Program Overview

The Department of Nutrition in the University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health Sciences offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study and application of the relationship between diet, foods and health. The Department offers a wide range of academic programs including:

• 4+1 Accelerated Master of Science (M.S.)
• Master of Science (M.S.)
• Online Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in Nutrition
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
• Dietetic Internship

Studies in the Department emphasize nutrition, from cells to communities, including nutritional biochemistry and physiology, nutritional epidemiology, nutrition education, and community nutrition. Students may choose to work in one of three research clusters: Nutrients and Bioactives for Health, Community-Engaged Nutrition Research Group, or Translational Nutrition Research Initiative. The Master of Science program prepares graduates for doctoral studies in nutrition and for careers in research, clinical nutrition, community nutrition, or nutrition education. Programs of study and research are planned on an individual basis by each student and his/her committee to support the individual's research and career goals. Students select from courses in the department and from other graduate programs in the University, such as: Animal Science, Biology, Biostatistics, Community Health Studies, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Kinesiology, Food Science or Molecular and Cellular Biology.

The challenges facing nutritionists today range from problems of obesity and chronic diseases to those of malnutrition, food insecurity and nutritional deficiencies. Nutritionists work in hospitals and clinics, communities, and institutions throughout the world.