The Master of Science program is available with a major in Nutrition and concentrations in Biomedical Nutrition Science, Community Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, and Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics. Students may also select from related minors including Epidemiology, Exercise Physiology, Intercollegiate Graduate Statistics and Data Science, or One Health. Completion of an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program is required for students who wish to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians and, beginning January 1, 2024, a minimum of a master’s degree will be an additional requirement. Any of the available concentrations will meet the new master’s degree requirement. Additionally, the concentration in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics meets all requirements as it has been granted accreditation as a Future Education Model Graduate Program by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 S. Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040.
Concentrations (Required) and Options Available
Campus Code
- Distance Education - for Community Nutrition concentration only
- Knoxville Campus
Admissions Standards/Procedures
- A complete file for review includes:
- Graduate Application for Admission
- Completed departmental application form
- Three Graduate Rating Forms completed by individuals who can attest to the applicant’s potential for graduate education.
- More information is provided on the Department of Nutrition page of this catalog.
- For those lacking only the introductory nutrition prerequisite, the student will be required to complete this or a similar class upon admission to our program.
Biomedical Nutrition Science Concentration — Thesis
A graduate student in the Biomedical Nutrition Science concentration (thesis option) works closely with a faculty advisor and his or her graduate committee on an original research project. This program prepares students for careers in biomedical research, as laboratory technicians, research assistants, technical consultants, and sales representatives in the biomedical and nutrition industries.
Credit Hours Required
30 graduate credit hours
Required Courses
- Required Courses (22 credit hours)
- NUTR 511 (4 credit hours)
- NUTR 512 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 543 (3 credit hours)
- Graduate-level statistics (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 500 (minimum of 6 credit hours)
- BCMB 440 (3 credit hours)
- Appropriate substitutions for BCMB 440 if required, must be approved by the graduate advising committee and the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies.
Other Courses (8 credit hours; Students may choose from the list below upon consulting with their graduate advising committee)
- NUTR 548 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 549 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 618 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 621 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 626 (3 credit yours)
- NUTR 655 (3 credit hours)
- Any other graduate coursework in Nutrition (NUTR), as identified by faculty advisor and approved by the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies.
- Appropriate substitutions for any of these courses, if required, must be approved by the graduate advising committee and the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies.
Non-Course Requirements
- Completion of a research project is required.
- A proposal hearing is required prior to beginning the research project.
- A thesis defense is required upon completion of the thesis.
Biomedical Nutrition Science Concentration — Project Without Comprehensive Exam
A graduate degree in Biomedical Nutrition Science concentration (project option) can lead to excellent careers and professional opportunities in the applied, industrial, research, and academic health sectors. This program prepares students who do not wish to engage in wet-lab research for careers as consultants, sales representatives, and other positions in the biomedical and nutrition industries.
Credit Hours Required
30 graduate credit hours
Required Courses
- Required Courses (19 credit hours)
- NUTR 511 (4 credit hours)
- NUTR 512 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 543 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 548 (3 credit hours) for completion of the project
- Graduate-level statistics (3 credit hours)
- BCMB 440 (3 credit hours)
- Appropriate substitutions for BCMB 440 , if required, must be approved by the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies.
Other Courses (11 credit hours; Students may choose from the list below upon consulting with their graduate advising committee)
- NUTR 549 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 618 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 621 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 626 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 655 (3 credit hours)
- Any other graduate coursework in Nutrition (NUTR), as identified by faculty advisor and approved by the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies
- Appropriate substitutions for any of these courses, if required, must be approved by the graduate advising committee and the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies.
Non-Course Requirements
- A project, typically a review of the literature, is required for completion of the program.
Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Concentration — Coursework Only Without Comprehensive Exam Option
Clinical nutrition and dietetics students must have completed the BS in Nutrition, Dietetics concentration, at the University of Tennessee with the inclusion of HRT 445 and NUTR 426.
Credit Hours Required
30 graduate credit hours
Required Courses
Community Nutrition Concentration - Project Without Comprehensive Exam Option
A master’s degree in Nutrition with the Community Nutrition concentration from the University of Tennessee can lead to excellent careers and professional opportunities in the public, voluntary, and private health sectors. Students in this concentration will be trained in competencies needed to become a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and to work in the community in a variety of roles (including as nutrition educators, WIC nutritionists, worksite health and wellness coaches, wellness program coordinators) and settings (including public health department, community agencies, and in Extension programs [such as SNAP or EFNEP]).
In addition to departmental requirements provided on the Department of Nutrition page of this catalog, prerequisites to this program include completion of an undergraduate human nutrition survey course and an undergraduate statistics course. For those lacking only the undergraduate nutrition prerequisite, the student will be required to complete this or a similar class upon admission to our program.
Campus Code - Distance Education
Credit Hours Required
30 graduate credit hours
Required Courses
- Required Courses
- Additional Course Requirements
- Graduate level statistics course, 3 credit hours (recommended EDPY 577)
- Elective, 3 graduate credit hours (recommend EDPY 533)
Non-Course Requirements
- A project, typically a review of the literature, is required for completion of the program.
Public Health Nutrition Concentration — Thesis
A graduate student works closely with a faculty advisor and his or her graduate committee on an original research project and completes an 8-week block field experience in a public health or community nutrition agency.
