000, or 8000-level and/or related courses outside the department at the 6000, 7000, or 8000-level.
Area of Emphasis in Nutrition for Sport and Exercise
Choose 1 course(s) from the following:
| NUTR(KINS) 4220E/6220E | Nutrition in Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sport | 3 |
| NUTR(KINS) 8230 | Advanced Nutrition in Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sport | 3 |
Choose 1 course(s) from the following:
| KINS 4300/6300 | Exercise Epidemiology | 3 |
| KINS 4630/6630 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| AND KINS 4630L/6630L | Exercise Physiology Laboratory | 1 |
| KINS 4690/6690 | Neuromuscular Physiology | 3 |
Choose 5 credit hour(s) from the following:
| KINS 4300/6300 | Exercise Epidemiology | 3 |
| KINS 4450E/6450E | Initiating Motivation for Change in Health, Exercise, and Sport | 3 |
| KINS 4690/6690 | Neuromuscular Physiology | 3 |
| KINS 7330-7330L | Metabolic and Cardiorespiratory Aspects of Exercise | 4 |
| KINS 7340 | Exercise Psychology | 3 |
| KINS 8300 | Exercise, Obesity, and Cardiometabolic Disorders | 3 |
| NUTR 6230E | Current Issues in Sports Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 6700E | Weight Management Coaching | 3 |
| NUTR(KINS) 7940 (2-9 hours) | Nutrition, Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sport Internship | 2-9 |
| VPHY(KINS) 5690/7690 | Skeletal Muscle and Mitochondria Physiology | 3 |
Core requirement course options not taken to fulfill the core
| GRSC 7001 | GradFIRST: First-year Research and Scholarship Training Seminar | 1 |
| GRSC 7770 * | Graduate Teaching Seminar | 1-3 |
STAT course (3 hours) from the preapproved courses listed in the Graduate Handbook.
Students must meet Graduate Student requirement of 12 credits of graduate level only coursework.
These courses are not considered in the 15 required credits of NUTR course requirements: NUTR 7000, NUTR 7010, NUTR 7210, NUTR 7300, and other research or independent study. *For those on teaching assistantship, 1-3 hours
Select additional courses, as needed, in consultation with an advisor to meet the minimum number of required credit hours for this program.
Graduates of the M.S. Thesis program have gone on to pursue doctoral degrees, as well as careers in research, academia, industry, government, hospitals, long-term care, public health, schools, and wellness programs. Dietetic Intern graduates are eligible to take the Registration Exam for Registered Dieticians. M.S. non-thesis provides you with the knowledge and experience to prepare you for clinical, community, industry, government, and basic science careers. This degree does not independently qualify a student to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. Students should be aware of the laws governing the practice of dietetics in their respective states.
Registered Dietitians can meet some requirements for the Board-Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) examination through the Commission for Dietetic Registration (CDR). Improve nutrition and physical activity habits in clinical, community and athletic settings. Prepare for Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) Examination. Develop research skills in scientific and practical principles of nutrition for sport and exercise.
Transfer credits may be accepted following UGA Graduate School guidelines.
Various scholarships are available from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, as well as the Department of Nutritional Sciences. External scholarships are also available.
Students have several opportunities for Study Away excursions within the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, including trips to South Africa, London, Peru, Spain France and Belgium, Greece, Ghana, Italy, South Korea, and Japan.
The Department of Nutritional Sciences offers a combined M.S./Dietetic Internship program. While completing the Master’s program, students complete the necessary requirements over the course of the 2 years in the program to sit for the Registration Exam to become a Registered Dietician. The program is accredited by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. Internship sites include the UGA Center for Physical Activity and Health and other university, public health, community, and clinical settings.
Students are encouraged to participate in the Graduate Student Organization in the department.
The Department offers M.S. thesis and M.S. non-thesis programs and a Ph.D. Program. The department also offers an online non thesis M.S., with an Area of Emphasis in Community Nutrition. A combined M.S. thesis or Ph.D. Plus Dietetic Internship is available. All graduate degrees can also be completed concurrently with a didactic program in dietetics. There is an option to include an emphasis in “Nutrition in Sport and Exercise” as part of any on campus graduate degree in the department.