Nutritional Sciences: Master of Public Health Degree

MPH students will acquire advanced knowledge and understanding about:

  • Nutritional sciences, including the biochemistry of cellular nutrition.
  • The application of nutritional sciences to individuals, groups, and populations.
  • Factors that affect accessibility, adequacy, and safety of the food supply system (production, processing, distribution, and consumption) and the relationship to community food systems assessment and analysis.
  • The relationships between food intake, nutrition, contaminant exposure, and biological and chemical hazards.
  • Federal, regional, state, and local government structures and processes involved in the development of public policy, legislation, regulations, and delivery of services that affect food intake, nutritional status, and population health.

Applicants should have a strong interest in science and health, an undergraduate degree in a field of basic or applied science, and, at a minimum, should have taken courses in biology, physiology, general and organic chemistry, biochemistry, and calculus.  Non-science undergraduate degrees are acceptable, however applicants are required to complete the NS prerequisites.  

SPH Core Curriculum
Course Number Credits Course Name Term
BIOSTAT 521 3 Applied Biostatistics F
PUBHLTH 507 2 Social Determinants of Health F
PUBHLTH 512 3 Principles of Epidemiology for Public Health W
PUBHLTH 513 3 Public Health Systems, Policy and Management W
PUBHLTH 514 2 Public Health Sciences and the Environment W
PUBHLTH 516 2 Leadership Skills for Interprofessional Practice W
NS Core Requirements
Course Number Credits Course Name Term
BIOSTAT 522 3 Biostatistical Analysis for Health-Related Studies W
OR
NUTR 620 3 Multivariate Analysis of Nutrition-related Studies W
NUTR 600 2 Capstone, Professional Development in NS F
NUTR 630 3 Principles of Nutritional Science F
NUTR 631 3 Metabolism of Vitamins and Minerals W
NUTR 639 3 Pathophysiology of Obesity W
NUTR 640 3 Nutritional Assessment F
NUTR 688 1 Nutrition Seminar (year-long course)
NUTR 642 3 Community Nutrition F

NUTR 642 is recommended for all MPH students, but it is required for the Didactic Program in Dietetics.

We recommend this because a major project in NUTR 642 is conducting a mock community needs assessment which is relevant to anyone considering community public health work.

  • Inorganic/general chemistry* 1 semester, lab not required
  • Organic chemistry 1 semester, lab not required
  • Biochemistry 1 semester
  • Human Physiology or Anatomy and Physiology 1 semester of either but must be human
  • No lab required

*AP high school classes are accepted based on AP final exam score

All UM-SPH MPH students are required to complete a summer internship. The primary purpose of the internship is to help the student learn how to apply theory and principles to the realities of work situations and to develop and expand professional skills and competencies essential to these tasks. The student will explore areas of interest and become acquainted with agencies, community and other organizations engaged in Nutritional Sciences-related work. Please see the NS MPH Internship Handbook and other related materials for more information.

How Do I Apply?

MPH applicants apply to our program through SOPHAS (School of Public Health Application Service), a centralized application service for public health.

PLEASE NOTE: The new Department of Nutritional Sciences is an enlargement and expansion of the (former) Human Nutrition Program at SPH. Students applying via SOPHAS before July 2015 will apply to the Nutrition program through the Environmental Health Sciences department. During the summer of 2015, those who have applied to Nutrition will be transferred to the Department of Nutritional Sciences.

Additional information for international applicants.

Financial Support

Qualified students can receive financial support through grants or scholarships from the Rackham Graduate School and the School of Public Health. Please visit our Admissions & Financial Aid page for more information.

More Information

For answers to any questions that you might have, please visit other pages on this website and/or contact:

Susan Aaronson, Program Manager: susaaaro@umich.edu

Carole Durgy, Student Services Coordinator: beckca@umich.edu