Applications are open

Degree Pathways

Students in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health pursue the latest knowledge about diet and human nutrition to improve public health and advance our understanding of contemporary nutrition issues, all while preparing for careers in community health, health science, dietetics, advocacy, and more.

We offer MPH, MS and PhD degrees, along with several concentration options based on your professional interests. Students in the MPH and MS degree programs have the option to become a certified Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

There are many paths within the Department of Nutritional Sciences. To help identify the best one for you, read more about our programs below and learn about recent alumni who chose each path.

Tips for a successful application

MPH in Nutritional Sciences - Dietetics

Two-year, 50+ credit hour degree with 1,000+ hours of experiential learning, including an integrated summer internship.
Leads to the RDN credential.
Pursue careers in all fields of nutrition and dietetics. This degree is well suited for those interested in policy development, program planning, community nutrition, disease treatment/prevention, and corporate wellness.

Meet Sara Henley, MPH, RDN

Product Manager (Nutrition Content) at Opsis Health

"I'm passionate about helping people make informed food choices that align with their health goals."

Meet Robin Garcia, MPH, RDN

Research Project Manager II at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute

"I still am passionate about global nutrition."

Meet Tiffany Yang, MPH, PhD, RDN

Principal Research Fellow at the Bradford Institute for Health Research

"I am still interested in growth and obesity and it has evolved to include food insecurity as a dimension."

Meet Isa Kujawski, MPH, RDN

Business owner of Mea Nutrition LLC

"My passion leads me to help people improve their mental health through functional nutrition"

Meet Kaitlyn Rau, MPH, RDN

Nutrition Data Specialist contractor with Kellogg's

"I love learning about chronic disease prevention, improving environmental impacts on health, expanding healthy food availability and working with pediatric populations"

MPH in Nutritional Sciences

Two-year, 60 credit hour degree with a summer internship
Focus areas include Sustainable Food Systems and Maternal and Child Nutrition
Pursue careers in the field of human nutrition in a wide range of community, advocacy, research, policy and governmental settings

Meet Natalie Reid, MPH

Senior Research Analyst at Mathematica

"During my time at the School of Public Health, it became a lot more about understanding how those two intersected, systemic weight bias, and applying a racial and ethnic lens."

MS in Clinical Nutrition - Dietetics

Two-year, 50+ credit hour degree with 1,000+ hours of experiential learning
Leads to the RDN credential.
Pursue careers in all fields of nutrition and dietetics. This degree is well suited for those interested in academia, research, and nutrition leadership, acute care/disease treatment and management and for those looking to enter a doctoral program in the future

New program for 2023

MS in Clinical Nutrition

MS in Nutritional Sciences

Two-year, 32-34 credit hour degree that includes a thesis
Customize your degree with a range of certificate programs
Pursue careers in academia, research institutes, and governmental agencies, or go on to a doctoral program

Meet Maymona Al Hinai, MS, RDN

PhD student

"Being a student in the University of Michigan School of Public Health is a huge opportunity to learn from the best in the field, as it is one of the top-ranked programs in public health."

PhD

High-level research track with original research as part of a doctoral dissertation
Areas of focus include Molecular and Biochemical Nutrition, Nutritional Epidemiology, and Nutritional Interventions

Meet James Casey, PhD

LEO lecturer III at the University of Michigan

"The culture of support within the School of Public Health and Department of Nutritional Sciences in particular drew me to this program."