MS Degree Program

Program objectives are to: (1) recognize the diverse nature of subject matter embodied in the nutrition disciplines; (2) understand the research findings and theoretical constructs undergirding the nutrition disciplines (3) understand and embrace ethical standards of the respective disciplines.

Admission Requirements and Program Prerequisites

1. Prospective students must apply through the Graduate School creating a login to fill out the application and submit transcripts, except Clinical Nutrition applicants must also follow the DICAS application process See http://www.memphis.edu/healthsciences/graduate/index.php. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score submission is optional for Clinical Nutrition (CLIN), Environmental Nutrition (ENVN) and Nutrition Science (NSCI) programs.
2. An applicant, except for Clinical Nutrition, must upload the following in Slate:
   • Two letters of recommendation
   • A 300-500 word statement of goals including identification of the intended area of concentration.
3. Although exceptions may be considered, an applicant is normally expected to have graduated with a minimum baccalaureate GPA of 2.75, except Clinical Nutrition applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
4. Completion of an appropriate undergraduate major and a strong background in discipline-specific courses:
   • Clinical Nutrition: Completion of an undergraduate degree and an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND)-approved Didactic Program in Dietetics Verification Statement.
   • Environmental Nutrition: life science-oriented courses such as nutrition, biology, health sciences, public health, health promotion, food service, and anthropology
   • Nutrition Science: science-oriented courses such as, but not limited to, nutrition, biology, biochemistry, health sciences, and chemistry
5. Completion of undergraduate work deemed by the concentration committee as prerequisite to graduate courses.
6. Student admissions to the respective master’s programs within the Nutrition (NUTR) major are differentially restricted to enable Graduate Faculty within each concentration to closely mentor their students. To ensure maximum consideration for admission into a specific NUTR concentration, the following dates are provided: May 1 for summer and fall and November 1 for the spring semester. Clinical Nutrition applicants must participate in the DICAS application process during mid-February. The admission committee may request a personal interview.

Multiple criteria will be used when considering applicant admission, including, but not limited to, undergraduate and graduate grade point average, GRE scores (Clinical Nutrition only), personal goals statement, relevant employment history, and letters of recommendation.

Program Requirements

A minimum of 30 hours is required for the major although respective concentrations may require additional credit hours.

Concentration requirements:

Guided electives selected with approval of the advisor:

Nutrition Science (9 hours)

Culminating Experience (6-10 hours)

(Consult Graduate School Calendar for submission deadlines - www.memphis.edu/gradschool/calendar.php):

Other Requirements

For graduation from the Nutrition Science concentration, NUTR 7878 (Master’s Comprehensive Exam) must be successfully completed.  The exam may be taken no sooner than the semester during which the final credit hours of the program are being completed. Students in Clinical Nutrition and Environmental Nutrition concentrations do not complete a comprehensive exam.