Program Overview

Human Nutrition (M.S.)

The program offers a student-centered, research-focused, challenging curriculum that focuses on the nutrition needs of today's society.

Program Overview

The human nutrition graduate program is housed in a modern building equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including anthropometric instruments, a serum analyzer, and a plethora of molecular biological apparati. Our faculty have a variety of expertise spanning molecular to community-based nutrition.

Course Work

Course work is based on lectures, experiential and service-learning, allowing students to gain real-world, relevant nutrition and dietetics competencies. Students choose either a thesis option (33 total hours required) or a non-thesis option (39 total hours required). Thesis-option students take core courses and electives, engaging in original scientific research culminating in a thesis. Non-thesis-option students take electives in consultation with the graduate advisor. Our dietetic internship coursework can be combined with the human nutrition degree.

• Degree: M.S.
• Hours: 39 (Non-Thesis), 33 (Thesis)
• Thesis Option: Non-Thesis, Thesis
• Location: San Marcos

Program Mission

Texas State University offers a master of science degree in human nutrition to meet the needs of industry, the public sector, and academia. The human nutrition program provides graduate education that equips students with technical skills and scientific knowledge for the integration of food to improve human health in the 21st century. Graduates will develop critical thinking and research skills to:

• develop innovative approaches to problem-solving
• acquire knowledge and skills to support pursuit of doctoral degrees
• prepare for research careers in nutrition and food arenas
• integrate cutting-edge nutrition knowledge into dietetics practice

Career Options

The program prepares students to meet the needs of industry, the public sector, and academia in the following roles:

• Registered dietitian
• Development manager
• Consultant to functional food
  utraceutical company
• System clinical nutrition manager
• Community nutrition
• Health education coordinator
• Clinical education coordinator
• Nutrition instructor
• Doctoral studies in nutrition

Program Faculty

Faculty research includes:

• Community and public health nutrition policy, systems, and environments
• Diet patterns and diseases risk
• Workplace wellness
• Prevention of colon cancer progression via dietary manipulation
• Effect of food-derived compounds on behavior and brain function
• Promoting a healthy gut to prevent complications from obesity and diseases
• Signaling pathways underlying the obesity-cancer association
• Metabolic abnormalities and prostate cancer progression
• Nutrition epidemiology and weight-inclusive behavioral health nutrition interventions to improve cardiometabolic health
• Community and public health nutrition (Food insecurity, behavioral nutrition, and interventions)

Admission Requirements

The items required for admission consideration are listed below.

• Application
  • completed online application
• Application Fee
  • $55 nonrefundable application fee, or
  • $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
• Transcripts & GPA
  • Baccalaureate degree (preferably in nutrition, food science, or a related field) from a regionally accredited university.
  • A copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted.
  • A 3.0 overall GPA or a 3.0 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work, plus any completed graduate courses.
  • Background course work in:
    • Anatomy and Physiology
    • Biochemistry
    • Introductory Biology
    • Introductory Chemistry (at least two semesters)
    • Introductory Nutrition
    • Microbiology
    • Nutrition in the Lifespan
    • Organic Chemistry (at least one course)
    • Biochemical Nutrition
• Test Scores
  • GRE not required
  • Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores
    • official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
    • official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
    • official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
    • official Duolingo Scores required with a 110 overall
    • official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
• Documents & Other Requirements
  • resume/CV
  • statement of purpose describing your professional aspirations and rationale for pursuing graduate study
  • three letters of recommendation from professionals or academics competent to assess your interest in pursuing a career in nutrition
  • interview to include oral and written responses

Application Deadlines

• DEADLINES | U.S. CITIZEN | INTERNATIONAL
• Fall - Priority | January 1 | January 1
• Fall - Standard | August 1 | June 1
• Spring - Priority | September 1 | September 1
• Spring - Standard | November 1 | October 1
• Priority Deadline: Ensures full consideration for admission and eligibility for certain funding opportunities, including scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships, and guarantees that your application will be considered in the initial review.
• Standard Deadline: Represents the last day a complete application can be submitted, but does not guarantee admission consideration. After the priority deadline, applications are reviewed on a rolling, space-available basis until the program is full, at which point, applications will close.