Program Overview

Nutritional Sciences Program Overview

The Nutritional Sciences program offers a comprehensive education in nutrition and dietetics, with a focus on advanced practice and leadership skills. The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the principles of nutrition and dietetics, as well as the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a variety of careers.

Undergraduate Program

The undergraduate program in Nutritional Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science degree with two options: Nutrition and Dietetics, and Health Sciences. The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the principles of nutrition and dietetics, as well as the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a variety of careers.

• Major in Nutritional Sciences
  • Nutrition and Dietetics Option
  • Health Sciences Option
• Honors Study in Nutritional Sciences
• Advising
  • Academic Integrity
  • Student Resources
  • Advising Information
• Student Profiles
• Student Organizations
• Career Opportunities
• Financial Aid and Scholarships
• Mission, Program Goals, and Assessment
• Visit and Apply
• Courses
  • Course Overviews
  • Course Prerequisites and Prerequisite Overrides
  • Supporting Courses
  • Summer Session
  • Suggested Academic Plan

Graduate Program

The graduate program in Nutritional Sciences offers a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. degree. The program is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge and skills in nutrition and dietetics, as well as the opportunity to conduct original research.

• Master's Degree in Nutritional Sciences
  • Course Requirements
  • Thesis Committee
  • Student Defense
  • Recommended Schedule
• Master of Professional Studies in Nutritional Sciences (online)
  • MPS Program Update 2019
  • MPS Program Update 2020
  • MPS Program Update 2022
  • Masters Professional Program (MPS)
• Nutritional Sciences Ph.D. Program
  • Degree Course Requirements
• Courses
• Faculty and Research
• Student Research
• Student Profiles
• Career Opportunities
• Funding
• Information for Prospective Graduate Students
• Visit and Apply

Research

The Nutritional Sciences program has a strong research focus, with faculty and students conducting research in a variety of areas, including behavior, population, and metabolism.

• Research Expertise Areas
  • Behavior
  • Population
  • Metabolism
• Labs
  • Castro Lab
  • Children's Eating Behavior Laboratory
  • Diet and Cardiometabolic Health Lab
  • HIT Lab
  • International Health and Nutrition Equity Lab
  • Ji Lab
  • Micronutrients and Pregnancy Lab
  • The 4D Lab
  • NourishNET Lab
  • Nutrition and Microbiome - Singh Lab
  • Nutritional Neuropharmacology Lab
  • Youth & Community Nutrition Impact Research Team
• Nutritional Sciences Affiliates
  • Center for Childhood Obesity Research
  • Clinical and Translational Science Institute
  • Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences
  • Social, Life and Engineering Sciences Imaging Center
• Resources
  • Diet Assessment Center

Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate Programs

The Nutritional Sciences program offers integrated undergraduate-graduate programs, which allow students to earn both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in five years.

• Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate Master of Public Health
• Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate Master of Professional Studies
  • How to Apply
  • RDN Pathway Options

Alumni

The Nutritional Sciences program has a strong alumni network, with graduates going on to successful careers in a variety of fields.

• Get Involved
• Careers
• Donate
• Contact

Contact

For more information about the Nutritional Sciences program, please contact the department.

• Faculty and Staff
• Administration
• Undergraduate Program
• Graduate Program
• Alumni
• Affiliate, Emeritus, and Courtesy Faculty

Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate Master of Professional Studies

The Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Nutritional Sciences is a five-year program that allows students to earn both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree.

Program Overview

The MPS program is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge and skills in nutrition and dietetics, as well as the opportunity to conduct original research. The program is available to Penn State Nutritional Sciences students who are enrolled in any of the undergraduate Nutritional Sciences degree options.

• Earn a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences and Master of Professional Studies degree in Nutritional Sciences in 5 years
• The five-year accelerated Bachelors of Science and Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Nutritional Sciences is available to Penn State Nutritional Sciences students
• Students enrolled in any of the undergraduate Nutritional Sciences degree options are eligible for this integrated undergraduate-graduate (IUG) program
• Enrolled students will take up to 12 credits of graduate-level courses during their undergraduate degree followed by completion of the MPS degree

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Pathway

Students admitted to this accelerated undergraduate-graduate program (IUG) are offered admission to the MPS degree only and are not guaranteed entry into the Experiential Track, the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) pathway.

• During the fourth year of study, students will have the opportunity to learn about and apply to the RDN pathway options

How to Apply

To apply to the Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate Master of Professional Studies program, students must submit an application by October 1.

• Apply by October 1

Program Details

The MPS program is a 30-credit online graduate degree program that builds upon the undergraduate foundation and focuses on advanced practice and leadership skills in nutrition and dietetics. The program culminates with an impactful, real-world capstone project.

• The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Nutritional Sciences is a 30-credit online graduate degree program
• The program builds upon the undergraduate foundation and focuses on advanced practice and leadership skills in nutrition and dietetics
• The program culminates with an impactful, real-world capstone project
• Completing the MPS gives students the opportunity to earn a graduate degree in nutrition while pursuing other opportunities such as work experiences, dietetic supervised practice programs, and further study and preparation for medical/allied health training.