The Master of Science in Nutrition degree offers opportunities to study nutrition in the context of overall self-care and well-being from a wide range of perspectives. Students are required to select one of the following concentrations: Community Nutrition, Dietetics, Nutrition & Performance, General Nutrition, and Research. Please note that students interested in pursuing a career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) must select our Dietetics concentration, which is referred to as the Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics.
The curriculum prepares graduates to work for agencies, businesses, and organizations that seek to improve nutrition and well-being at the local, national, and global level. The program also prepares students to engage in further study for research careers in nutritional sciences.
Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics
The Dietetics concentration is for those who wish to pursue a career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Individuals with this credential are qualified to provide medical nutrition therapy in either individual or group settings. They are clinically trained to treat patients with nutrition-related diseases providing specialized care.
George Mason's MS Nutrition - Dietetics Concentration, referred to as the Graduate Program in Nutrition & Dietetics, meets the criteria put forth by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates will receive a Master of Science in Nutrition and a verification statement that provides eligibility to sit for the RDN registration exam. Our goal is to prepare graduates with the competencies necessary to become entry-level RDNs. We prepare the next generation of healthcare providers as career-ready Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) who will be engaged in the professional community and take part in lifelong learning.
Community Nutrition
The Community Nutrition concentration emphasizes a skill-set tailored to understanding nutrition-related needs in the context of overall health and well-being. Students learn to assess, evaluate, and intervene in the most current and relevant nutrition issues. The curriculum prepares graduates to work for agencies, businesses, and organizations that seek to improve nutrition and self-care at the local, national, and global level. This program also prepares students to engage in further study for research careers in nutrition.
Nutrition and Performance
The Nutrition and Performance concentration emphasizes a skill-set tailored to addressing nutrition and performance related needs. Students learn to assess, evaluate, and intervene in the most current and relevant nutrition and performance issues. This concentration provides a curriculum focused specifically on interdisciplinary approaches to physical activity and nutrition. Upon graduation students will be competitive for a variety of positions related to nutrition and human performance and be prepared to pursue further graduate study in nutrition or physical activity related degrees. In addition, the curriculum prepares the student to take the International Society for Sports Nutrition (ISSN) certification.
General Nutrition
Students learn to assess, evaluate, and intervene in the most current and relevant nutrition issues. The General Nutrition concentration requires core nutrition courses required of the MS Nutrition degree, but allows flexibility in choosing electives to meet individual needs and interests. The curriculum prepares graduates to work for agencies, businesses, and organizations that seek to improve nutrition and self-care at the local, national, and global level.
Research
Students in the Research concentration allows students to develop expertise in evidence-based nutrition and self-care. This degree prepares graduates for roles that require data analysis, clinical trial management, and evidence-based program and policy development as well as providing a foundation for future careers in healthcare, industry, and academia. In this concentration, we encourage students to identify and communicate with potential mentors during the application process. For those who need a little more time, you will be required to identify a faculty mentor by the end of your first semester. Once accepted, you will join their research team and work closely with them on their research, while developing your own thesis under their mentorship. Electives will be used to tailor your research focus in consultation with your mentor.
Admissions
Requirements
Applicants must meet the admission standards and application requirements specified in Graduate Admissions and must apply using the online Application for Graduate Admission. For application deadlines and detailed application requirements, refer to the College of Public Health Admissions website.
Applicants interested in the General Nutrition, Research, Community Nutrition, and Nutrition and Performance concentrations must have completed NUTR 295 Introduction to Nutrition (Mason Core) or equivalent and GCH 270 Applied Human Anatomy and Physiology I or equivalent prior to admission.
Policies
Students must complete 39-45 credits of graduate coursework with at least a 3.00 GPA, which may include no more than 6 credits of courses with a grade of "C". A graduate course in which a grade of C or below is earned may be repeated only once.
For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Transfer of Credit
Transfer of credit is governed by university transfer of credit policy and the university requirements for master's degrees. Transfer credit must be approved by the program director and the dean. Students who enroll initially through non-degree studies should seek course advising through the department prior to taking a course and plan to submit their application to the MS in Nutrition program in their first semester of study.
