Program Overview
The Master of Science in Nutrition at UCA has two tracks:
(1) General Nutrition and
(2) Dietetics and Nutrition Therapy.
The General Nutrition track is for students who have already obtained a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential or those who are not pursuing the credential. The Dietetics and Nutrition Therapy track is a selective admission program comprising required supervised experiential learning and is for students pursuing a verification statement in order to become eligible to take the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist exam.
Established in 2018, the MS in Nutrition, in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, a part of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Central Arkansas, is dedicated to the education and development of future nutrition professionals. Through the Department’s outreach, students and graduates are engaged in service-learning, cutting-edge classroom technology, and current research.
As a graduate of the MS in Nutrition at UCA, students enhance their ability to serve as effective leaders in the field of nutrition and dietetics. The online nutrition master’s program requires 30 credit hours (thesis track) or 36 credit hours (non-thesis track), and includes core course work in research and statistics, as well as sports, geriatric, diabetes, and other nutrition-specific classes.
Program Outline
The following 9 hours are required for all students enrolled in the Master of Science in Nutrition.
- NUTR 6308 Trends in Nutrition
- FACS 6335 Evidence-Based Research in Nutrition or ASTL 6380 Research Methods or HLTH 6379 Research in Health Sciences
- FACS 6350 Statistical Methods in Family and Consumer Sciences or ASTL 6382 Educational Statistics or EXSS 6316 Data Analysis
General Nutrition Track (30 or 36 hours)
The General Nutrition track offers thesis and non-thesis options; the requirements for these options differ. All students completing the General Nutrition Track will complete a graduate portfolio as described in the departmental manual for graduate students.
Thesis Option (30 hours)
In addition to the 9 hours of required core courses, students may choose from the classes below in order to complete 15 hours of coursework.
Selected Classes (15 hours)
- NUTR 5V30 Special Topics (variable credit 1-3 hours)
- NUTR 5321 Nutrition Services Administration
- NUTR 5324 Nutrition Assessment
- NUTR 5340 Geriatric Nutrition
- NUTR 5375 Nutrition in Exercise and Sports
- NUTR 6307 Current Findings in Foods
- NUTR 6313 Diet Therapy
- NUTR 6314 Business and Entrepreneurship in the Nutrition Profession
- NUTR 6330 Metabolic Nutrition
- NUTR 6335 Nutrition Counseling
- NUTR 6340 Diabetes Medical Nutrition Therapy
- NUTR 6345 Pediatric Nutrition
- NUTR 6346 Global Nutrition
- NUTR 6347 Nutrition Public Policy
- FACS 5310 Program Development
- FACS 6310 Advanced Resource Management
Thesis research (6 hours)
NUTR 6V44 Thesis Research (Variable credit: 1-3 hours)
The procedures for selecting and writing a thesis will be those prescribed in the current UCA Thesis and Dissertation Preparation Guide,
After the thesis has been read and approved and before the candidate is recommended to the Dean of the Graduate School for graduation, the candidate will meet with his/her thesis committee for an oral examination, which will consist principally of a defense of the thesis. A majority of the student’s committee must approve the thesis and its defense. If approval is denied, the candidate will not be recommended for graduation. In this event, the student may be re-examined at a later period, no sooner than two months after initial examination.
Non-Thesis Option (36 hours)
In addition to the 9 hours of required core courses, students may choose from the classes below in order to complete 27 hours of coursework.
Selected Classes (27 hours)
- NUTR 5V30 Special Topics (variable credit 1-3 hours)
- NUTR 5321 Nutrition Services Administration
- NUTR 5324 Nutrition Assessment
- NUTR 5V20 Dietetic Internship Practicum (variable credit 1-9 hours)
- NUTR 5340 Geriatric Nutrition
- NUTR 5375 Nutrition in Exercise and Sports
- NUTR 6307 Current Findings in Foods
- NUTR 6313 Diet Therapy
- NUTR 6314 Business and Entrepreneurship in the Nutrition Profession
- NUTR 6330 Metabolic Nutrition
- NUTR 6335 Nutrition Counseling
- NUTR 6340 Diabetes Medical Nutrition Therapy
- NUTR 6345 Pediatric Nutrition
- NUTR 6346 Global Nutrition
- NUTR 6347 Nutrition Public Policy
- FACS 5310 Program Development
- FACS 6310 Advanced Resource Management
Students selecting the non-thesis option will be required to complete a graduate portfolio and pass a written comprehensive examination. The comprehensive exam will be given with the permission of the graduate coordinator or department chair after the student has completed the required courses. The student will advise the graduate coordinator of intent to take the examination by submitting a Comprehensive Examination Request form (see departmental manual for graduate students) to the department chair early in the semester of the requested examination date.
Dietetics and Nutrition Therapy Track (36 hours)
The Dietetics and Nutrition Therapy Track is a supervised experiential learning program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
The Dietetics and Nutrition Therapy Track meets performance requirements for eligibility to write the Commission on Dietetics Registration exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). The Dietetics and Nutrition Therapy Track is to be completed in 15 months. The first year includes instruction and practicum experiences in community nutrition, research, and food-service management. Instruction and practicum experiences during the second year include clinical nutrition and clinical management. Practice sites include various health care facilities in Arkansas.
