UB’s Master of Science in Nutrition distinguishes itself from other master’s programs in its focus on a functional approach to the prevention and management of diseases. Embedded in the curriculum is the concept of bio-individuality which enables clinicians to be able to provide customized diet and nutrient recommendations that will be effective. This is provided with an evidence-based scientific approach.

The Human Nutrition Program provides a biochemical and physiological study of nutrition and its role in health and disease. Students gain skills in counseling in alternative and complementary medicine using nutritional strategies. The program further explores the role of nutrition as a preventive, adjunctive, alternative strategy for the prevention and amelioration of specific health conditions.

The program also provides its graduates with a foundation for entering doctoral-level programs, including the Doctor of Health Sciences DHSc.

 

Our student body is diverse and includes leading physicians from various fields and specialties, various allied health care professionals, as well as those seeking to make a career change into nutritionally-based healthcare. We have over two dozen faculty teaching our program that is highly experienced at teaching to this diverse group of students and provides a fertile ground for learning and scholarly interchange. Our faculty members hold Ph.D.’s in biochemistry, advanced degrees in nutrition, and physicians from many fields of medicine. We have created a faculty with a balance of academic and clinical experience to best prepare students for a career in clinical nutrition.

 

Coursework for the program can be completed in 21 months, if the student takes 2 courses per term/3 terms per year. A comprehensive exam is given approximately 2 months after all coursework is satisfactorily completed, allowing students to complete all requirements for the MS degree in 23 months.

The program supports the acquisition, utilization, and application of nutrition principles in clinical situations.

In addition, the program provides an opportunity for medical, chiropractic, and other healthcare providers to expand their practice through knowledge gained from graduate studies in nutrition.

The program is a graduate-level program and is NOT designed to lead to the registered dietician (RD) designation.

The program provides its graduates with a foundation for entering PhD and DHSc programs in health science.

Comprehensive Final Exam

Following the completion of the core curriculum, all students are required to successfully complete a Comprehensive Examination. The exam is held three times a year, once in the spring, once in the summer, and once in the fall, and is administered online. This exam is a requirement for graduation from the program.

After graduation from the MS program, licensure or certification is available through several individual states or national nutritional organizations. For those considering a diplomate versus an MS degree, it is important to note that certifications and diplomats represent professional recognition. It does not authorize or license an individual to practice, which is a state regulatory function.

---

Benefits to the MS in Nutrition at University of Bridgeport

• UB has the most established Master’s in Nutrition program in the USA (since 1977).
• We teach clinical nutrition from a functional medicine paradigm providing clinically effective and evidence-based strategies for nutrition practice.
• We embed the concept of bio-individuality and personalized care to offer each client a unique and efficacious plan for their health optimization.
• Faculty members include professors who are seasoned academics and researchers as well as leading clinicians in the field.
• Designers and administrators of the program are practicing clinicians in functional medicine/nutrition with decades of experience.
• UB has a robust and unique College of Health Sciences currently featuring 7 schools/institutes and 16 programs across a wide-span of health care disciplines, one of which is the Nutrition Institute. We also offer dual degree program opportunities for students in other UB graduate health sciences programs. It is the only such program on the east coast to offer such opportunities.

• We feature a unique capstone course, Virtual Clinic, which is the first online clinic experience offered to graduate students in the field. This provides a real case study and clinical management experience and is taught by several different experienced clinicians over a semester.
• The Virtual Clinic is eligible for 200-255 hours of supervised experience credit towards the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential awarded by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists.* UB leads the way in providing this experience to students.
• Our online nutrition degree program offers maximum flexibility to complete your masters degree entirely online. The program is perfectly suited for working professionals or those seeking a career change.

* Variation is based on students’ state of residence.

Your Future Starts Today!

• Apply online!
• Financial aid is available, and we accept applications on a rolling basis.
• We have comprehensive support services that will get you through college and into a great career.