Declaration of Concentration
Students must declare their concentration by the end of their first semester.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 39-45
Nutrition Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GCH 500 | Foundations of Public Health | 3 |
| NUTR 515 | Fundamentals of Cooking | 3 |
| NUTR 522 | Nutrition Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NUTR 620 | Nutrition Education | 3 |
| NUTR 626 | Food Systems | 3 |
| NUTR 650 | Nutrition Assessment for Dietitians 1 | 3 |
| or NUTR 651 | Nutrition Assessment | |
| NUTR 670 | Nutrition Research Methods | 3 |
| NUTR 675 | Nutrition Program Evaluation | 3 |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
- 1
Students with a concentration in Dietetics must take NUTR 650 Nutrition Assessment for Dietitians.
Concentrations
Students must declare a concentration before the end of their first semester in the program.
- Concentration in Community Nutrition (CMNT)
- Concentration in Dietetics (DIET)
- Concentration in Nutrition and Performance (NTRP)
- Concentration in General Nutrition (GNTR)
- Concentration in Research (RSCH)
Concentration in Community Nutrition (CMNT)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUTR 513 | Advanced Community Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 553 | Nutrients | 3 |
| NUTR 583 | Food and Culture | 3 |
| Select one course from below: | 3 | |
| Nutrition and Weight Management | ||
| Perspectives on Food Security | ||
| Food Safety and Defense | ||
| Food and Nutrition Security Policy | ||
| Global Nutrition | ||
| Nutritional Epidemiology | ||
or GCH 653 | Nutritional Epidemiology | |
Other electives as approved by faculty advisor. | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Concentration in Dietetics (DIET)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUTR 537 | Food Service Management | 3 |
| NUTR 587 | Profession of Dietetics 1 | 2 |
| NUTR 622 | Nutrition Counseling and Communication | 3 |
| NUTR 662 | Medical Nutrition Therapy I | 3 |
| NUTR 667 | Medical Nutrition Therapy II | 3 |
| NUTR 687 | Supervised Experiential Practice 2 | 7 |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
- 1
NUTR 587 must be taken three times for a total of two credits.
- 2
NUTR 687 must be taken four times for a total of seven credits. Students must work with their faculty advisor to discuss the total number of credits needed for each semester.
Students enrolled in the Dietetics Concentration must complete all the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) Graduate Program (GP) requirements, including meeting all ACEND-required competencies and completing a minimum of 1,155 hours of supervised experiential learning, which can be fulfilled through a combination of coursework and supervised practice. Successful completion of these requirements qualifies students for a Verification Statement, making them eligible to sit for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) exam.
Concentration in Nutrition and Performance (NTRP)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUTR 553 | Nutrients | 3 |
| KINE 601 | Advanced Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| KINE 606 | Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Any 500-, 600-level NUTR or KINE course or course approved by advisor. | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Concentration in General Nutrition (GNTR)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUTR 553 | Nutrients | 3 |
| Students elective 9 credits of graduate-level coursework in consultation with their faculty advisor. | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Concentration in Research (RSCH)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students select 12 credits of graduate-level coursework in consultation with their faculty mentor. | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Capstone Experience
Students in the Community Nutrition concentration, Nutrition and Performance concentration, General Nutrition concentration, and Research concentration must complete a capstone experience to graduate. Students in the Dietetics concentration do not need to complete the capstone experience as the course plan requires extensive experiential learning at preceptor sites. Students in the Community Nutrition concentration, Nutrition and Performance concentration, and General Nutrition concentration will choose either a practicum or project. Students in the Research concentration must complete a thesis.
