Nutrition, M.S.

I. Contact Information

Bradley Ferguson, PhD, Graduate Program Director
bferguson@unr.edu
(775) 784-6278

Mailing Address:
Department of Nutrition, Mail Stop 202
1664 N. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89557

Departmental Website:
https://www.unr.edu/anvs

II. Brief Introduction

The goal of our M.S. program is to enhance students’ knowledge of nutrition by integrating resources and expertise across campus. We offer students:

• Multidisciplinary research opportunities,
• Thesis and non-thesis options,
• Teaching and research assistantships, and
• Individual attention.

The research interests of our graduate faculty encompass many different aspects of nutrition including experimental, clinical, public health, education, policy, and human and community development.

Graduates from our program have been successful in obtaining challenging careers in research, education, dietetics practice, and administration of nutrition programs in the public and private sectors.

III. Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

The program:

1. Strengthens and advances core nutrition knowledge. Graduates are competent in the areas of nutritional biochemistry/physiology, and have an in-depth understanding of clinical and epidemiological applications of this knowledge as it relates to the prevention and treatment of disease; 
2. Provides students with opportunities to develop proficiency in a more defined area that links nutrition with other biological or behavioral sciences (e.g., toxicology, molecular biology, epidemiology, human development). This will be accomplished through elective course work and completion of research/scholarly efforts that culminate in a written document (i.e., thesis or professional paper).

The program serves as an introduction to scholarly activity for those who wish to pursue doctoral training or research careers, and provides courses and other opportunities that serve to advance the knowledge of the nutrition profession.

IV. Admission Requirements

Students who seek admission to the program should have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 and have completed the undergraduate courses (or equivalent courses, as determined by the Graduate Program Director) listed in the undergraduate prerequisites section below.
Students are admitted to the program on a competitive basis. Prospective students should apply online to the Graduate School.

Note that a complete application includes:

• a statement of purpose indicating career goals and research interests,
• GRE and TOEFL results,
• official transcripts from every institution attended,
• and three letters of reference.

Students should submit these documents by Feb. 1 for Fall admission or by September 1 for Spring admission. The Department offers both teaching and research assistantships on a competitive basis.  Applicants should indicate their interest in these opportunities within their statement of purpose.

V. Program Requirements

Plan A students must complete 32 credits, including 6 credits of thesis (NUTR 797  or equivalent). A thesis is a scientific document that describes the background, methods, results and conclusions of an original research activity.

Plan B students must complete 35 credits, including 3 credits of professional paper (NUTR 796  or equivalent). A professional paper here refers to a critical analysis of existing knowledge on a specified nutrition topic/problem.

VI. Total Units

• Plan A: 32 units
• Plan B: 35 units

VII. Notes

Graduate Advisory/Examining Committee Membership

All graduate Advisory/Examining Committees must have a minimum of three faculty members. At least two must be members of the Nutrition Program Graduate Faculty, including the committee chair, and at least one must be a faculty member from the Department of Nutrition. The committee must also include one member external to the Nutrition Program Graduate Faculty to provide representation from the Graduate School.

VIII. Undergraduate Prerequisites

Students who seek admission to the program should have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 and have completed the undergraduate courses (or equivalent courses, as determined by the Graduate Program Director) listed in the undergraduate prerequisites section below.

• CHEM 121A - General Chemistry I (3 units) CO4
• CHEM 121L - General Chemistry Laboratory I (1 unit) CO4L
• CHEM 220A - Introductory Organic Chemistry Lecture (3 units)
• CHEM 220L - Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1 unit)
• BIOL 223A - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lecture (3 units) AND
• BIOL 223L - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab (1 unit)
• BIOL 224A - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lecture (3 units) AND
• BIOL 224L - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab (1 unit)
• BIOL 251 - General Microbiology (4 units)
• MATH 128 - Precalculus and Trigonometry (5 units) CO2
• NUTR 223 - Principles of Nutrition (3 units) CO4
• BCH 400 - Introductory Biochemistry (4 units)
• NUTR 452 - Advanced Nutrition (4 units)