College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences

 

Program contact:
Mateja Savoie Roskos, PhD, MPH, RD
Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences
mateja.savoie@usu.edu

This online Master of Public Health Nutrition (MPH) degree includes interdisciplinary training in nutrition-related sciences and the core public health disciplines. Students will learn about the methods for quantifying dietary intake and nutritional status, the role of diet in disease risk and health promotion, and the design and implementation of nutrition policy and programs to improve the health of local, national, and global populations. The land grant setting of Utah State University provides unique opportunities for the study of the relationship between human nutritional status and health with strong academic and research programs in federal and community nutrition programs, USU Extension nutrition outreach programs, nutritional epidemiology, food security, agricultural practices, and OneHealth. This program is 100% online so you can complete the program from anywhere around the world! This program can be pursued part-time or full-time.

The MPH Nutrition program is considered a professional program (Plan C). Students must complete an applied practice experience and write a capstone paper. Students should contact their advisor early in their program to outline an acceptable project and to be certain that all degree requirements will be met and that all appropriate paperwork has been sent to the School of Graduate Studies. Plan A and Plan B options are available under certain circumstances.

Career Options

Graduates with an MPH degree in Public Health Nutrition can seek out diverse positions in public health with opportunities for leadership roles, professional development, and higher pay and benefits. Potential positions include public health nutritionist, nutritional epidemiologist, program coordinator, public health educator, executive director, and nutrition services supervisor to name a few. These positions can be found in a variety of governmental, academic, nonprofit, and for-profit settings including state and local public health departments, colleges and universities, health care organizations, Women Infants, and Children (WIC), food banks, food pantries, nutrition education programs such as SNAP-Ed and EFNEP, community action agencies, and anti-hunger/poverty organizations, among many others. When combined with a nutrition degree or other undergraduate science degree, the MPH degree is commonly used as a steppingstone to medical or dental school. For students interested in academic careers in public health, the MPH degree can be excellent preparation for application to doctoral public health programs.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet departmental requirements, in addition to requirements of the School of Graduate Studies as seen on the School of Graduate Studies Catalog Page.  To be admitted to a graduate program, applicants must meet these minimum requirements:

• Complete online application.
• Pay the $55 application fee.
• Provide transcripts for all college/university credits. 
• Include a statement of purpose in your online application.
  • This should be a 1-page single-spaced paper that describes how the MPH Nutrition program aligns with your career goals and what you have accomplished professionally or academically that demonstrates your ability to be successful in graduate school.
• 3.0 or higher GPA for the last 60 semester (90 quarter) credit hours.
• 3 professional letters of recommendation from professors, employers, or volunteer coordinators, for example. No personal references are accepted.

The GRE is no longer required as part of the application. Applicants must have taken an undergraduate course in nutrition and statistics. Prior coursework in public health, community health, nutrition, or dietetics is desirable but not required.

Once admitted, students are required to maintain enrollment as follows: 

• Registered for 9 or more graduate credits or enrollment in at least 3 credits per semester to use University facilities and receive direction from their major professor. 
• Enrollment in at least 6 credits per semester is required if receiving an assistantship or fellowship from Utah State University.