Credit Hours Required
43 graduate credit hours
Required Courses
- Required Courses (28 credit hours)
- NUTR 509 (1 credit hour)
- NUTR 515 (6 credit hours)
- NUTR 543 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 507 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 503 (2 credit hours)
- NUTR 504 (2 credit hours)
- NUTR 514 (2 credit hours)
- NUTR 626 (3 credit hours)
- At least 6 additional credit hours of graduate coursework in Nutrition, NUTR (exclusive of thesis), as identified by faculty advisor and approved by the Director of the Public Health Nutrition Graduate Program.
- Public Health Courses (9 credit hours)
- Thesis (6 credit hours)
Non-Course Requirements
- Completion of a research project is required.
- A proposal hearing is required prior to beginning the research project.
- An oral comprehensive examination is required upon completion of the thesis.
Public Health Nutrition Concentration — Project
A graduate degree in Public Health Nutrition from the University of Tennessee can lead to excellent careers and professional opportunities in the public, voluntary, and private health sectors.
Credit Hours Required
40 graduate credit hours
Required Courses
- Required Courses (28 credit hours)
- NUTR 509 (1 credit hour)
- NUTR 515 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 543 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 507 (3 credit hours)
- NUTR 503 (2 credit hours)
- NUTR 504 (2 credit hours)
- NUTR 514 (2 credit hours)
- NUTR 626 (3 credit hours)
- At least 6 additional credit hours of graduate coursework in Nutrition (NUTR), as identified by faculty advisor and approved by the Director of the Public Health Nutrition Graduate Program.
- Public Health Courses (9 credit hours)
- NUTR 519 (3 credit hours) for completion of the project and poster presentation.
Non-Course Requirements
- A written comprehensive examination is required for completion of the program.
- A service learning project must be completed as part of the block field practicum.
- A poster presentation is required for completion of the program.
Five-Year BS/MS Program - Nutrition Major, MS – Biomedical Nutrition Science Concentration
For qualified students, the Department of Nutrition offers a 5-year BS/MS accelerated degree program with a major in Nutrition and a concentration in Biomedical Nutrition Science. Central to this program is that a qualified student may take up to 9 credit hours of approved graduate courses for their senior undergraduate electives and have them count toward both the BS degree and the MS degree. Students will be considered for conditional admission to the program by the end of their junior year of undergraduate study at UT. Students can choose from a non-thesis option or a thesis option, based on their original research. Those who choose the thesis option will begin working on their research project not later than the beginning of their senior year of undergraduate studies by enrolling in NUTR 493 and/or NUTR 499. For each student in the program, a graduate advisory committee composed of a minimum of three faculty members must be established before completion of Term 7. To be considered for conditional admission to the program:
A student must be a declared Nutrition major, Biomedical Nutrition Science Concentration, with a minimum GPA of 3.30, must have completed at least 15 credit hours of Nutrition courses, and must have completed at least 90 credit hours of the 120 credit hours of coursework required for the BS degree with a major in Nutrition.
A student must provide three letters of support from Nutrition faculty members serving on the graduate and undergraduate committees
A student must obtain a commitment from a Nutrition graduate research faculty member to serve as their graduate mentor-advisor (i.e., major professor) and as the chair of their graduate advisory committee.
The Department may consider other relevant factors such as an applicant’s work experience and level of maturity before conditionally admitting a student to the BS/MS program. Conditional admission of a student into the 5-year BS/MS program must be approved by both the Department of Nutrition and the Graduate School. Students will be typically informed of the outcome of their application before they start their senior year of undergraduate study.
Any graduate course taken before satisfying all requirements for the BS degree must be approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Graduate School. These graduate courses must be identified in advance in consultation with the undergraduate advisor and the graduate advisory committee.
A student that is conditionally admitted to the BS-MS program may complete up to 9 credit hours of graduate level coursework during the student’s undergraduate study and apply those 9 graduate credit hours to satisfy both the BS degree requirements and also the MS degree requirements, provided that these graduate credit hours were approved by both the Department and by the Graduate School.
The form “Nutrition Conditional Admission 5 Year BS-MS” is available from the Director of Graduate Studies and must be completed and signed by the undergraduate advisor, undergraduate coordinator, and graduate advisory committee by May 1st of their junior year. After review by the Department, the form will be signed by the Director of Graduate Studies and submitted to the Graduate School for approval and processing.
To receive graduate credit for the 9 credit hours listed on the Nutrition Conditional Admission Form and approved by their graduate advisory committee, and others granting approval by signing that form, the student must complete and submit the Senior Requesting Graduate Credit Form to the Graduate School. If the graduate courses are to be taken during different semesters, the student will need to submit this form per each relevant semester.
Conditional admission into the BS/MS program does not guarantee acceptance into either the Graduate School or the MS program. Students in the BS/MS program must submit an application for admission to the Office of Graduate Admissions and to the MS program during their senior year of undergraduate study for the term immediately following the completion of their undergraduate study, following the same procedures of all other student applicants. Students will be fully admitted to the MS program after they have been accepted both by the Graduate School and by the Nutrition Department. Students will not be eligible for graduate assistantships until they are enrolled as graduate-level students in the Graduate School.
