5110 Nutrition

Programs Offered:

  1. M.S. in Health Science, Specialization in Nutrition (with optional emphasis in Sports Nutrition and/or optional Certificate in Public Health)
  2. M.S. in Health Science—Coordinated Program in Dietetics without Didactic Program in Dietetics prior Completion
  3. M.S. in Health Science--Coordinated Program in Dietetics with Didactic Program in Dietetics prior Completion

Accreditation

The Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and the Coordinated Program are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606; (312) 899-5400.

The Division of Nutrition offers a Coordinated Program (CP) that is granted accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association (CADE), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606; 312/899-5400. This program provides students the opportunity to meet undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional experiences (internship) required for eligibility to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians to become Registered Dietitians (RD). Admission to this option does not require an undergraduate degree in nutrition; however, it does require completion of an undergraduate degree and the prerequisites for the M.S. It is a four to six semester (minimum) program of didactic coursework and supervised practice, if the student selects the portfolio capstone option. The supervised practice component has a general focus with an urban health emphasis. Students have the option of completing a thesis during an additional two semesters. The CP requires additional academic courses for students who enter the program prior to meeting the undergraduate coursework required for a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) accredited by CADE. At the completion of the degree, graduates receive a Master of Science in Health Sciences with a specialization in nutrition and also receive a Verification Statement that makes them eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians to become Registered Dietitians (RD).

Division of Nutrition

862 Urban Life Building
404/413-1225
http://nutrition.gsu.edu/

Yong Tai Wang, Assistant Dean, Health Professions
Anita Nucci , Division Head
Catherine McCarroll, Coordinated Program Director
Anita Nucci, Graduate Program Director

Faculty: Benardot, Dansby, Ganji, Henes, Hopkins, Johnson , McCarroll, Melton, Ndirangu, Nucci, Penumetcha, Thompson

Emeritus Faculty: Cody, Baxter, Kicklighter, Roman, Rosenbloom

The Byrdine F Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions  offers a Master of Science major in health sciences with a specialization in the area of nutrition. The purposes of the program are to 1) foster critical thinking, inquiry, and professional leadership in the health professions; 2) prepare health professionals who can formulate research questions, organize and test research problems, and evaluate research study results; 3) provide health practitioners with advanced study in professional specialty areas; 4) enhance career development in the health professions; and 5) provide the framework for advanced degree study.

The overall program objectives are to develop an understanding of the theoretical basis for the health professions; to gain proficiency in the processes, techniques, and practices that are currently being developed within the health professions; to enable the student to discover and utilize specialized knowledge in other disciplines that are related to the effective practice of the health professions; and to develop within the student the ability to see health care as a whole, to visualize the interrelationships of its components, and to recognize the influence of political, social, and economic milieu on the health care system.

The graduate program of study in the Division of Nutrition is built on a common core of courses and allows for maximum flexibility to meet the needs of the students and their professions. In this way, each program may be individualized to meet the student's professional goals in keeping with the overall objectives of the program. The curriculum includes core health sciences courses, nutrition specialization courses, elective courses, and either a thesis or nonthesis capstone option.

Program Academic Regulations

Students in the master's program in health sciences are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 before registration for any capstone experience (thesis, or portfolio) will be permitted. Any grade below a C is not acceptable toward the master's degree. No more than two C grades (maximum of six semester credits) in the health sciences core and/or major can be applied toward the degree. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to receive the master's degree.

Program Degree Requirements

Master of Science, Health Sciences in Nutrition
  1. A minimum of 36 hours are required for a Master's degree. Semester hours are shown in parenthesis after each entry.
    1. Health Sciences Core (6)
      • SNHP 6000 Research Methods for the Health and Human Science Professions (3)
      • SNHP 8000 Trends Affecting Health Policies, Practices and Laws (3)
    2. Specialization Curriculum (15)
      • Nutr 6101 Nutrition Research Methods (3)
      • Nutr 6102 Nutrition Intervention (3)
      • Nutr 6104 Advanced Normal Nutrition I (3)
      • Nutr 6106 Advanced Normal Nutrition II (3)
      • Nutr 7101 Nutrition Issues (3) OR Nutr 7950 Advanced Topics in Medical Nutrition Therapy (3)
    3. Electives (9)
      • Chosen in Consultation with Graduate Program Director
    4. Capstone (6)
      • Thesis Option: Students will take Nutr 7999. A minimum of two semesters at three credits each must be completed. Students must be enrolled in thesis credit each semester they continue to work on completion of the requirements for thesis research.
      • Nonthesis Option: Students will take Nutr 7990 Portfolio Seminar for a minimum of three semesters at one semester credit each and an additional three-hour elective
Coordinated Program
  1. Health Sciences Core (6)
  2. Specialization Curriculum (24)
  3. Capstone Option (6)
  4. Courses Required by the Program beyond Degree Requirements [This section includes courses that can be satisfied in an undergraduate curriculum and additional practice hours beyond the typical institutional requirements for the M.S. degree]

Clinical Course Requirements

Students who complete a clinical component as part of their program of study must complete the School of Nursing and Health Professions Health Form and provide evidence of current tuberculosis status, immunization for hepatitis B, and review of current CDC guidelines on universal precautions. The health form and review of CDC guidelines on universal precautions must be updated annually. Clinical agencies may require additional evidence of health status. It is the responsibility of the student to consult with the Coordinated Program Director or Coordinator in the Division of Nutrition prior to beginning a clinical assignment. Liability insurance must be purchased before the clinical course begins.

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen

Your application for licensure may ask you to respond to questions regarding any violations of federal, state or local law. You may be required to provide documentation to the state licensing board explaining any such occurrence. The individual state licensing agencies have exclusive authority to issue a license and could decline to issue such a license based on an applicant's prior criminal record.

Additionally, many of the clinical sites with which we have a clinical agreement require criminal background checks, finger printing and drug screen prior to allowing the student to be placed in the facility. The clinical facility has the right to deny the student an internship in the facility based on the findings of the criminal background check or drug screen.

Graduate/Thesis Committee

Students in the master's program in health sciences who plan to complete a thesis will select, with assistance from the major adviser, a Graduate/Thesis Committee, consisting of a chairperson (usually the major adviser) and at least two additional members. The Committee should be selected by the time 12 semester hours have been completed. The Committee should be selected in accordance with the following criteria:

  1. The Committee Chairperson must hold a primary appointment in the student's division and hold full or provisional Graduate Faculty Status in the School of Nursing and Health Professions.
  2. A second member of the Committee must be from the faculty at Georgia State University.
  3. A third member must be selected from the faculty of Georgia State University or another institution of higher education or from a health-related agency.
  4. All Committee members must be selected in consultation with the chair of the Graduate/Thesis Committee and approved by the head of the division.
  5. No Committee may consist of fewer than three members; however, a student may elect to have more than three members.

Portfolio Capstone Option

The Portfolio Advisor must hold a primary appointment in the student’s division.