Nutrition and Health Sciences (MS)

MS

Nutrition and Health Sciences
,

On Campus 30 - 36 cr
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The Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences offers graduate degrees within Research Areas and Professional Specializations that are driven by the graduate faculty.

Description

The Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences is internationally recognized for its research, teaching, and outreach programs. Our classrooms and research laboratories are state-of-the-art and every graduate student is matched with an advisor whose expertise matches the student's career interests.

Our department offers a research-based MS degrees in Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition, and a research or non-research option in several diverse areas of study: Community Nutrition and Health Promotion, Hospitality Management, and Nutrition and Exercise. In addition, students can earn a non-research master's degree (MS without thesis) in Dietetics (RD required) and Professional Studies in Dietetics.

Because of the diversity of degree programs offered through the Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences and the Nutrition Interdepartmental program, students are encouraged to refer to the Nutrition and Health Sciences website to learn more about areas of study and degree programs, admission requirements, and step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Specializations

  • Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition
  • Community Nutrition & Health Promotion
  • Dietetics (Online)
  • Hospitality Management
    • On Campus

    The focus of the Hospitality Management specialization is unique in Nebraska. No other department in the NU system proposes the same specialization. This specialization will provide students with the unique opportunity to develop expertise in an area of growing need both within and outside the state of Nebraska.

    Program-Specific Application Requirements

    • GRE (optional)
    • Resume/CV
    • Personal Statement: In approximately 500 words, outline your career objectives and identify 1) how your hospitality employment background has prepared you for graduate study, and 2) how the Hospitality Management specialization will help you to achieve your career objectives.

    Required Courses
    Number Course Title Credits
    HRTM 883 Hospitality Finance 3
    HRTM 881 Legal Environment in Hospitality Management 3
    HRTM 876 Internship in Hospitality Management 3
    Elective Courses
    Select one of the following courses.
    Number Course Title Credits
    HRTM 874 Food and Beverage Management 3
    HRTM 875 Club Management 3
    HRTM 880 Advanced Tourism 3
    HRTM 885 Advanced Lodging Operations 3
    HRTM 889 Advanced Event Operations 3
  • Nutrition and Exercise
    • On Campus

    Students will acquire core competencies in nutrition, exercise, research design, and statistics.

    For more information go to https://cehs.unl.edu/nhs/graduate-programs/#msnuhs.

    Required Courses:

    • NUTR 805 Research Methods (3 credit hours) or other graduate-level research or statistics course (I.e., EDPS 859, STAT 801A)
    • NUTR 960 Nutrient Function During Exercise (3 credit hours)
    • NUTR 884 Physiology of Exercise (3 credit hours)
    • NUTR 886 Exercise Testing (4 credit hours)
    • NUTR 950 Integrated Principles of Human Nutrition (3 credit hours) or 900-level metabolism course
  • Professional Studies in Dietetics

    Program-Specific Application Requirements

    • Resume/CV: Include in your resume all of the following information in sufficient detail to clearly indicate your experiences and achievements:  1) Academic Degrees (degree and date conferred or expected); 2) Honors and Awards (name of honor or award and year received); 3) Certifications; 4) Work Experience (title, employer, date range of work experience, brief explanation of responsibilities); 5) Volunteer/Leadership/Other Experience (role, organization name, date range of experience, brief explanation of experience); 6) Professional/Organizational Memberships (organization name and length of membership). It is expected that your resume will be longer than one page.
    • Personal Statement:  In approximately 1000 words, address the following: 1) Why do you want to enter the dietetics profession? 2) What experiences have you had that have helped prepare you for your career? 3) What are your short-term and long-term goals? 4) What are your strengths and areas needing improvement? 5) Any other information you consider important for the admissions committee.
    • Coursework:  Professional Studies in Dietetics Coursework Form.
    • Recommendations: Two letters must be from a collegiate academic reference and one must be from a supervisor at a current or former place of employment.
    • Additional Information:  You do not need to complete the Experience, Awards, and Publications section of the application's Additional Information page, as these components are addressed elsewhere.

