NUTRITION SCIENCES, MS
Nutrition Sciences
Master of Science Program in Nutrition Sciences (NS)
| Degree Offered: | M.S. |
| Director: | Dr. Brenda Bertrand |
| Phone: | (205) 934-8770 |
| E-mail: | brendamb@uab.edu |
| Web site: | https://www.uab.edu/shp/nutrition/ |
The MS in Nutrition Sciences provides experiences that foster understanding about nutrition research, health promotion, and disease prevention. Students choose from various track options as described below.
Admission to the Master of Science Program in Nutrition Sciences
The Nutrition Sciences graduate program recommends fall-term entry. Interested students must first obtain admission to the UAB Graduate School. Graduate School admission standards include:
- A 'B' average computed overall;
- Evidence of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university or college in the United States or other majors with specified prerequisite courses;
- GRE Score within the past five years for select tracks (please check with the program for specific track requirements); competitive candidates have a combined GRE score of at least 300 on the verbal and quantitative sections; and
- Complete a criminal background check and drug screen at program admission and again prior to clinical placement as required by school policy for select tracks. Please check with the program for specific track requirements.
Additional requirement for the Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship Option only:
- Evidence of a bachelor's degree from a Didactic Program approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
Additional requirement for the Clinical Track/Prior Learning Option only:
- Verification statement from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) demonstrating successful completion of a Dietetic Internship.
Degree Requirements
The MS in Nutrition Sciences requires successful completion of 14 semester hours in core courses, and additional specific courses for each of the tracks.
Core Requirements
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NTR 618 | Nutritional Biochemistry | 6 |
| NTR 621 | Applied Statistics to Nutrition Sciences I | 3 |
| NTR 637 | Applied Research in Nutrition Sciences | 3 |
| NTR 690 | Seminar | 2 |
| Total Hours | 14 | |
Additional Information
| Deadline for Entry Term(s): | Fall (June 1), Spring (Nov 1), and Summer (April 1) admission available for Lifestyle Management Disease Prevention Track and Clinical Track/Prior Learning Option) |
| Fall - DEP-C Track Jan 15; DEP Track May 15, Research Track Mar 1; Clinical/Dietetic Internship Track June 1 | |
| Number of Evaluation Forms Required: | Three |
| Entrance Tests: | GRE required for Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship Only (TOEFL, IELTS, or PTEA also required for all international applicants whose native language is not English.) |
For detailed information, contact:
Dr. Brenda Bertrand, Professor and MS in Nutrition Sciences Program Director
UAB School of Health Professions
Webb Building, Room 534, 1675 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294-3360
Telephone: 205-934-8770
E-mail: brendamb@uab.edu
Website: https://www.uab.edu/shp/nutrition/
Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences-Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship
Students in the MS in Nutrition Sciences Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship must complete 48 semester hours of graduate-level coursework (14 semester hours in core courses and 34 semester hours of required track courses). Students are required to complete 1,200 contact hours of supervised professional practice in nutrition and dietetics (NTR 589). This is a non-thesis track. All non-practicum course work is offered online. Fall term admission only. Only students who have completed a bachelor's degree from a didactic program approved by ACEND are eligible to apply.
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NTR 500 | Communications in Nutrition | 1 |
| NTR 501 | RDN Certification Review | 0 |
| NTR 601 | Advanced Medical Nutrition | 3 |
| NTR 604 | Principles and Practice of Nutrition Support | 3 |
| NTR 611 | Advanced Food System and Resource Management | 3 |
| Internship/Practicum | 24 | |
| Internship Practicum | ||
| Total Hours | 34 | |
Clinical Track / Dietetic Internship Accreditation
The Clinical Track / Dietetic Internship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and is designed to prepare entry-level dietitians for careers in a variety of health care, wellness, and community settings. Admission to this track is awarded on a competitive basis through a national matching process using the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Service (DICAS) portal and D & D Digital. Upon acceptance into the Dietetic Internship, you must then apply to be admitted to the UAB Graduate School.
