M.S. in Food and Nutrition Services

Program Overview

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program is housed within the Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management. Students pursuing the M.S. in FNS degree choose from one of the two emphasis areas:

• Nutrition
• Hospitality Management

The degree prepares students for careers in established or emerging clinical or industrial settings; doctoral studies in nutrition, food service management, or hospitality management; or postsecondary teaching positions. The program is designed to provide students with a broad background in nutrition, food service management, and hospitality management; development of necessary analytical skills; and exposure to current research.

Goals/Mission Statement

The mission of the MS in Food and Nutrition Services is to prepare students for entry into nutrition-related or hospitality management-related fields of study and/or their industries with excellence and integrity.

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• demonstrate how to interpret, evaluate, and use professional literature to make ethical, evidence-based practice decisions.
• demonstrate effective and professional oral and written communication and documentation when communicating with individuals, professional groups, and the public.
• incorporate professional knowledge with effective management and education techniques to facilitate food, nutrition, and hospitality related behavior change.
• use a decision-making process to make decisions, to identify nutrition- or hospitality-related problems, and to determine and evaluate appropriate interventions.
• apply knowledge of nutrition or hospitality management to enhance the well-being of individuals and groups.
• apply management and business theories and principles to the development, marketing, and delivery of nutrition or hospitality programs or services.

To fulfill requirements to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), students may choose to apply to the Coordinated Program (CP) as a part of the M.S. degree program. The CP program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education for Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and includes a supervised practice component in various local and regional healthcare and education facilities. (See Coordinated Program (CP) in Dietetics for more information.)