Applying for Admission

Standard requirements for all graduate programs

  • Application for Admission with $50 non-refundable application fee.
  • Transcripts (unofficial): Uploaded as part of application form.

    If International: Uploads must include all college- or university-level transcripts or mark sheets (records of courses and marks earned), with certificates, diplomas, and degrees plus certified English translations.

    After admission: Official documents are required from all students who are admitted and enroll. Photocopies of certified records are not acceptable. International students enrolled in other U.S. institutions may have certified copies of all foreign records sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies by their current school’s registrar office.

  • If applicant’s native language is not English, verification of English proficiency is required.

    When sending TOEFL scores, our institution code is 6877 and a department code is not needed.

  • If applicant is not a US citizen and expects an F or J visa: financial information.
  • Applicants must also fulfill any additional requirements the department specifies at the time of application.

Additional requirements specific to this program

The "Professional Studies in Dietetics" and "Hospitality Management" specializations have unique requirements--see Specialization section above for details.

For all other specializations:

  • Three recommendation letters
  • Resume
  • Personal Statement:  This statement is one of the most critical parts of your application. This is your opportunity to tell us about your personal and professional goals, why you desire a graduate degree in this area, and anything else that provides the Graduate Committee with a glimpse of "who you are." Demonstrate that your goals have been well thought out and that you understand what you are getting into. If you have job and/or volunteer experience that is relevant to your academic pursuits, provide details. It is helpful to highlight your strengths, although you should also address any weaknesses (such as poor grades or low GRE scores) and describe how that will affect your success as a graduate student. If you believe extenuating circumstances have hindered your academic progress, describe them in enough detail to help the Graduate Committee judge your application. (1-2 pages)
  • Faculty:  Applicants must have a confirmed advisor before applying. Applicants must communicate with individual graduate faculty by providing compelling reasons why their application should be considered in addition to serving as their graduate research advisor. Detailing volunteer, professional, and research experience as well as demonstrating passion and interest in their areas of research are key components. At least one faculty must agree to serve as the applicant's advisor before an applicant can submit their application. Applicants who apply without a confirmed advisor will be denied.
  • Funding: See NUHS Graduate Programs for information about applying for graduate assistantships and fellowships.

Admission Application Deadlines

For financial consideration: February 15 for Fall

Department

Nutrition and Health Sciences

Graduate Chair

Sathish Kumar Natarajan

4028057520

snatarajan2@unl.edu

Support Staff

Kelly Durkin

402-472-3716

kdurkin2@unl.edu

Campus Address

110 Ruth Leverton Hall

Tuition & Fees Contact Us

Program Faculty

Tomasz Bednarski (bio)

Molecular mechanisms behind metabolic diseases pathogenesis with an emphasis on the role of aberrant lipid metabolism in cardiovascular and hepatic disorders

Amanda Higgins (bio)

Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention, Assessment & Treatment, Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Cultural Competence in Healthcare

Sarah Hortman (bio)

Nutritional Sciences, Public Health Science, Health Program Development, Health Behavior Theory, Community Nutrition and Health Education, Health Promotion, Chronic Disease Prevention

Dennis Perkey (bio)

How Different Patient Populations Respond to Movement-Related Injuries

Heather Rasmussen (bio)

Dietary intervention for gastrointestinal health, Dietary assessment, Translational and clinical nutrition

Sunil K. Sukumaran (bio)

Taste Signaling, Taste Cell Regeneration, Taste -Oral Microbiome Interactions, Molecular Genetics, Mouse Models

Shinya Takahashi (bio)

Resistance Training, Physical Activity Measure, Healthy Living

Ivan J. Vechetti Jr. (bio)

Exercise physiology, microRNAs, Extracellular vesicles, Metabolic pathways

Janos Zempleni (bio)

Extracellular vesicles, Drug Delivery, Exosomes, Human Nutrition, Infant Nutrition, Microbiome, Milk, Non-coding RNA

Sabine Zempleni (bio)

Nutrition and Sciences Communication

UNL Graduate Chairs and staff please complete the program update form to provide edits. Updates to graduate program pages are made on an annual basis in conjunction with the Graduate Application for Admission.