An onsite internship is offered in Birmingham, and offsite in Huntsville, Mobile, and Montgomery. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the national examination to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
Additional Information
| Requirement | Fulfilled By: |
|---|---|
| Entry Term(s) | Fall |
| Deadline for DICAS and D&D Digital: | February 15 |
| Deadline for ALL Application Materials to be in the Graduate School Office: | June 1 |
For detailed information, contact:
Mrs. Carleton Rivers, Assistant Professor and Director, Clinical Track / Dietetic Internship
Department of Nutrition Sciences, UAB School of Health Professions
Webb Building, Room 540, 1675 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294-3360
Telephone: 205-934-3223
E-mail: meadows4@uab.edu
Website: www.uab.edu/shp/nutrition/education/masters/clinical-track-dietetic-internship
Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences-Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship/MPH Dual Degree
Students in the Dietetic Internship/MPH Dual Degree option must complete 30 semester hours of graduate-level coursework, comprising 26 hours of public health courses and 4 semester hours of NTR 589 to be applied to the MPH degree, in addition to the requirements of the MS in Nutrition Sciences Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship program described above. All required public health coursework is offered online.
Only students who are enrolled in the MS in Nutrition Sciences Clinical Track /Dietetic Internship are eligible to apply for the dual degree option.
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PUH 601 | This is Public Health | 1 |
| PUH 602 | Community Assessment | 3 |
| PUH 603 | Quantitative Methods in Public Health | 3 |
| PUH 604 | Programs and Policies | 3 |
| PUH 605 | Public Health Management and Evaluation | 3 |
| PUH 606 | Leadership for Evidence-Based Public Health | 1 |
| PUH 610 | Population Health | 3 |
| ENH 690 | Environmental Health Perspectives | 1 |
| Select one of the following courses | 2 | |
| Environmental Health Sciences Integrative Learning Experience | ||
| Epidemiology Integrative Learning Experience | ||
| Health Behavior Integrative Learning Experience | ||
| NTR 589 | Internship Practicum | 4 |
| MPH Focus Courses | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
For further information about the MPH component of the dual degrees, contact:
Hannah VanSlambrouck, Director of Enrollment Management
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health
1720 2nd Avenue South, 130 Ryals Public Health Building, Birmingham AL 35294-0022
Telephone: 205-975-8688
E-mail: hannahv@uab.edu
Website: https://www.uab.edu/soph/home/graduate/programs/mph-ms
Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences-Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention Track
Students in the MS in Nutrition Sciences Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention Track must complete 36 semester hours of graduate-level coursework (14 semester hours in core courses, 19 semester hours of required courses, and 3 semester hours of graduate-level elective coursework). This is a non-thesis track and all coursework is offered online. Prerequisite requirements include successful completion (with a grade of C or higher) in undergraduate courses, in the following subject areas (3 semester hours each): Introductory Nutrition, Biology, Organic Chemistry, Physiology, and Microbiology.
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NTR 609 | Applied Nutrition for Physical Activity and Disease Prevention | 3 |
| NTR 631 | Community Interventions for Healthy Lifestyles | 3 |
| NTR 632 | Nutrition Counseling and Education | 4 |
| KIN 644 | Application of Exercise Physiology to Fitness and Performance | 3 |
| CDS 605 | Survival Spanish for Health Professionals | 1 |
| GC 545 | Genetics and Genomics Applications in Health Care | 2 |
| PA 550 | Introduction to Medical History Taking and Physical Examination | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 22 | |
Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences-Dietitian Education Program Track
The Dietitian Education Program (DEP) is a Coordinated Program in Dietetics as defined by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the national examination to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). There are two program options for the DEP, which include the DEP Track and the DEP Graduate Certificate of the Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention Track. Enrollment in each of the tracks is dependent on pre-requisite requirements.
