Nutrition and Health Promotion (MS)
Description
The master’s of science (MS) program is designed for students with backgrounds in nutrition, biology, health sciences, health education, athletic training, exercise physiology and physical education. Students will develop an advanced understanding of nutrition, health promotion, fitness and wellness and the expertise to assess future research in these areas. It fulfills the master’s requirement to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Students seek to influence the nutritional status of individuals and populations through the advanced nutrition knowledge, leadership, and problem-solving skills acquired in our program.
The MS program has two tracks of study, an Applied Nutrition Science track and an Entrepreneurship track. The Applied Nutrition Science track provides students the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge and skills to translate nutrition science into clinical and health promotion strategies for application in a wide variety of settings. These students take courses focused on nutrition research, communication skills, and behavior change strategies, and conduct an original research project. The Entrepreneurship track provides students with the business knowledge and skills they need to open a private practice or other entrepreneurial venture or to pursue a managerial position in the nutrition field. These students take graduate business courses from Simmons School of Management and develop a business plan.
Students will be prepared for a wide range of careers as clinicians, health educators, researchers, and more.
Requirements for Entry
Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree (BS or BA) from a regionally accredited US college or university or an overseas institution of higher learning recognized by the Ministry of Education in the home country. An overall GPA of 3.0 or better is required in the prerequisite courses and the cumulative GPA.
MS Nutrition and Health Promotion Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills that will prepare them for critical assessment in practice and evidence based problem solving.
- Students will acquire the skills for collaborative and/or leadership opportunities.
- Students will acquire the knowledge and skills to evaluate and synthesize nutrition research to improve individual and community health.
- Students will develop skills in effective oral and written professional communications.
Applied Nutrition Science Track Specific Learning Outcomes
This track focuses on developing health promotion communication skills and research skills to better interpret nutrition science and apply it to clinical, community, and other practice settings. This track has two track-specific learning outcomes:
- Students will gain knowledge and skills that will prepare them for collaborating in and translating research applications for clinical or community settings.
- Students will conduct an original research project and produce a manuscript for publication.
Entrepreneurship Track Specific Learning Outcomes
This track focuses on developing skills needed for entrepreneurial ventures and managerial roles in the nutrition field. This track has two track-specific learning outcomes:
- Students will gain knowledge and skills that will prepare them to formulate a new creative venture or innovation for the for-profit, not-for-profit, or government sector.
- Students will develop a business plan aligned with their career goals.
Delivery Modes
The MS program is offered both as an on-campus program and a fully online program. The on-campus modality includes face-to-face courses at Simmons, typically held in the evenings, and a few select online courses. The fully online modality allows students to participate from anywhere in the US. Both delivery formats allow students the opportunity to complete the program in one academic year with full time study, or across two to four years with part-time study. The fully online program is for U.S. residents only.
Degree Requirements
The MS in Nutrition and Health Promotion is a 30-credit program, comprised of 10 courses. Students must earn a B or better to pass each course.
Prerequisites
Equivalent coursework may be taken at any U.S. regionally accredited colleges or universities or a higher education institution abroad that is recognized by the Ministry of Education in the home country within ten years before the application deadline. Courses may be in progress at the time of application, but, if accepted, the applicant must have completed all prerequisites before the start of the program. F-1 visa applicants must have completed all prerequisites before applying. These prerequisite courses must be graded and may not be completed on a pass/fail basis or audited. CLEP or IB scores are not accepted for such required courses. An overall GPA of 3.0 or better is required in the prerequisite courses, with the expectation that applicants will have earned a grade of B or better in each course.
No pre-approval is needed in the following cases as long as they do not have online labs:
- One separate semester/term of human anatomy and one separate semester/term (sometimes 3 quarters are needed) of human physiology at one or more institutions. Animal physiology will not meet this requirement.
- AP (Anatomy & Physiology) I & II (with lab) at the same institution.
Pre-approval via submission of a syllabus is always needed in the following cases:
- All online prerequisite courses (provide the online syllabus for both the course and lab, not the on-site syllabus)
- All accelerated courses
- A/P I & II taken at more than one institution
- All nutrition courses
Concentrations, specializations, etc.
MS Nutrition and Health Promotion - Applied Nutrition Science
The curriculum for the Applied Nutrition Science track includes nine required graduate courses and one elective. This track culminates with the completion of a research project.
MS Nutrition and Health Promotion - Entrepreneurship Track Curriculum
The curriculum for Entrepreneurship track includes nine required graduate courses and one elective. The entrepreneurship track culminates with the completion of a customized business plan.
| NUTR 410 | Research Methods | 3 |
| NUTR 452 | Nutrition Practice: Program, Plan, Evaluation | 3 |
| NUTR 453 | Advanced Topics in Preventative Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 455 | Nutrition, Fitness and Wellness | 3 |
| NUTR 462 | Consulting Nutrition Practice | 3 |
| NUTR 489 | Business Proposal Development | 3 |
| MSMG 407 | Financial Aspects of Business | 3 |
| MSMG 440/GSM 570 | Creativity Innovation & Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
Affiliations with Dietetic Internship Programs
Students completing the Simmons MS and Didactic Program in Dietetics can apply early to the Simmons University Dietetic Internship Program, through the pre-select option. MS students and recent graduates are eligible if their anticipated graduation date from Simmons is prior to the internship start date.
Students can also be admitted to our MS in Nutrition and Health Promotion program in conjunction with one of the following internship programs: Massachusetts General Hospital Dietetic Internship, Wellness Workdays Distance Dietetic Internship, and Be Well Solutions Distance Dietetic Internship. Please see the Health Sciences admission website for further details about this opportunity.
Accelerated degree options: The Edge Program
Simmons University undergraduates are eligible to be admitted to the MS program via an accelerated pathway. For more information please refer to:
How Accelerated Graduate Education Works.