Jul 11, 2025  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Dual MS-MPH Program, Nutrition - Public Health


The College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences offers a coordinated dual program leading to the conferral of both the Master of Science with a major in Nutrition  (public health nutrition concentration) and the Master of Public Health . The dual program allows students to complete both degrees in less time than would be required to earn both degrees independently.

The program is designed to meet the needs of students who are interested in the benefits of majors in both nutrition and public health. Therefore, it accommodates the interests of students who

  • Plan a career in public health nutrition and want to acquire the knowledge and skills of the nutritionist and public health professional.
  • Plan a career in nutrition and want to acquire the knowledge, skills and perspective of the public health professional.
  • Plan a career in public health and want to acquire the knowledge, skills and perspective of the nutritionist.

Concentrations (Required) and Options


  • Nutrition — Public Health Nutrition Concentration
    • Thesis Option
    • Project Option
  • Public Health — Community Health Education concentration, Epidemiology concentration or Health Policy and Management concentration
    • Coursework Only With Comprehensive Exam Option

Campus Code


Knoxville Campus

Admissions Standards/Procedures


  • Applicants for the MS-MPH dual program must make separate applications to the Office of Graduate Admissions and be accepted by the Department of Nutrition for the MS and the Department of Public Health for the MPH.
  • Students who have been accepted by both departments may apply for approval to pursue the dual program any time prior to, or after, matriculation in either or both departments.
  • Such approval will be granted, provided that dual program studies are started prior to entry into the fourth semester of the MS and MPH programs.

Academic Standards


  • 3.00 grade point average in graduate courses.

Nutrition Major with Public Health Nutrition Concentration (Thesis Option) / Public Health Major with Any Concentration (Coursework Only with Comprehensive Exam Option)


Credit Hours Required


63 graduate credit hours, which includes MPH Foundation and Concentration courses and required courses for the MS (Public Health Nutrition concentration-thesis option). A dual degree candidate must satisfy the requirements for both the Master of Science (Nutrition Major with a Public Health Nutrition concentration) and the Master of Public Health degree, as well as the requirements for the dual program.

Required Courses


Additional Course Requirements


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
  • A single block field experience (or public health applied practice experience) with a service learning project and poster presentation are required of all students.
  • Dual-degree students who withdraw from the program before completion of the requirements for both degrees will not receive credit towards the MS or MPH for courses taken in the other program, except as such courses qualify for credit without regard to the dual program.

Nutrition Major with Public Health Nutrition Concentration (Project Option) / Public Health Major with Any Concentration (Coursework Only with Comprehensive Exam Option)


Credit Hours Required


60 graduate credit hours, which includes MPH Foundation and Concentration courses and required courses for the MS (Public Health Nutrition concentration project option). A dual degree candidate must satisfy the requirements for both the Master of Science (Nutrition Major with a Public Health Nutrition concentration) and the Master of Public Health degree.

Required Courses


Required Courses for Nutrition (Public Health Nutrition concentration - project option) (40 credit hours):

Additional Course Requirements


Non-Course Requirements


  • A single block field experience (or public health applied practice experience) and poster presentation are required of all students. MS/project students also complete an analytical field paper focused on their block field experience. This analytical field paper incorporates public health nutrition and the student’s public health concentration.
  • Dual-degree students who withdraw from the program before completion of the requirements for both degrees will not receive credit towards the MS or MPH for courses taken in the other program, except as such courses qualify for credit without regard to the dual program.