In addition to the 9 hours of required core courses, students will take 24 hours of required coursework and may choose an additional elective upon approval of their advisor.
Dietetics and Nutrition Therapy Requirements (24 hours)
- NUTR 5V15 Nutrition Services Practicum (variable credit 1-6 hours)
- NUTR 5V17 Community Nutrition Practicum (variable credit 1-3 hours)
- NUTR 5V18 Clinical Nutrition Practicum (variable credit 1-6 hours)
- NUTR 6313 Diet Therapy
- NUTR 5324 Nutrition Assessment
- NUTR 6335 Nutrition Counseling
Dietetics and Nutrition Therapy Directed Elective (3 hours)
- NUTR 5V19 Nutrition Research Practicum (variable credit 1-6 hours)
- NUTR 5V20 Dietetic Internship Practicum (variable credit 1-9 hours)
- NUTR 5321 Nutrition Services Administration
- NUTR 5375 Nutrition in Exercise and Sports
- NUTR 6307 Current Findings in Foods
- NUTR 6314 Business and Entrepreneurship in the Nutrition Profession
- NUTR 6330 Metabolic Nutrition
- NUTR 6340 Diabetes Medical Nutrition Therapy
5V15 NUTRITION SERVICES PRACTICUM (Variable credit: 1-6 credit hours) Supervised experiential learning in the procurement, production, and distribution of nutrition services in health care facilities. Prerequisite: Admission to or completion of an ACEND-accredited experiential learning program.
5V17 COMMUNITY NUTRITION PRACTICUM (Variable credit hours: 1-6 credit hours) Supervised experiential learning in community nutrition. Prerequisite: Admission to or completion of an ACEND-accredited experiential learning program.
5V18 CLINICAL NUTRITION PRACTICUM (Variable credit hours: 1-6 credit hours) Supervised experiential learning in the nutritional assessment, education, and counseling of patients. Prerequisite: Admission to or completion of an ACEND-accredited experiential learning program.
5V19 NUTRITION RESEARCH PRACTICUM (Variable credit: 1-6 credit hours) Supervised experiential learning in nutrition research and evidence-based practice. Prerequisite: Admission to or completion of an ACEND-accredited experiential learning program.
5V20 DIETETIC PRACTICUM (Variable credit: 1-9 credit hours) Supervised practice in dietetics. Prerequisite: Admission to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.
5V30 SPECIAL TOPICS (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours) Independent study of a special topic in nutrition.
5321 NUTRITION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION Food service operations relating to management principles, leadership development, methods of control, behavior change theory, and training of personnel.
5324 NUTRITION ASSESSMENT Nutrition assessment techniques including dietary, biochemical, anthropometrical, and clinical with emphasis on nutrition needs in disease states. Prerequisite: Admission to an ACEND-accredited supervised experiential learning program.
5340 GERIATRIC NUTRITION An examination of the physiological changes, diseases, and environmental factors affecting the nutritional status of aging adults.
5375 NUTRITION IN EXERCISE AND SPORTS A review of current research literature on nutrient requirements in exercise and specific sports with an emphasis on dietary recommendations.
6V44 THESIS RESEARCH (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) Under the direction of the thesis advisor and committee, students will carry out an original research project. Students enrolled in the thesis option must complete six (6) credit hours for graduation. Prerequisite: Approval of thesis chair or department chair and B or better in FACS 6335 and 6350.
6307 CURRENT FINDINGS IN FOOD An examination of current research on food and agriculture with emphasis on interpretation of the findings and applications for families.
6308 TRENDS IN NUTRITION An examination of current research on developments in nutrition with emphasis on interpretation of the findings and application to dietary information provided to consumers.
6313 DIET THERAPY Health and disease management through medical nutrition therapy of persons with nutrition related diseases and metabolic disturbances. Prerequisite: Admission to an ACEND-accredited supervised experiential learning program.
6314 BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE NUTRITION PROFESSION The study and development of idea generation, opportunity recognition, value proposition, and management practices related to entrepreneurial ventures specific to the nutrition profession.
6330 METABOLIC NUTRITION A study of the pathways of human metabolism by which cells synthesize and degrade carbohydrates, lipids (fats), and proteins including the chemistry of the reactions that constitute these pathways, how energy is derived from the breakdown of nutrients, and how metabolic pathways are regulated by coenzymes, regulators, and hormones.
6335 NUTRITION COUNSELING Examination of the theories of learning and motivational interviewing strategies, development of nutritional counseling skills, and creation of client education programs.
6340 DIABETES MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY A comprehensive approach to diabetes management, including diagnosis, treatment, and education with special emphasis on Medical Nutrition Therapy for all life stages and populations with diabetes.
6345 PEDIATRIC NUTRITION An examination of nutrition issues from preconception throughout late adolescence, with a particular emphasis on nutrition correlates of normal growth and development and on the consequences of under and over nutrition.
6346 GLOBAL NUTRITION An overview of global nutrition and health issues of concern to food and nutrition professionals. Includes analysis of approaches implemented at the household, community, national, and international levels to improve nutrition status.
6347 NUTRITION PUBLIC POLICY An examination of US public policy in food and nutrition, with emphasis on the role of the nutrition professional in influencing the public policy process.