The steps below outline the application process for the MS in Nutrition Sciences – Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention Track.

Online Application

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

• Official transcripts
• Complete prerequisite screening
• 3 letters of recommendations
• Demographic information
• Personal statement
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the 4 science prerequisite courses listed in the Screening section below.
• No GRE required

Transcripts

Submit official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended directly to the UAB graduate school – note that proof of Bachelor’s degree is required. Send electronic transcripts to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Screening

Complete a LMDP Screening Form. Indicate prerequisite courses that you have completed. Download information about prerequisite courses.

• Introductory Biology (3 credit hours – lab is not required)
• Human Physiology (3 credit hours – lab is not required)
• Organic Chemistry (3 credit hours – lab is not required)
• Microbiology (3 credit hours – lab is not required)
• NTR 222 Nutrition and Health (Intro to Nutrition (3 credit hours)

REQUIRED: Email completed LMDP Screening Form and Syllabus for Intro to Nutrition course (if applicable) to Dr. Marian Carter (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for review and approval.

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.

Other Requirements

• You must successfully complete all prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C earned before the program begins. If you do not have a minimum grade of C, it is suggested that you retake the course.
• Complete a personal statement.
• Exceptions to any admission requirements will be considered on an individual basis by the Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention Program Director, and the LMDP Admissions Committee.
• Applicants with networking experiences in the field of nutrition and dietetics are preferred. These experiences can be paid or unpaid. Please see the networking section below for more information.

Networking

Networking is a very important aspect of learning about a career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. There are many opportunities to assist.

• Build relationships with your professors.
• Get involved with your local dietetic association.
• Shadow a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (preferred) or other related health professionals (e.g., Pharmacist, Registered Nurse, Respiratory Therapist, Physician Assistant, Clinical Lab Technician). Strive to obtain quality shadowing experiences where you gain depth of knowledge. Keep in mind that you can have these experiences in a variety of settings, such as in the clinical setting, community setting, or food service setting. Use these experiences to build your professional relationships and to demonstrate depth of unique experiences that make you stand out.

Have more questions? Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The MS in Nutrition Sciences, Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention (LMDP) track is taught completely online to allow flexibility and convenience for students who work full time, reside out of state, or simply want the convenience of online courses. This is a non-thesis Master of Science program comprising 36 credit hours of study. A full-time student will complete this program in 4–6 semesters, depending on the term of enrollment (fall is recommended), though part-time enrollment is allowed. Below are the required courses for degree completion.

The MS in Nutrition Sciences, Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention (LMDP) track admits during all terms.

Open House

The MS in Nutrition Sciences-Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention Program will host a Virtual Open House on September 19, 2025, from 12:00PM-1:00PM CT. Dr. Lizzy Davis and Dr. Marian Carter will discuss the program details as well as how UAB’s program could align with your interest or career goals. Register here today.

Admission Requirements

Students with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in any field of study are eligible to apply to the Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention (LMDP) track as long as they have earned a grade of C or higher in three-credit hour courses for the following prerequisites:

• Introductory Biology – 3 credit hours – lab is not required
• Organic Chemistry – 3 credit hours – lab is not required
• Human Physiology – 3 credit hours – lab is not required
• Microbiology – 3 credit hours – lab is not required
• Nutrition and Health (Intro to Nutrition) NTR 222 – 3 credit hours

Prerequisite requirements can be completed at UAB or another institution. Here are the course descriptions for the prerequisites. NTR 222: Nutrition and Health is offered online every semester. Courses taken at another accredited institution are acceptable as long as the content is similar to the course descriptions found above. You must earn a C or higher in the other prerequisite courses prior to applying to this program.

Students Interested in Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

Students in the LMDP track interested in becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) have the option to apply to the Dietitian Education Graduate Certificate Program (DEP-C), an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)-Coordinated Dietetics Program. Admission to the DEP-C first requires admission to the LDMP track, then successful completion of 29 specified semester hours of the LMDP track with a minimum 3.0 GPA by the DEP-C start date. Students who complete these LMDP requirements are eligible to apply for the DEP-C, although there is not a guarantee of admission into the DEP-C. The DEP-C is a very competitive program and meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. The DEP-C cohort begins during the fall term, annually.

