Master of Science Degree Program

Degree Options

Thesis Option

The M.S. program offers both a thesis and non-thesis option.  The thesis option is designed for students who are interested in pursuing research or an advanced degree. Candidates who elect the M.S. thesis option must meet the requirements for a thesis including pursuit of original research.  A copy of the thesis must be in the Department Main Office for review by the faculty 10 business days before the scheduled thesis defense. Students who have accepted a Departmental research assistantship must fulfill their obligations for research work and are expected to submit a thesis as a partial requirement for a Master's degree.

All courses offered for a graduate degree, including prerequisites, must be taken for a letter grade.

Acceptance of students into the M.S. program is based on having completed a B.S. or B.A. degree. A student entering the M.S. program may transfer up-to (6) course credits toward the requirements for the M.S. degree. The courses must be clearly gradute courses taken within 3 years from the time of admission and taken in excess of the credits required for the Bachelor's degree or any other degree earned by the student prior to enrollment in the M.S. program and with a grade of B or higher.

All M.S. thesis candidates must satisfactorily pass a Departmental oral examination as part of the degree requirements as described in the University of Massachusetts Graduate School Handbook.  The oral examination is the final thesis defense (presentation of research to the Department). A student may be allowed a second chance to pass any portion of the M.S. exit exam.  Two failures are grounds for dismissal from the program.

Non-Thesis Options

The non-thesis option is designed for students who are not interested in pursuing research. Instead, students take additional courses, including a gradute seminar in which they identify a topic, review the literature and present a synthesis of their findings.

The non-thesis DPD option is designed for students who are not interested in pursuing research but wish to become a Registered Dietitian (RD). Such students will complete coursework as well as additional dietetics classes required by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. All graduate DPD students will earn their Verification Statement through the undergraduate DPD program.

Course Requirements

Basic Science Core

At least 5 out of these 7 courses must be taken before matriculation, one of which must be Basic Nutrition or a closely related course. Two can be taken while enrolled in the M.S., but not for graduate credit. For the MS/DPD students, 6 of the basic core classes must be taken before matriculation, including general chemistry (2 semesters), organic chemistry, human anatomy & physiology, basic nutrition, and one other.

Introductory Zoology or Biology (1 semester)
Human Physiology (1 semester)
General Chemistry (2 semesters/with labs)
Organic Chemistry (1 semester)
Biochemistry (1 semester)
Microbiology (1 semester)
Basic Nutrition (1 semester)

Nutrition Core

These courses must be taken by those who do not have a B.S. degree in nutrition.

NUTRITN 352 Nutrition in the Life Cycle
NUTRITN 430 Nutrition and Metabolism

Advanced Core  (20 Credits)

These courses must be taken by all enrolled in the M.S. program. (20 credits)

NUTRITN 630 Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism
NUTRITN 640 Public Health Nutrition
NUTRITN 714 Vitamins and Minerals
NUTRITN 741 Methods in Nutrition Research
NUTRITN 793/4 Seminar (2 semesters, 1 credit/semester)
BIOSTATS 540 Introductory Biostatistics.
EPI 630 Principles of Epidemiology

Electives/Courses Outside of Major (3-6 credits)

Thesis

One 3-credit Nutrition course (500-level or above)

Non-Thesis

Two Nutrition courses (500-level or above)
Two additional courses with at least one from outside the Department

Culminating Experience

Thesis (7-10 credits)

NUTRITN 699 - M.S. Thesis

Non-Thesis (1 credit)

NUTRITN 696 -- Culminating Experience

Comparison of Course Requirements for MS Thesis/Non-Thesis Programs

COURSE NUMBER

COURSE TITLE

CREDITS

THESIS

NON-

THESIS

NON-THESIS/

DPD

BIOSTATS 540

Intro Biostatistics

3

v

v

v

EPI 630

Principles of Epidemiology

3

v

v

v

NUTRITN 630

Adv. Nutrition & Metabolism

3

v

v

v

NUTRITN 640

Public Health Nutrition

3

v

v

v

NUTRITN 714

Vitamins and Minerals

3

v

v

v

NUTRITN 741

Methods in Nutrition Research

3

v

v

v

NUTRITN 793A

Graduate Seminar

1

v

v

v

NUTRITN 794A

Graduate Seminar

1

v

v

v

NUTRITN 580

Medical Nutrition Therapy

4

N/A

N/A

v

TOTAL NON-ELECTIVE CREDITS

 

20

20

24

NUTRITN elective (500-level or above)

1-3 each

v

vv

vvvv*

Other electives (500-level or above)

3 each

N/A

vv**

N/A

Thesis/Culminating Experience

Varies

7-10 credits

1-cr. Seminar

1-cr. seminar

TOTAL ELECTIVE CREDITS

 

10-13

13

10

TOTAL NUMBER OF CREDITS

 

30-33

33

34

*Must include NUTRITN 585: consult list of additional DPD-approved electives, available online at:
http://www.umass.edu/sphhs/sites/default/files/course%20sequence%20dieteticsRev6.18.15_0.pdf

**One or both of these other 3-credit electives must be taken outside the Department of Nutrition