Online Master of Science in Nutrition

Samford University’s online Master of Science in Nutrition program prepares students and dietitians for positions in health care, community, education, research, and leadership in nutrition programs.

Master of Science

Nutrition

Pursue your graduate degree in nutrition through online study within a Christian learning community.

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Samford University’s online Master of Science in Nutrition prepares students for positions in health care, community settings, education, research and leadership in nutrition and other professional and allied health programs.

Students take courses in an inter-professional setting, on a wide range of nutrition topics including clinical nutrition, metabolism, community nutrition and research methodology and complete a capstone or culminating research project. The program focuses on developing leadership and communication skills, as well as proficiency in interpreting and applying evidence-based practice research in patient care.

Is This Program for Me?

This program is ideal for future or current allied health professionals seeking advanced training in human nutrition science or for students aspiring to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). It’s also designed for Samford pharmacy students who want to earn a joint PharmD/MS in Nutrition degree.

MS in Nutrition: A 33-34 credit program, completed in one year (part-time option available).
MS in Nutrition, Dietetics Concentration: A 48-credit, two-year program that includes supervised experiential learning which can be completed in Birmingham or at health systems nationwide. Graduates of the Dietetics Concentration are eligible to sit for the RDN exam upon program completion.
MS in Nutrition/PharmD Joint Degree: A joint degree program that requires a total of 36 credit hours in the MS in Nutrition program. The joint degree program applies 6 credits of pharmacy course work to satisfy work required under the regular MS in Nutrition curriculum.

Career Preparation

Director, MS in Nutrition Program

Ashley Licata, PhD, RD, LD

adelk@samford.edu

205-726-2570

100+ Years of Excellence

Samford's Department of Nutrition and Dietetics has been preparing students to become experts in the field for more than 100 years. Our alumni are employed in diverse areas, including hospitals, clinics, education, research, sports nutrition, corporate wellness program, community and public health settings. Our graduate programs have produced more than 125 credentialed Registered Dietitian Nutritionists since 2015, and our course work, research experiences, internships and certifications prepare students for careers in academia, hospitals, long-term care, schools, wellness programs, industry, government and public health.

Career Opportunities

Registered dietitian nutritionist
Community or public health nutritionist
Sport nutrition and wellness
Food industry professional
Child Nutrition Programs
Academics and Research

“I believe the Lord has given me the ability to form relationships with patients.

“Knowing their backgrounds and current circumstances enhances my care and direction of their nutritional needs. It helps me to not focus on what they eat, but why they choose what they eat. These relationships build trust, which aids in successful treatment.”

—Kelly Trumball, MS ‘21, Children’s of Alabama

Graduate Scholarships

Graduate scholarship and financial aid opportunities are available through Samford's School of Public Health.

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Application Timeline

Application Opens: Aug. 1, 2024
Early Action Deadline: Nov. 1, 2024 (Applications submitted by the Early Action Deadline will receive priority consideration when scholarships are awarded.)
Rolling Admission: Decisions are released approximately two weeks after all application materials have been received.
Application Closes for Summer Start: April 1, 2025 (Applications submitted after April 1 will be reviewed on a rolling basis if space is available in the program. Please contact the School of Public Health recruiter at publichealth@samford.edu if this applies to you.)
Application Closes for Fall Start: June 1, 2025 (Applications submitted after June 1 will be reviewed on a rolling basis if space is available in the program. Please contact the School of Public Health recruiter at publichealth@samford.edu if this applies to you.)
Entry Month for Summer: May 2025
Entry Month for Fall: August 2025

Admission Requirements

Possess a baccalaureate degree in any field from a college or university that holds institutional accreditation, or be in the senior year of undergraduate study
Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Achieve a C or better in all prerequisite courses from a college or university that holds institutional accreditation. All prerequisite courses must have been completed within 10 years prior to application. Required prerequisite courses include mathematics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, and introductory nutrition.
Submit valid GRE, MCAT, or DAT scores (Please note: This entry exam requirement has been waived for the 2024 application cycle.)
- GRE minimum scores: Verbal, 153: Quantitative, 144; Analytical, 4.0
- MCAT equivalent of 492
- DAT minimum score of 14
Submit three letters of reference through the application system. References should be from 1] a current or previous professor, 2] a work supervisor and 3] a registered dietitian or another current or previous professor
International applicants must score at least a 550 (paper), 213 (computer) or 80 (internet) on the TOEFL or a 6.5 on the IELTS Academic test. This may also apply to American citizens who learned English as a second language.
International applicants may be required to submit a WES/ECE transcript review. The School of Public Health Admission Office will contact you at the time of application review if this is necessary.
We cannot issue an I-20 for this program at this time.
If accepted, a non-refundable fee of $1,000 is required to secure admission into the program. The fee is applied to the first semester’s tuition.
Exceptions to any of the admission requirements may be considered on an individual basis.