If admitted to the DEP-C, LMDP students will be required to complete an additional 37 semester hours of coursework and practicum experiences to meet ACEND eligibility requirements to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) national credentialing examination to become an RDN. Learn more about the DEP-C. The first step to beginning this process is to apply to the LMDP track.

Admissions Process

The steps below outline the application process for the MS in Nutrition Sciences – Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention Track.

1. Complete the online UAB Graduate School Application. The application fee is $50.
2. Submit Transcripts
   • Please submit an unofficial copy of your transcript for all institutions attended at time of application. This will speed up the processing time.
   • Upon admission, the UAB Graduate School requires an official transcript showing 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. An official transcript must also be submitted for any coursework taken after the awarding of a student’s bachelor’s degree (e.g. as a post-bacc or graduate student).
   • Official transcripts from each institution where college credit was earned can be submitted electronically to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
3. Complete Screening Form
   • Complete a LMDP Screening Form. Indicate prerequisite courses that you have completed. Download information about prerequisite courses.
     • Introductory Biology (lab is not required)
     • Human Physiology (lab is not required)
     • Organic Chemistry (lab is not required)
     • Microbiology (lab is not required)
     • NTR 222 Nutrition and Health or Intro to Nutrition
   
   REQUIRED: Email completed LMDP Screening Form and Syllabus for Intro to Nutrition course (if applicable) to Dr. Marian Carter (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for review and approval.
4. Submit three 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.
5. Complete demographic information.
6. Complete the Personal statement.
7. Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
8. Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the four science prerequisites and the Intro to Nutrition Course.
9. No GRE required.

Other Requirements

• You must successfully complete all prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C earned before the program begins. If you do not have a minimum grade of C, it is suggested that you retake the course.
• Exceptions to any admission requirements will be considered on an individual basis by the Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention Program Director, and the LMDP Admissions Committee.
• Applicants with networking experiences in the field of nutrition and dietetics are preferred. These experiences can be paid or unpaid. Please see the networking section below for more information.

Networking

Networking is a very important aspect of learning about a career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. There are many opportunities to assist.

• Build relationships with your professors.
• Get involved with your local dietetic association.
• Shadow a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (preferred) or other related health professionals (e.g., Pharmacist, Registered Nurse, Respiratory Therapist, Physician Assistant, Clinical Lab Technician). Strive to obtain quality shadowing experiences where you gain depth of knowledge. Keep in mind that you can have these experiences in a variety of settings, such as in the clinical setting, community setting, or food service setting. Use these experiences to build your professional relationships and to demonstrate depth of unique experiences that make you stand out.

International Applicants

Due to the exclusively online delivery system of the LMDP track, 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.

TThe 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 Dietitian Education Graduate Certificate Program (DEP-C) is specifically for MS in Nutrition Sciences, Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention (LMDP) track students. The DEP-C offers students in the LMDP track entirely online curriculum and in-person, local, or remote practicum experiences in a structured sequence of study. Upon successful completion, students are eligible to take the national exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). For more information about the DEP-C, please view the DEP Student Handbook.

Professional Licensure and Certifications

The UAB MS in Nutrition Sciences, Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention track with the Dietitian Education Certificate Program is designed to lead to professional certification through the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). While there is a national certification exam offered by CDR, board certification does not confer state licensure. Specific licensure requirements vary from state to state, and among territories. Please visit the Professional Licensure and Certification General Disclosures webpage for more information on state and territories requirements.

Requirements

Additional Information

Please refer to the UAB Academic Calendar for important dates.

Descriptions of Nutrition Sciences graduate coursework can be found in the Graduate Catalog.

Learn more about the Supervised Practice (Practicum) requirements.