Human Nutrition (MS)

Human Nutrition

The program offers a student-centered, research-focused, challenging curriculum that focuses on the nutrition needs of today’s society.

The human nutrition graduate program is housed in a modern building equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including anthropometric instruments, a serum analyzer and a plethora of molecular biological apparati. Our faculty have a variety of expertise spanning molecular to community-based nutrition.

Course Work

Course work is based on lectures, experiential and service-learning, allowing students to gain real-world, relevant nutrition and dietetics competencies. Students choose either a thesis option (33 total hours required) or a non-thesis option (39 total hours required). Thesis-option students take core courses and electives, engaging in original scientific research culminating in a thesis. Non-thesis- option students take electives in consultation with the graduate advisor. Our dietetic internship coursework can be combined with the human nutrition degree. Information about core courses can be found in the Graduate Catalog.

Program Details

Many alumni are registered dietitians working in various arenas, including clinical settings, biomedical research, or private practice. Students leave well-versed regarding the latest research.

Program Mission

Texas State University offers a master of science degree in human nutrition to meet the needs of industry, the public sector and academia. The human nutrition program provides graduate education that equips students with technical skills and scientific knowledge for the integration of food to improve human health in the 21st century. Graduates will develop critical thinking and research skills to:

• develop innovative approaches to problem-solving
• acquire knowledge and skills to support pursuit of doctoral degrees
• prepare for research careers in nutrition and food arenas
• integrate cutting-edge nutrition knowledge into dietetics practice

Career Options

The program prepares students to meet the needs of industry, the public sector and academia in the following roles:

• Registered dietitian
• Development manager
• Consultant to functional food/nutraceutical company
• System clinical nutrition manager
• Community nutrition
• Health education coordinator
• Clinical education coordinator
• Nutrition instructor
• Doctoral studies in nutrition

Program Faculty

Faculty research includes:

• Community and public health nutrition policy, systems, and environments
• Diet patterns and diseases risk
• Workplace wellness
• Prevention of colon cancer progression via dietary manipulation
• Effect of food-derived compounds on behavior and brain function
• Promoting a healthy gut to prevent complications from obesity and diseases
• Signaling pathways underlying the obesity-cancer association
• Metabolic abnormalities and prostate cancer progression
• Nutrition epidemiology and weight-inclusive behavioral health nutrition interventions to improve cardiometabolic health
• Community and public health nutrition (Food insecurity, behavioral nutrition, and interventions)