Academic Catalog

Nutrition and Food Science and Public Health (M.A./M.P.H. Joint Degree)

The M.A. in Nutrition and Food Science/M.P.H. is a joint degree program offered by the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine.

Students must meet the admission and graduation requirements of both programs and enroll concurrently in the two programs during most of the period in which they are earning the degrees. If they complete requirements for only one degree, one degree will be awarded.

Admission Requirements

Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School.  Admission criteria  for the MA-MPH Joint  Degree will meet the requirements of both MA and MPH degrees by requiring:

  1. A minimum undergraduate Grade Point Average of 3.0 and all requirements for admission to the WSU Graduate School that include satisfying the English proficiency requirements. If applicants have not completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution in the US or in a country where English is the native language, satisfactory attainment of scores in the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) (85), the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (79 internet-/550 paper-based), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (6.5) will be required. Tests should not be more than 2 years old. The MPH Program has established a minimum TOEFL score of 90 and a minimum IELTS score of 7.
  2. Standardized Test Scores: GRE, MCAT, GMAT or LSAT within the last five years. 
  3. The submission of a professional curriculum vitae together with a satisfactory personal statement indicating the applicant's background, research and/or work experience, interests, and career goals as they relate to attainment of the MA-MPH degree. Three letters recommendation will also be required. An interview may be conducted.
  4. Completion of college-based courses in mathematics and the social sciences, and completion of the following undergraduate courses or equivalent:
    NFS 2130
    NFS 2140
    Introductory Food Science
    and Introductory Food Science Laboratory
    4
    NFS 2220Nutrition Laboratory1
    NFS 3230Human Nutrition3-4
    BIO 2270
    BIO 2271
    Principles of Microbiology
    and Principles of Microbiology Lab
    5
    BIO 2870Anatomy and Physiology5
    One semester of Organic Chemistry
    Courses in biochemistry and statistics are recommended
 

Program Requirements

A minimum of 64 graduate credits beyond the baccalaureate degree is required for completion of the MA-MPH program. Students enrolled in the MA-MPH Joint Degree Program will be required to take specific NFS and FPH listed public health-related courses. A total of 10 credits can be double-counted towards completion of this joint degree program. All course work must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine.

M.A. in Nutrition and Food Science

Core Courses
NFS 7850Graduate Seminar1
NFS 6000Nutritional Biochemistry3
NFS 6030Microbiological Safety of Foods3
Select two of the following:6
Nutrient and Gene Interaction
Nutritional Metabolomics and Bioinformatics
Nutrition and Physical Performance
Major M.A-M.P.H. Specific Courses
NFS 5220Community Nutrition2
NFS 6210Nutrition through the Life Cycle3
FPH 7240Epidemiology3
NFS 7240Nutritional Epidemiology3
Required Culminating Course
FPH 8991Integrated Learning Experience3
Minor Elective Courses
Select a minimum of five credits of the following:5
Nutrition and Disease
Eating Behavior and Body Weight Regulation
Controversial Issues
Directed Study
Biostatistics II
Advanced Statistical Programming (SAS)
Directed Studies in Community Health Services
Cancer Epidemiology
Computer Use in Research
Total Credits32

Master of Public Health

Core Courses
FPH 7011Foundations of Public Health3
FPH 7012Social Justice in Public Health3
FPH 7015Biostatistics I3
FPH 7100Health Care Organization and Administration3
FPH 7210Research Methods for Public Health Professionals3
FPH 7240Epidemiology3
FPH 7300Public Health Policy3
Concentration Courses
FPH 7230Health Program Evaluation3
FPH 7430Application of Public Health Principles3
FPH 7510Leadership and Population Health2
FPH 7511Health Promotion Messaging and Advocacy3
Electives
Select a minimum of four credits of NFS courses.4
Required Culminating Courses
FPH 7440Applied Practice Experience3
FPH 8991Integrated Learning Experience3
Total Credits42
 
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