Application Process

The MS in Nutrition Sciences/Research Track accepts admission for the fall term only. A degree in a recognized field of biological, physical, chemical, agricultural, or engineering science from an accredited university is preferred.

The steps below outline the application process for the MS in Nutrition Sciences – Research Track.

Online Application

Complete the online UAB Graduate School Application. The application fee is $50.

• Official transcripts
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Demographic information
• Personal statement
• Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• No GRE required

Transcripts

It is highly encouraged that you upload an unofficial copy of your transcript for as many institutions as possible at the time of application. This will speed up the processing time of your application.

Where to Submit: Send Electronically or Mail to UAB Graduate School

Admission to the UAB Graduate School requires a recognized baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree from a regionally accredited (e.g. SACSCOC) college or university, or an international equivalent of a four-year degree. By the start of your first semester, your bachelor's degree must be awarded and appear on your transcript.

Unofficial transcripts may be utilized for the application review process and must be submitted for all post-secondary institutions, including community colleges, high school dual-enrollment, and military credit. During the application process, applicants will have the option to upload an unofficial PDF copy of their transcript(s). If admitted, the Graduate School must receive an official transcript: a) from each post-secondary institution where the student earned a degree and b) for any coursework taken after the awarding of a student’s bachelor’s degree (e.g. as a post-bacc or graduate student)

Transcripts are considered unofficial unless they are issued in one of the following ways:

• Electronic transcripts issued directly to the Graduate School by the school's Registrar's Office. Depending on which transcript service the prior institution uses, applicants should use This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as the email address or select the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Graduate Admissions as the receiving university. Transcripts forwarded from a student's email account will not be considered official.
• Paper transcripts bearing a university seal sent directly to the Graduate School from the issuing school’s Registrar Office or submitted by the student* in a sealed envelope bearing a university signature or stamp across the seal should be mailed here.
• NOTE: Official transcripts do not need to be sent for coursework completed at UAB. Your UAB transcript will be automatically added to your application when processed.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required. Strong letters of recommendation generally come from the following:

• Current or previous professor
• Professional supervisor
• Professional colleague

Every applicant has unique circumstances. Collectively, your letters of recommendation should attest to your academic ability to complete a rigorous graduate program, your experiences with handling new and challenging situations, examples of your ability to take ownership for your learning, engagement in life-long learning, professionalism, and independence as a self-directed learner. The UAB Graduate School will send an email link to each of your references from the email address that you provide for each reference as part of your UAB Graduate School application. Your letters of recommendation will be submitted electronically by your references directly to the UAB Graduate School.

Personal Statement

Please address the following topics in your personal statement.

• Reasons for applying to this program
• State your short-term and long-term professional goals
• Research and other training experiences that make you well suited for this program.

Conditional Admission

We do not offer conditional admission.

International Students

Due to the exclusively online delivery system of the Research Track option, this program is not available to students who desire to pursue their studies while physically present in the US on an F-1 or J-1 student visa. Applicants who are physically present in the US in another immigration status that permits exclusively online study (such as H-4, L-2, TN, pending green card, etc.) are welcome to apply.

Please email your current immigration document (USCIS approval or receipt notice, plus most recent I-94 card) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for an initial assessment and information about English proficiency requirements.

The program expects a cumulative TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 80, IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5, PTEA (Pearson Test of English Academics) score of 53, Duolingo score of 120, or IELA (International English Language Assessment) score of 176.

The MS in Nutrition Sciences, Research Track program is designed to prepare students for careers in research and education. Students learn the metabolic and biochemical basis for nutritional care while being involved in basic and/or applied nutrition research.

Potential research areas include:

Students in the Research Track complete a minimum of 37 semester credit hours, generally, over a two year period of time. As part of the program requirements, you will complete a minimum of 8 semester hours of Master’s level research, which is usually completed over a 4-semester period of time.

With regard to the research expectations of this track, you will be assigned a Faculty Research Mentor. Under the direction and guidance of your Faculty Research Mentor, you will first write and then orally defend your Research Proposal. The written component of your Research Proposal includes a literature review and outlines your proposed research project.

The oral component of your Research Proposal includes a formal presentation of your proposed research project. This Oral Research Proposal will be presented to your Faculty, Research Mentor, and the other members of your Thesis Committee and the MS in Nutrition Sciences program director. The audience may also include your peers; and possibly other UAB Faculty.

Usually this requirement is fulfilled in NTR 698 – Masters Level Non-Thesis Research, a required course in this curriculum. You will complete your research project and write a thesis to fulfill program requirements. Thesis requirements follow those of the UAB Graduate School and are available on the graduate school website.

Course Requirements

*Courses offered only online

Have an immediate question about the MS in Nutrition Sciences Research track? You might find it in our “Frequently Asked Questions” section below.

The MS in Nutrition Sciences, Research Track is a thesis-track graduate degree program that focuses on lab techniques for basic research applications.

You will learn from internationally recognized experts in the areas of weight loss, exercise science, clinical research, and more.

The Department of Nutrition Sciences has two NIH-funded research centers, the Nutrition Obesity Research Center and the Diabetes Research Center, and a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Come to UAB and study with world-renowned researchers.