Nutrition and Exercise Specialization
Master of Science (M.S.) in Nutrition and Health Sciences
The master's degree in Nutrition and Health Sciences, Nutrition and Exercise specialization will be non-thesis for most students and focus on courses individualized to their future career goals.
Master's students and doctoral students completing a research thesis, will conduct research in faculty members' laboratories.
M.S., Nutrition and Exercise Specialization
Requires the following courses (13 credit hours) which are also available to doctoral students:
- NUTR 805 Research Methods (3) or other graduate-level research or statistics course (i.e., EDPS 859, STAT 801A)
- NUTR 884 Physiology of Exercise (3)*
- NUTR 886 Exercise Testing and Exercise Programming in Adult Fitness and Cardiac Rehabilitation (4)*
- NUTR 950 Integrated Principles of Human Nutrition (3) or 900-level metabolism course
- NUTR 960 Nutrient Function During Exercise (3)
*If you have already completed NUTR 484, NUTR 486, or NUTR 456 as undergraduate courses, you will work with your advisor after admission to select graduate courses within the Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences and other departments that align with your career goals.
Total credits required:
- M.S. Option A: 30 total credit hours, requires research thesis (NUTR 899, 6-10 credit hours)
- M.S. Option B: 30 total credit hours, non-thesis
Careers
- Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist
- Health/Fitness/Wellness Specialist
- Health/Fitness Instructor or Personal Trainer
- Nutrition and Exercise Consultant
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
For additional career information, click here.
Preferred Courses Prior to Admission
To be successful in the program, the following courses are strongly preferred (consult with your advisor):
- Two semesters of general chemistry
- One semester of organic chemistry with lab
- One semester of biochemistry
- Human Physiology with lab
- Human Anatomy with lab
- BIOS 214 Human Anatomy
GRE is not required.
View UNL's Undergraduate catalog online at: catalog.unl.edu/undergraduate/.
Doctoral students or master’s students (Thesis: Option A) interested in exercise physiology and nutrition research and planning to continue through the doctoral program will be advised by:
Students in the master’s program (Non-thesis: Option B) and in the Nutrition and Exercise Specialization will be advised by:
Work Opportunities and Fellowships
Master's Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantship (Dr. Shinya Takahashi)
- Available yearly starting in the fall.
- Teaching is in the fall and spring semesters.
- Preference is for students who have completed an undergraduate program in Kinesiology or Exercise Science and are preparing for careers in nutrition, exercise, and health sciences.
- This assistantship involves supervising students in exercise practicums, grading assignments, and teaching courses in healthy living.
- To be considered for this assistantship, students must have completed their application to our graduate program and must plan to complete the Nutrition and Exercise specialization.
Doctoral Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantship (Dr. Terry Housh)
- Available yearly starting in the fall.
- Only students with completed applications will be considered for this graduate assistantship.
- To be considered for this assistantship, students should remain committed to a research career and ensure completion of courses in Exercise Science: catalog.unl.edu/graduate-professional/courses/nutr/.
Additional information regarding assistantships and fellowships can be found online at: cehs.unl.edu/nhs/assistantships-hourly-positions-and-fellowships/.
Application to this program
When completing the Office of Graduate Studies online application, select:
MAJOR/DEGREE: Nutrition and Health Sciences
SPECIALIZATION: Nutrition and Exercise