Prerequisite requirements for the DEP Track include successful completion (with a grade of C or higher) in undergraduate courses in the following subject areas (three semester hours each): Introductory Nutrition, Biology, Organic Chemistry, Physiology, and Microbiology and completion of the following undergraduate nutrition courses: NTR 222 Nutrition and Health, NTR 232 Lifecycle Nutrition, NTR 320 Nutrition and the Consumer, NTR 330 Nutrition and Metabolism, NTR 420 Nutritional Genetics, and NTR 421 Nutrition Assessment and the Nutrition Care Process.
Only students who are enrolled in the Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention Track are eligible for the DEP Graduate Certificate program.
Students in the Dietitian Education Program must complete 58 hours of graduate-level coursework (14 semester hours in core courses and 44 semester hours of required track courses). Students are required to compete 1,200 contact hours of supervised professional practice in nutrition and dietetics (NTR 670 – 676). This is a non-thesis track and all non-practicum coursework is offered online. Fall term admission only. Students can elect to complete practicum experiences in the Birmingham area, or remotely in their preferred location.
Dietitian Education Program Accreditation
The Dietitian Education Program has been granted Candidacy Status for Accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Students enrolled under candidacy status will be considered graduates of an accredited program upon successful completion of the Dietitian Education Program.
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NTR 500 | Communications in Nutrition | 1 |
| NTR 501 | RDN Certification Review | 0 |
| NTR 600 | Principles of Food Science Operations and Menu Planning | 3 |
| NTR 601 | Advanced Medical Nutrition | 3 |
| NTR 604 | Principles and Practice of Nutrition Support | 3 |
| NTR 611 | Advanced Food System and Resource Management | 3 |
| NTR 631 | Community Interventions for Healthy Lifestyles | 3 |
| NTR 632 | Nutrition Counseling and Education | 4 |
| NTR 670 | Practicum in Wellness | 3 |
| NTR 671 | Practicum in Community Nutrition | 3 |
| NTR 672 | Practicum in Food Systems Management | 3 |
| NTR 673 | Practicum in Medical Nutrition Therapy I | 3 |
| NTR 674 | Practicum in Medical Nutrition Therapy II | 4 |
| NTR 675 | Practicum in Dietetic Administration | 4 |
| NTR 676 | Advanced Practicum in Dietetics | 4 |
| Total Hours | 44 | |
For detailed information, contact Dr. Lizzy Kroeger, Assistant Professor and DEP Track Director, Department of Nutrition Sciences, UAB School of Health Professions, Webb Building, Room 550, 1675 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294.
Telephone 205-935-6514
Web https://www.uab.edu/shp/nutrition/education/masters/dietitian-education-track
Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences-Clinical Track/Prior Learning Option
Students in the MS in Nutrition Sciences Clinical Track/Prior Learning Option must complete 30 semester hours of graduate-level coursework (14 semester hours in core courses, 10 semester hours of required track courses, and 6 semester hours of elective credits). Only students who have a Verification Statement demonstrating successful completion of a dietetic internship program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) are eligible to apply. This is a non-thesis track and all required coursework is offered online.
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NTR 500 | Communications in Nutrition | 1 |
| NTR 601 | Advanced Medical Nutrition | 3 |
| NTR 604 | Principles and Practice of Nutrition Support | 3 |
| NTR 611 | Advanced Food System and Resource Management | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences-Research Track
Students in the MS in Nutrition Sciences Research Track must complete 37 semester hours of graduate-level coursework (14 semester hours in core courses, 20 semester hours of required track courses, and 3 semester hours of elective credits). Students in the Research Track are required to complete and orally defend thesis research that contributes to the growing body of knowledge of nutrition sciences (NTR 698 and NTR 699). Most non-research coursework is offered online.
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| NTR 623 | Applied Statistics to Nutrition Sciences II | 3 |
| NTR 636 | Scientific Methods | 3 |
| NTR 698 | Master s Level Non-Thesis Research | 2 |
| NTR 699 | Master's Level Thesis Research | 6 |
| NTR 733 | Laboratory Instruments and Methods in Nutrition Research | 1 |
| GRD 717 | Principles of Scientific Integrity | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Seminar | 2 | |
| Advanced Nutrition Seminar | ||
| Total Hours | 23 | |
