The coordinated Public Health/Nutrition Sciences, Dietetic Internship/Clinical Track degree program is offered through the UAB School of Public Health (SOPH) and the UAB School of Health Professions Department of Nutrition Sciences. Students in this coordinated program earn an MPH with a concentration in Population Health. In this individualized concentration, students gain a solid foundation in public health through completion of the MPH Core (based on the Evidence-based Public Health framework), an Applied Practice Experience (Internship), and an Integrative Learning Experience (Capstone). Students also select from among all master’s-level Public Health courses (e.g., maternal and child health, global health, health behavior) to build a unique curriculum that supports their career goals. Specialized advising is provided to assist students in designing their individualized curriculum.
Drawing upon its distinguished history and a multidisciplinary team — physician-scientists, PhD scientists, registered/licensed dietitians, and nurses working together in patient care, research, and education programs — the Department of Nutrition Sciences offers an accelerated MS degree that enables students to sit for the national exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. This accredited program is offered on-campus or off-campus and combines supervised clinical practice with online graduate coursework.
The MPH at the School of Public Health prepares students for careers to improve the health and well-being of individuals, families, communities, and populations, both locally and globally. This complementary MPH/MS coordinated degree program provide students with a richer perspective of community and global health issues, including the epidemiology of disease, health behavior, the impact of environmental and occupational factors on patient health, disease progression, and management of disease states, as well as social, legal, and ethical issues affecting access to health care.
Curriculum
Students may complete the MPH portion of this coordinated degree program totally online, in class, or through a mix of online and in-class experiences.
Twelve credit hours from the MS in the Nutrition Sciences curriculum are credited toward the MPH degree, for a total of 42 MPH credit hours. This allows students to earn both degrees in reduced time and at reduced cost.
Online students pay less than the out-of-state tuition rate for the MPH portion of this coordinated degree.
Download Sample Curriculum Planning Sheet (pdf)
Admission
To be eligible for the MS, you must have a BS in Nutrition/Dietetics from a program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. If you do not have a BS in Nutrition/Dietetics you are not eligible for admission.
The MS in Nutrition Sciences, Dietetic Internship/Clinical Track is currently granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. ACEND's contact information is 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois, 60606-6995; (800) 877-1600, extension 5400.
Students are admitted separately to the MPH and MS in Nutrition Sciences programs. Upon acceptance to the MS program, students will be accepted automatically to the MPH program. All applications to the MS are made through a centralized application process called DICAS and a corresponding digital match process via D & D Digital.
- To apply for this degree, you will submit a supplemental application directly through the UAB Graduate School.
- Learn how to apply to the MS in Nutrition Sciences, Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship.
- Learn how to apply to the School of Public Health. Students must apply through the UAB Graduate School. Select "MPH dual program" and then the MPH/MS Nutrition track. Test score field is required, so enter "GRE or MCAT" and a date to advance in the application. The reference letter field is also required, so enter three names from the Nutrition application and select “no” when asked if they will be electronic submission.
- Students should note that the Population Health program curriculum has been updated. If a student is submitting to switch from a different degree program or department into a Coordinated Degree or the General MPH in Population Health Degree, the student will be responsible for completing the current Population Health program requirements. Students should meet with the current program manager prior to submitting a petition to switch programs.
Contact
For additional information concerning the coordinated MPH/MS program contact the School of Public Health at soph@uab.edu.