Master’s in Nutrition Degree Requirements

Start my Application

Program Prerequisites

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
• Depending on your undergraduate background, you may be required to take up to 9 credits of graduate level prerequisites. All prerequisites are offered through UB and can be completed in one term

Required Materials

• Application
• Official transcripts for the last degree earned
• Personal statement

  • In 250-500 words, detail why you are seeking this degree, how you expect to apply your degree to your professional career after graduation and why you seek to pursue your degree through the University of Bridgeport

International Applicants

Please consult the International admission requirements page, or for specific queries, contact your admissions officer.

Deadlines

Completed application and all supporting documents must be received by:

• July 15 for the fall semester
• December 1 for the spring semester
• April 15 for the summer semester

Your Future Starts Today!

• Apply online!
• Financial aid is available, and we accept applications on a rolling basis.
• We have comprehensive support services that will get you through college and into a great career.

Online Master’s in Nutrition Courses

The Human Nutrition Program consists of foundational courses in human physiology and biochemistry which expand into in-depth learnings on macro and micronutrients, biochemical individuality, human development, functional assessment, and nutritional therapeutics. An integrative and holistic perspective is interwoven with an evidence-based approach to assessing and counseling a client. Take master’s in Nutrition online courses without having to leave your home, with the Nutrition MS program at University of Bridgeport.

Graduate Level Prerequisites

Depending on your undergraduate background, you may be required to take up to 9 credits of graduate level prerequisites listed below. All prerequisites are offered through UB and can be completed in one term.

NUTR 560 N Anatomy & Physiology (4 credits)
NUTR 560 U Intro to Biochemistry (3 credits)
NUTR 560 V Nutrition Fundamentals (2 credits)

Core Curriculum

Term 1

Course		Credits
Nutr 560A	Pathophysiologic Basis of Metabolic Diseases	4
Nutr 560M	Evidence-Based Nutrition	3

Term 2

Course		Credits
Nutr 560B	Biochemistry of Nutrition	4
Nutr 560E	Assessment of Nutritional Status	3

Term 3

Course		Credits
Nutr 560C	Vitamins and Minerals	3
Nutr 560G	Lifelong Healing w/Food	4

Term 4

Course		Credits
Nutr 560D	Clinical Biochemistry	3
Nutr 560H	Developmental Nutrition	3

Term 5

Course		Credits
Nutr 560F	Nutritional Therapeutics	4
Nutr 560K	Virtual Clinic	4

Approximately 2 months after completion of course work

Course		Credits
Nutr 600	Comprehensive Exam	0

Joint Programs

Doctor of Chiropractic DC / MS Nutrition Dual Degree

The joint program allows Chiropractic students to pursue the MS in Nutrition while they are working on the DC degree.

Eligibility

• Student must be in good academic standing and have a QPR of 2.75 or greater
• Completion of chiropractic studies 4th semester
• Apply to MS program 4th semester of UBSC
• Recommendation of UBSC Director or Associate Director

Program Details

---

Advanced Standing for PA students

University of Bridgeport Physician Assistant students have the opportunity to earn advanced standing in the MS in Nutrition program for several PA courses. The required core courses in the Nutrition program will be taken after completion of PA program.

Program Details

 

View all courses offered and read full course descriptions in our online course catalog system.

Your Future Starts Today!

• Apply online!
• Financial aid is available, and we accept applications on a rolling basis.
• We have comprehensive support services that will get you through college and into a great career.

Accredited Nutrition Program

Mission

The mission of the human nutrition program is to prepare graduates to positively influence and support specific health challenges and promote overall well-being by integrating biochemical and physiological science knowledge with evidence-based strategies that link to integrative and preventative nutrition-based interventions.

Accreditation

The Human Nutrition Master’s program is licensed and accredited by the Connecticut Board of Governors Office of Higher Education, while University of Bridgeport is institutionally accredited through the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

The MS in Nutrition program is the first to be accredited by the Accreditation Council on Nutrition Professional Education (ACNPE), a programmatic accrediting agency for clinical programs in advanced nutrition.

Accreditation by ACEND (for dietetics) is not required since the Master of Science program is not a dietetics training program and does not include a coordinated dietetics internship required for eligibility to take the registration examination for the RD credential.

Your Future Starts Today!

• Apply online!
• Financial aid is available, and we accept applications on a rolling basis.
• We have comprehensive support services that will get you through college and into a great career.

