This specialization prepares students for careers in Extension and community health as well as those that provide community food and nutrition services for children, families, and older adults.

Graduates will attain the knowledge and skills to: 

• Develop research-based public policies and programs that enhance food security, nutrition, and health in communities
• Adapt programs to meet food and nutrient needs across the life cycle
• Apply health behavior theory
• Conduct needs assessment
• Develop, implement, and evaluation community-based programs

M.S., Community Nutrition and Health Promotion

Requires the following courses (12 credit hours):

• NUTR 956 Community Nutrition (3)
• NUTR 860 Health Behavior Theories and Approaches (3)
• NUTR 805 Research Methods (3)
• NUTR 859 Nutrition: A Focus on Life Stages (3)

Experiential Learning (3)

• NUTR 857 Classroom and Outreach Experiences in Food and Nutrition (3) and/or NUTR 998 Special Topics in Human Sciences (1-3) -for a total minimum of 3 credits for non-thesis students
• NUTR 875 or NUTR 975 for students in the Professional Studies in Dietetics specialization (3)
• NUTR 899 Master's Thesis for research thesis students (3)

Other courses and programs of interest include:

• NUTR 950 Integrated Principles of Human Nutrition (3) -very important for students without a background in human nutrition
• NUTR 807 Principles of Epidemiology for Nutrition and Public Health (3)
• NUTR 829A Food Security: A Global Perspective (3)
• NUTR 834 Food and Nutrition in Biocultural Perspective (3)
• Graduate Minor in Leadership Education at University of Nebraska-Lincoln (9)
• Graduate Certificate in Public Health at University of Nebraska Medical College (15)
• Graduate Certificate in Gerontology at University of Nebraska-Omaha (12)
• Courses in Physical Activity in Health Promotion at University of Nebraska-Omaha, e.g., KINS 8130/9131 Implementing Physical Activity in Diverse Populations (3)

For a complete listing of courses, click here.

Total credits required:

• M.S. Option A: 30 total credit hours, requires research thesis
• M.S. Option B: 30 total credit hours, non-thesis

Preferred Courses Prior to Admission:

To be successful in the program, the following courses are preferred - consult with your advisor.

• Two semesters of general chemistry (CHEM 109A General Chemistry I and CHEM 110A General Chemistry II)
• One semester of organic chemistry with lab (CHEM 251/CHEM 253 Organic Chemistry)
• One semester of biochemistry with lab (BIOC 401/BIOC 401L Elements of Biochemistry or BIOC 431 Biochemistry I: Structure and Metabolism)

• Human Physiology with lab (BIOS 213/BIOS 213L Human Physiology)

Undergraduate Catalog

The Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is committed to creating an environment that is welcoming to all; where each person feels accepted, valued, and safe. To learn more, visit https://cehs.unl.edu/nhs/nhs-deib/.