Practicum Option
The practicum option entails a supervised practical application of previously studied theory through fieldwork. Students will be required to engage for a minimum of 200 contact hours per practicum in a nutrition-related organization under the guidance of a preceptor and a faculty advisor. Students must attend one seminar course, complete a project while working in the agency, and produce a formal report and presentation during the practicum. Students will enroll in the NUTR 788 Pre-Capstone Seminar the semester prior to conducting the practicum. In their final semester, students will enroll in the NUTR 790 Nutrition Practicum or Project. Students may register for the practicum only with approval from their advisor and after they have completed at least 18 credits in the program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUTR 788 | Pre-Capstone Seminar | 0 |
| NUTR 790 | Nutrition Practicum or Project | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Project Option
The project option entails a supervised project that is identified in collaboration with a faculty mentor. Capstone projects answer an important question in the field and demonstrate your knowledge and specialized expertise in the topic. The project might involve a deep dive into a particular area of nutrition by surveying the literature and writing a significant summary paper, solving a practical problem such as creating nutrition educational materials in a particular area of need. Students will enroll in NUTR 788 Pre-Capstone Seminar the semester prior to conducting the capstone project. Students will enroll in NUTR 790 Nutrition Practicum or Project. Students may register for their project only with approval from their faculty advisor and after they have completed at least 18 credits in the program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUTR 788 | Pre-Capstone Seminar | 0 |
| NUTR 790 | Nutrition Practicum or Project | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Thesis Option
The thesis option is only for students in the Research concentration. Student who do not select their faculty mentor during the admission process are required to identify a faculty mentor by the end of their first semester. Once accepted, you will join their research team, working closely with them on their research throughout the program while developing your own thesis topic under their mentorship.
The thesis is an in-depth original research project to test a theory or answer a specific research question. incorporating an original design to test a theory and resulting in a final written thesis. The final product will be a high-quality written thesis. The process with your mentor is an immersive research experience where you may contribute to various projects to gain research experience in your mentor's area of expertise. The topic must fall within one of the areas of faculty expertise in the department, including clinical and community nutrition, food studies, global nutrition, public health nutrition, nutrition policy, nutrition and metabolism, nutrition and chronic disease, eating disorders and women's health. Students may register for the thesis only with approval from their mentor and after they have completed at least 18 credits in the program.
Students in the master’s thesis option are required to form a committee of at least three faculty members in consultation and approval of your mentor, who will serve as your thesis committee chair. The thesis chair and at least one of the committee members must be members of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies faculty, but the third and any additional members may or may not be from the department. Students must take the thesis course (3 credits total) while working on their thesis. Students must develop a proposal and have it approved by their committee and by the appropriate University committees, such as the Human Subjects Review Board, before undertaking the project. The thesis must conform to the format stated within Mason’s University Libraries guidelines.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUTR 788 | Pre-Capstone Seminar | 0 |
| NUTR 799 | Thesis Research | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Bachelor’s Degree (any)/Nutrition, Accelerated MS
Overview
Qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program (BAM) and obtain a bachelor’s degree in any program and an MS in Nutrition in an accelerated timeframe after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 147 credits.
See AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees for policies related to this program.
Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the master's degree. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
BAM Pathway Admission Requirements
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Policies and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees policies. For information specific to this accelerated master's program, please visit the College of Public Health website.
Students will be considered for admission into the BAM Pathway after completion of a minimum of 60 credits, completion of NUTR 295 Introduction to Nutrition (Mason Core) or equivalent, completion of BIOL 124 Human Anatomy and Physiology I or BIOL 213 Cell Structure and Function and BIOL 215 Cell Structure and Function Laboratory or equivalent, and a minimum overall GPA of 3.25.
Students who are accepted into the BAM Pathway will be allowed to register for graduate level courses after successful completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credits and course-specific prerequisites.
Accelerated Master’s Admission Requirements
Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MS in Nutrition program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form:
- Overall GPA of 3.25
- Successfully completed NUTR 295 Introduction to Nutrition (Mason Core) or equivalent.
- Successful completion of BIOL 124 Human Anatomy and Physiology I or BIOL 213 Cell Structure and Function and BIOL 215 Cell Structure and Function Laboratory or equivalent.
- Successfully meeting Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing the application for graduation.
Accelerated Pathway Requirements
Students must complete at least 3 credits from the following list of graduate-level courses, while in undergraduate status, up to a maximum of 12 credits:
Advanced Standing course:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUTR 513 | Advanced Community Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 515 | Fundamentals of Cooking | 3 |
| NUTR 522 | Nutrition Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NUTR 626 | Food Systems | 3 |
| *Other courses as approved by department chair. | ||
Reserve Credit
Students may complete up to 6 credits of graduate-level coursework, while in undergraduate status, from the list below that will only count towards the graduate degree program:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NUTR 553 | Nutrients | 3 |
| NUTR 670 | Nutrition Research Methods | 3 |
For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees and AP.1.4.4 Graduate Course Enrollment by Undergraduates.