Information About The Masters in Public Health Nutrition

General Program Description

The MPH Program in Nutritional Sciences is intended to provide: a) a broad overview of the public health system and the environment in which public health nutrition recommendations are interpreted and implemented; b) basic analytical and administrative skills necessary to integrate nutrition into the public health core functions of assessment, policy development and assurance; and c) an opportunity for advanced study of a particular topic in public health nutrition related to a student’s special interests and career goals. Graduates of the program would be expected to participate in policy analysis, program development, and to design and manage population-based community wide interventions as part of a large-scale public health program.

The program adheres to the curriculum guide established by The Association of The Faculties of Graduate Programs in Public Health Nutrition that list the knowledge and skills in advanced nutrition, public health, social and behavioral sciences, and education specifically required in graduate education for the preparation of public health nutritionists.

While completion of the program involves specific requirements including core public health and core nutrition courses and the preparation and presentation of a master’s thesis, the program is structured to be sufficiently flexible to accommodate students with a wide variety of interests. Students select an appropriate academic/thesis adviser from the core faculty, and throughout the program, this faculty adviser monitors the student’s progress and assists in mapping out an appropriate plan of study. Students may also select a research topic that coincides with their individual interests.

In terms of specific course offerings and faculty expertise, the program currently has particular strengths in the area of Epidemiology, program planning and evaluation, health policy, maternal and child health, and social and behavioral sciences. Concurrent and block field experiences under the joint supervision of an experienced practicing public health nutritionist and a faculty adviser are an integral part of the program. Every attempt is made to secure placements that compliment the student’s areas of interest.

All students earning an MPH degree in nutritional sciences are required to complete, present and defend their thesis. Before proceeding with the research project, students must submit a research proposal for approval by the members of their thesis committee, as well as any agency involved in implementation of the project. Upon completion of the thesis, the student submits a final approved, typed, book-bound copy to the Nutritional Sciences Program and two unbound copies to the Graduate School.

Completion of the program normally requires a minimum of five quarters of full-time study plus one summer session. Students usually enroll for at least twelve credit hours per quarter. Nine credit hours are required for full-time student status. Part-time study is not recommended, but may be possible for some students.

NOTE: Students in the Dietetic Internship may apply 8 credits of the internship toward the Nutritional Sciences MPH Degree requirements.

The MPH Program includes a thesis and an 8-week fieldwork experience. The field experiences follow the guidelines outlined by the Association of the Faculties of Graduate Programs in Public Health Nutrition. During the summer quarter following the first year of the program, students complete their block field experience, working full-time in a facility for at least six weeks under the supervision of a qualified professional.

While completion of the program involves specific requirements including core public health and core nutrition courses and the preparation and presentation of a master's thesis, the program is structured to be sufficiently flexible to accomodate students with a wide variety of interests.

Students are appointed an appropriate academic advisor from the core faculty, and throughout the program, this faculty advisor monitors the student's progress and assists in mapping out an appropriate plan of study. During the course of their study, students will choose a thesis chair and select a research topic that coincides with their individual interests.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree, preferably with Science Emphasis
• Completion of the following courses

General Chemistry (one quarter)

Organic Chemistry (one quarter)

Biochemistry (two quarters or one semester at the 400 level)

human anatomy/physiology (two quarters or one semester)

basic human nutrition (one quarter)

Please note that some of these courses may have prerequisites of their own. Contact the individual department (Chemistry, Biology, etc) to find out.

• 3.00 GPA or greater for the final 90 quarter credit hours or 60 semester credit hours completed
• GRE (general exam) - competitive scores should be at or above the 50th percentile on the verbal and quantitative sections. Scores older than 5 years will not be accepted.

Transfer Information from the Graduate School

"A student working toward the master's degree may petition the Dean of the Graduate School for permission to transfer to the University of Washington the equivalent of a maximum of 6 quarter credits of graduate level course work taken at another recognized academic institution. These credits may not have been used to satisfy requirements for another degree. The petition must include a recommendation from the graduate program coordinator and an official transcript indicating completion of the course work. Transfer credits are not entered on the UW transcript.

Approved transfer credits are applied toward total credit count only for the master's degree. (Transfer credits are not applicable toward a doctoral degree.) The 18 quarter credits of numerically graded course work, and 18 quarter credits of 500-level-and-above course work may not be reduced by transfer credit. Credit taken as a non-matriculated student or post-baccalaureate student at the University of Washington may not be transferred into a graduate program. Credit by either independent study through correspondence or advanced credit examinations is not transferable."

The curriculum for the MPH may be seen on our MPH web page.

Transcript Evaluations

Due to the high number of inquiries we receive we are not able to do transcript evaluations for prospective applicants. With some exceptions, it should not be difficult for you to determine yourself which courses you have satisfied or need to take at another school. Here are some tips.

You may use the UW Equivalency guide to check which classes at local community colleges will fulfill prerequisite requirements.

A complete application uploaded on the Graduate School website will include the following:

• Nutritional Sciences Application
• Graduate School Application
• GCPD Application if you are applying to the Graduate Coordinated Program
• Unofficial copies of your transcripts
• 3 letters of recommendation (Letters may come from employers, professors, or previous colleagues; NOT from family members or spouses)
• Official TOEFL or TOEFLC scores (if international student)
• GRE scores should be recorded on the Graduate School Application. The code for the University of Washington is 4854. The Department Code for Nutritional Sciences is 0214. The official scores will be transmitted electronically to the UW.

Useful Links

University of Washington Home Page

Graduate School Home Page

Academic Calendar

Time Schedule

Tuition Rates

American Dietetic Association

Washington State Dietetic Associations

Equivalency Guide for Washington Community and Technical Colleges

last updated May 10, 2011