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MPH in Public Health Nutrition

The MPH degree in public health nutrition provides specialized training in community nutrition within the multidisciplinary public health programs offered by the school. The program is designed to train professionals to assume leadership positions in assessing community-nutrition needs; and in planning, directing, and evaluating the nutrition component of health-promotion and disease-prevention efforts.

Public health nutritionists work in a variety of settings--in government and voluntary agencies, public and private community-health centers, ambulatory care clinics, schools, industries, private practice, and specialized community-health projects. They function as directors and administrators of nutrition programs, nutrition-care providers, advocates, educators, counselors, consultants, and researchers.

This track outlines the basic requirements of the MPH degree and prepares students for careers in public health and community nutrition. It is appropriate for individuals with professional credentials, such as medicine, dentistry, dietetics, or nursing. Students may select the option of completing a research project with publication potential in lieu of field practicum.

Learner Outcomes

Upon satisfactory completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Identify and evaluate physiological mechanisms linking diet and nutrition to disease risk.
2. Identify and address emerging and controversial food and nutrition issues that impact public health.
3. Evaluate the role of vegetarian dietary practices on human health, the environment, and ecology.
4. Apply the science of food and human nutrition to optimize nutritional status and prevent disease in populations across the life span.
5. Select and use appropriate tools and strategies to assess nutritional status and prioritize nutritional problems of individuals and groups.
6. Apply effective management principles in the administration of nutrition programs and services, including human and financial resources.
7. Identify national and regional governmental structures and processes in the development of public policy and the delivery of services that influence food intake and nutritional status.
8. Develop, implement, and evaluate the food and nutrition component of community-based interventions to promote health and prevent disease.
9. Develop and evaluate appropriate theory-based and culturally sensitive educational approaches for nutrition counseling and education.
10. Communicate effectively by using varied media and informational systems for lay and professional audiences.
11. Critically review and evaluate the literature and report research findings.

Indicators of Educational Effectiveness

These include a written comprehensive examination (prior to the field experience), field experience (upon completion of essential major coursework), field practicum report (upon completion of the field experience), and an exit interview with the department chair (at the conclusion of the program).

PREREQUISITE

• Chemistry through organic (at least 5 quarter hours of organic)
• Physiology
• Microbiology

COREQUISITE

• NUTR 504 Nutritional Metabolism (Advanced Biochemistry) (5)
• NUTR 490 Topics in Food and Food Preparation (1)

Public Health (28 units)

• ENVH 509 Principles of Environmental Health (3)
• EPDM 509 Principles of Epidemiology I (3)
• GLBH ¬¬¬524 Cultural Competence and Health Disparities (2)
• HADM 509 Principles of Health Policy and Management (3)
• HPRO 509 Principles of Health Behavior (3)
• HPRO 536 Program Planning and Evaluation (2)
• NUTR 505 Public Health Biology (2)
• PHCJ 605 Overview of Public Health (1)
• PHCJ 675 Integrated Public Health Capstone (2)
• RELE 534 Ethical Issues in Public Health (3)
• STAT 509 / 521 General Statistics / Biostatistics (4)

Nutrition (22 units)

• NUTR 510 Advanced Public Health Nutrition (3)
• NUTR 517 Advanced Nutrition I: Carbohydrates and Lipids (4)
• NUTR 518 Advanced Nutrition II: Proteins, Vitamins, and Minerals (4)
• NUTR 525 Nutrition Policy, Programs, and Services (3)
• NUTR 527 Assessment of Nutritional Status (3)
• NUTR 535 Research Applications in Nutrition (2)
• or
• NUTR 539 Research Methods in Nutrition (2)
• NUTR 564 Contemporary Issues of Vegetarian Diets (2-3)
• NUTR 605 Seminar in Public Health Nutrition (1)

Electives:

Selected from the following or in consultation with adviser (6 units)

• NUTR 519 Phytochemicals (2)
• NUTR 526 Nutrition Counseling (2)
• NUTR 528 Symposium: Adventist Philosophy of Nutrition (1)
• NUTR 534 Maternal and Child Nutrition (3)
• NUTR 536 Nutrition and Aging (2)
• NUTR 543 Concepts in Nutritional Epidemiology (3)
• NUTR 545 Clinical Nutrition I (3)
• NUTR 546 Clinical Nutrition II (3)
• NUTR 578 Exercise Nutrition (2-3)
• NUTR 585 Topics in Global Nutrition (3)
• STAT 515 Grant and Contract Proposal Writing (3)

Field Practicum or Research

• NUTR 798B/D Field Practicum (6 or 12 units)
• or
• NUTR 694 Research (2)

TOTAL UNITS (56 UNITS)

(Not including research units or field practicum)

Contact Information - Department of Nutrition