MS in Nutrition and Food

The Sacramento State Master of Nutrition and Food program prepares students for leadership and advocacy in nutrition programs and policy. Students apply nutrition and food research to improve individual and community health by developing strategies to promote food access, health equity and dietary change.

The 30-unit program includes specialized coursework in nutrition science, advanced community nutrition, behavioral nutrition, and food and nutrition policy plus a wide array of interdisciplinary electives to be tailored to interests and career goals.

The Master of Nutrition and Food program is designed to:

  • provide career advancement opportunities in federal, state and local food access and nutrition education agencies,
  • complement the Sacramento State’s Dietetic Internship for those on the path to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.*

*Note: The Sacramento State Dietetic Internship, requires a separate application. More information about the Internship can be found at: www.csus.edu/facs/dietetic-internship.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA for the last 60 units attempted.

Prerequisites 

Prerequisites or their equivalents at other colleges or universities as determined by the Graduate Coordinator

NUFD 113Nutrition And Metabolism3
NUFD 115Nutrition: Pre-conception Through Childhood3
or NUFD 119 Nutrition: Adolescence Through Older Adulthood
NUFD 117Community Nutrition3
or NUFD 107 Nutrition Education, Communication, and Counseling
NUFD 116Food Service Management3 - 4
or NUFD 110 Food Production and Sustainability
STAT 1Introduction to Statistics3
or NUFD 100 Research: Methods and Application in Nutrition and Food
Total Units15-16

Minimum Units and Grade Requirement for the Degree

Units required for the MS:  30
Minimum Cumulative GPA:  3.0  

Admission Requirements

All prospective graduate students, including Sacramento State graduates, must file the following with the Office of Graduate Studies:

  • an application for admission;
  • one set of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (other than Sacramento State); 
  • personal statement; and
  • two reference forms.

For more admissions information and application deadlines please visit the Office of Graduate Studies website.

Advancement to Candidacy

Each student must file an application for Advancement to Candidacy, indicating a proposed program of graduate study. This procedure should begin as soon as the classified graduate student has:

  • removed any deficiencies in admission requirements;
  • completed at least 12 units of 200-level courses in the graduate program with a minimum 3.0 GPA;
  • selected a Thesis or Project committee;
  • obtained the committee's approval of a proposal for the thesis or project; and
  • completed a Graduate Writing Intensive (GWI) course in their discipline within the first two semesters of coursework at California State University, Sacramento.

The student will complete the Advancement to Candidacy form after planning a degree program in consultation with a Nutrition and Food advisor and members of the student's thesis/project committee. The completed form is then returned to the Office of Graduate Studies for approval.

Program Requirements

Required Core Courses (18 Units)
NUFD 200Research Methods3
NUFD 213Advanced Nutrition with Community Program Applications 3
NUFD 222Advanced Community Nutrition and Nutrition Education3
NUFD 224Advanced Community Nutrition and Policy3
NUFD 225Food Production and Sustainability Policy3
NUFD 500Culminating Experience3
Electives (12 Units)
Select 12 units from the following: 112
Anthropology of Food
Environmental Anthropology
Cost Benefit Analysis
Public Finance
State and Local Government Finance
Labor Economics
Economics of Education
Health Economics
Environmental Toxicology
California Water and Society
Sustainability Science & Policy
Urban Agriculture and Aquaponics
Agroecology
Older Adult Services and Strategies
Social Policy for an Aging Society
Strategies for Optimal Aging
Interprofessional Approaches to Health Care in Older Adults
Contemporary Ethnic Studies Issues
Foundations & Theories
Asian American Politics and Public Policy
Black Political Thought
Crosscultural Aging in America
Native American Tribal Governments
American Indians, Sovereignty and US Laws
Chicano/Latino Politics and Public Policy
Urban Politics
California Politics
Political Behavior and Political Processes: California and Beyond
California State and Local Government
Environmental Politics and Policy
Public Policy Development
Science, Technology, and Politics
American Political Development
Politics, Immigration, and Citizenship
United States Congress
Introduction to Public Policy and Administration
Political Environment of Policy Making
Public Management and Administration I
Public Management and Administration II
Introduction to Collaborative Policy Making
Collaborative Governance Advanced Practice
Community Psychology
Applied Behavior Analysis
Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience
Developmental Processes
Sociology of Health and Illness
Seminar: Social Change
Seminar: Social Organization
Gender & Health
Advanced Clinical Nutrition A 2
Advanced Clinical Nutrition B 2
Advanced Foodservice Management and Administration 2
Field Study
Total Units30