The Master of Science degree in Nutritional Science is an individualized program designed to develop specialized professional competence in selected areas of dietetics, nutrition, and food science. The program is designed for students preparing for positions as public health nutritionists, supervisors in dietetics and food production and service, or doctoral study in nutrition and dietetics.
The Master of Science degree in Nutritional Science is an individualized program designed to develop specialized professional competence in the selected areas of dietetics, nutrition, and food science while also providing an opportunity to delve into related areas. The program is designed to prepare students for positions as public health nutritionists, dietetics and food production and service supervisors, or doctoral study in nutrition and dietetics.
There are two tracks in the Master’s program. The first is the Option in Nutrition and Dietetics, a condensed two-semester program designed for students who aim to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) or have already completed their dietetic internship and earned credentials. This option emphasizes learning about the process of conducting research and practical applications for implementing research findings as professionals working in nutrition and dietetics. Students can elect to either complete a comprehensive exam, a thesis, or a project.
The second option is the Option in Nutrition Research, a thesis-track graduate degree program focusing on lab-based research techniques. In collaboration with the biochemistry department, this new track will meet the needs of the students interested in conducting nutritional biochemistry research or furthering their education towards a doctoral degree. Students under this track will take courses in the biochemistry department and the core nutrition courses.
Please contact Dr. Kaur if you have any questions about these tracks.
Dr. Anureet Kaur, akaur23@calstatela.edu
The University catalog includes updated information about the options for the MS degree in nutritional science and can be found at this link.
NOTE- The MS degree does not provide the DPD (Didactic Program in Dietetics) coursework to prepare you to apply to supervised practice (Dietetic Internships). You will not be issued a verification statement after completing the MS degree.
If you wish to be an Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and have a different background as an undergraduate, please apply for our Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Nutritional Science program. The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Nutritional Science program at Cal State LA provides students with the knowledge and skills required by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics Education (ACEND) to become an entry-level registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).
For more information about the Post Bacc certificate, please visit the Post-Baccalaureate Program in Nutrition.
For specific information about this option, please contact:
Post-Baccalaureate Ms. Carrie Adase - cadase2@calstatela.edu
Admission to the graduate program in Nutritional Science is a two-step process. The department will review the application pool and select applicants meeting all requirements based on their readiness for study.
Information about how to apply can be found on the Graduate Admissions website.
To apply, please visit Cal State Apply.
Students must select the Nutritional Science MS degree program and provide the requested material online.
Application deadline: February 15, 2025
Below are the admission requirements for the MS degree:
Graduate degree applicants must meet the university admission requirements, including a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. To be admitted into the Master of Science degree program in Nutritional Science, applicants must also meet the following:
1. Grade point average of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester units (90 quarter units) attempted. A GPA calculation sheet is required.
2. Two letters of recommendation.
3. Statement of professional and research goals. Instructions are provided on the supplemental application.
4. Current resume with work and related volunteer activities listed.
5. Completion of the following prerequisites. Students who have a verification statement or are Registered Dietitian Nutritionists do not need to satisfy the following prerequisites
- BIOL 2030 - Human Anatomy (4)
- BIOL 2040 - Human Physiology (4)
- CHEM 1010 - Fundamentals of Chemistry (4)
- CHEM 1020 - Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (4)
- MICR 1010 - Introduction to Microbiology (3)
- NTRS 3170 - Introduction to Nutrition and Metabolism (3)
- NTRS 4170 - Advanced Nutrition I (3)
- NTRS 4175 - Advanced Nutrition II (3)
*Note: Students enrolled in the Research Option should take CHEM 1100, CHEM 2200, and CHEM 2201 instead of CHEM 1010 and CHEM 1020.
Students interested in the Research Option will also need to take the following courses as prereqs:
• CHEM 2211 - Organic Chemistry Lab II [1]
• CHEM 3200 - Organic Chemistry II [4]
Please note that the GRE is no longer required to apply to our Nutritional Science program.
If you still have questions after reviewing the provided information and accessing the web pages, please feel free to email or call the department to request a faculty advisor to respond to specific questions. The department phone number is (323) 343-5327. You can also view our MS Handbook to learn more about the program and requirements.