Nutrition Career Opportunities

The UB Human Nutrition Institute graduate will:

• Promote and support awareness of the benefits of optimal nutrition to health and overall well-being
• Integrate biochemical and physiological science knowledge with nutritional evidence-based interventions and competent decision-making to prevent, positively influence, and support various health challenges
• Exhibit professional behavior that is ethical, collaborative, and culturally sensitive
• Demonstrate the ability to successfully complete the UB comprehensive nutrition exam

Nutrition Certification & Licensing

Interested in getting certified or licensed in nutrition? The two are separate processes, as follows:

Certification

There are multiple nutrition certifications available to graduates of our program. Please research the organizations below to determine which is best suited for you.

1. Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) – Certifications@NutritionSpecialists.org. University of Bridgeport’s MS in Human Nutrition program fulfills all of the current academic requirements for the CNS. The Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS) requires a graduate degree in the field of nutrition from a regionally accredited university, specific coursework, and 1,000 hours of supervised experience. Graduates from the UB MS in Nutrition program can apply for 200-255 hours* of supervised experience by having passed course Nutr 560K. BCNS reviews each candidate individually, including current course descriptions, transcripts, and experience to determine eligibility. To learn more about becoming a CNS, visit theana.org/certify.
2. Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN) – Clinical Nutrition Certification Board, 1-972-250-2829
3. American Clinical Board of Nutrition – (540) 635-8844, conacbn@shentel.net. Offers advanced standing towards their diplomate program (DACBN) to those with professional doctoral degrees who have completed the UB M.S. nutrition degree. No additional hours of training are required, as UB’s M.S. program exceeds the ACBN’S course hour requirements. For doctorate level degrees only.

* Variation is based on students’ state of residence.

Licensing

Obtaining a license to practice is governed on a state-by-state level. Students and prospective students who do not plan to practice in Connecticut should check with the Board of Health in the state they plan to practice to determine what is needed for the legal practice of nutrition counseling. Nutritionadvocacy.org, a trade website, provides information on this for all states, but laws can change so check your state’s Board of Health to confirm.

---

Career Paths & Opportunities

The clinical nutritionist has become an increasingly popular healthcare option for many, whether you seek healthy weight management or a complement to medical treatment of chronic or serious disease. It differs from the role of Registered Dietician (RD), who traditionally works in institutional environments, such as hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and school systems under the direction of, or in coordination with medical physicians.

In addition to the careers in nutrition described below, as a graduate of a Masters program in Nutrition, you may also choose to go on to attain a PhD or DHSc.

UB continues to support its alumni of the Nutrition Institute by offering post-graduate courses, taught by leading researchers and clinicians and available online to further enhance our graduates’ clinical knowledge.

Clinician

• Most Clinical Nutritionists (CN) maintain private nutritional counseling services or work as part of a team in an integrated medical clinic providing dietary counseling, targeted nutritional supplementation and wellness program development to enhance health and help individuals with specific health conditions.
• The CN often works in conjunction with other clinicians also dedicated to wellness care and functional medicine, such as nutritionally minded medical, chiropractic, and naturopathic physicians.
• Clinical Nutritionists who are already primary healthcare clinicians, such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc., simply incorporate what they have learned into their existing practices and offer more expanded nutritional and wellness services to their patients.

Education / Academia

• Teach with the MS degree at the community college level
• Teach at the university level, after attaining a Ph.D.

Non-Profit and Service Work

• Community health educator and advocate
• Domestic and overseas nutrition organization volunteer/worker/clinician

Industry Consultant

The CN also has opportunities to work with nutritional supplement, nutraceutical, and clinical laboratory companies, in many roles including:

• Nutritional and nutraceutical sales representatives
• Product formulation and design
• Technical writing
• Educational program developer
• Clinical support for health care providers

Publishing

• Media expert in nutrition and wellness
• Writing and publication of books, magazine articles and web blogs on nutrition and wellness

Nutritional Research

• Conduct clinical or natural product research
• Write grant proposals
• Develop research methodologies
• Write articles and scientific papers for professional publications

Your Future Starts Today!

• Apply online!
• Financial aid is available, and we accept applications on a rolling basis.
• We have comprehensive support services that will get you through college and into a great career.