Program Overview

Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion with a Concentration in Health Promotion

The Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion is designed to develop practitioners with the skills and competencies to effectively assess, design, implement, and evaluate health promotion programs in a variety of settings.

Program Highlights

• The core of the program is designed around coursework that helps students develop the skills and competencies required of entry-level health educators as delineated by the Certified Health Education Specialist credential.
• Regular admission to this program requires a minimum 2.75 GPA on all undergraduate work if accrued over a four-year (or more) period. If accrued over a two-year period, meaning the last two years of your undergraduate degree, a 3.0 GPA is required.

Tuition and Fees

• Tuition per credit hour: $581.00
• Instructional Support Fee per credit hour: $25.00 Tuition and fees listed are subject to change and do not include all possible charges. Additional fees may apply.

Who Should Pursue This Degree?

This degree is ideal for those interested in a rewarding opportunity to work with clients and help them understand and improve their health.

Potential Careers

Some potential careers for which this degree prepares students include:

• Community health specialist
• Public health educator
• Health coordinator Organizations that employ individuals with this degree include the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, public health services, schools and universities, healthcare institutions, and public policy and lobbying organizations.

Program Structure

A student must have acquired a minimum of 33 hours in order to graduate in both the thesis and non-thesis options. Other electives may be taken as approved by the advisor.

Research Methods (9-12 hours)

• FNH 8563: Principles of Epidemiology and Health Science Research (3 hours)
• EPY 6214: Interpretation of Data in Kinesiology (or approved transfer course) (3 hours)
• FNH 8673: (Course details not specified)
• FNH 8000: Applied Projects for CHES (3 hours) or Research/Thesis (6 hours)

Core Courses (15 hours)

• FNH 8513: Theory and Practice of Health Education (3 hours)
• FNH 8523: Health Promotion Techniques (3 hours)
• FNH 8553: Behavioral Epidemiology (3 hours)
• FNH 8613: Design and Administration of Health Promotion Programs (3 hours)
• FNH 8653: Implementation and Evaluation of Health Promotion Programs (3 hours)

Electives (6-9 hours)

• FNH 6253: Nutritional Biochemistry of Foods
• FNH 6373: Career Skills in Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion (3 hours)
• FNH 6393: Prevention and Control of Disease (3 hours)
• FNH 6773: Intro to Environmental Health (3 hours)
• FNH 6783: School and Community Drug Use Prevention (3 hours)
• FNH 8193: Problems in Health Education (3 hours)
• FNH 8543: Health Education for Diverse Populations (3 hours)
• FNH 8623: Current Issues in School Health (3 hours)

Admissions Requirements

Applications for the degree programs are reviewed three times a year. The application deadlines for those semesters are as follows:

• Fall Semester: August 1
• Spring Semester: December 1
• Summer Semester: May 15

Admission Options

• Domestic/International Classified Admissions
• Domestic Unclassified Admissions
• International Unclassified Admissions
• Provisional Admissions
• Readmission
• Transfer Credit

Domestic/International Classified Admissions

1. Submit online application.
2. Statement of Purpose.
3. Three letters of recommendation.
4. One official transcript showing bachelor's degree or progress toward degree.
5. One official transcript showing all work after bachelor's degree.
6. Payment of $60 non-refundable application processing fee for domestic students, $80 for international students.

Domestic Unclassified Admissions

1. Submit online application.
2. One official transcript showing bachelor's degree or progress toward degree.
3. One official transcript showing all work after bachelor's degree.
4. Pay $60 non-refundable application processing fee.

International Unclassified Admissions

1. Submit online application.
2. TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students.
3. One copy of academic records showing degree(s).
4. One official transcript showing bachelor's degree or progress toward degree.
5. One official transcript showing all work after bachelor's degree.
6. Must obtain application approval from the Dean of the Graduate School.
7. Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.

English Language Test Score Requirements

For applicants whose native language is not English, the following test scores are required for admission eligibility:

• TOEFL Essentials: 9 and above
• TOEFL iBT: 79 and above
• IELTS: 6.5 and above

Academic Advising

After gaining admission to the university, students must contact their advisor to determine the courses that are most appropriate for them to take.

Comprehensive Exam

All Health Promotion students planning to graduate must complete an Application for Degree form and, if necessary, an Application for Comprehensive Exam form. The deadline for the degree application is March 21, 2025, and for the comprehensive exam application, it is March 20, 2025.

Careers

Health promotion is one of the fastest-growing areas of employment in the United States. Graduates of this program work in a variety of settings, including but not limited to:

• Robin Annison: Emergency Training Specialist, U.S. Capitol Police, Washington, D.C.
• Juleigh Baker: Health Educator, Longest Student Health Center, Mississippi State University
• Steve Brantley: Grants Monitor, Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, Jackson, MS

Certified Health Education Specialist

The coursework in this program has been developed around the competencies required to become a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), giving health educators a competitive edge in the field.