General (Nutrition and Wellness) Concentration

Apply online and be admitted to SFA’s Graduate Studies. The process is explained on the Office of Research and Graduate Studies website. In addition to the application, official transcripts conferring the bachelor’s degree and any additional undergraduate or graduate work from the colleges/universities attended must be sent to ORGS.

For this degree path, please choose the General Nutrition/Integrative Health concentration when applying, not the registered dietitian concentration.

The graduate school’s minimum GPA requirement is 2.5 overall. You must meet these requirements to have clear admission to the program. Note that this requirement is lower than the minimum GPA required to be admitted to the program. Please see the section “Admission Requirements” on the following page for the program-specific requirements.  

Financial aid will not be available until you submit all documents and obtain clear admission. Graduate students admitted under probationary status (GPA below 2.5 overall) are not eligible for financial aid. Graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better to be eligible for financial aid.

The program has a rolling entry in fall, spring or summer. Students entering the MS program must have the following:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited United States institution*
• A GPA of at least 3.0 overall and in any graduate work already completed
  • Students with a GPA of less than 3.0 will be considered on an case-by-case basis.
• A background in nutrition or related science and/or meet the prerequisite coursework for admissions (described below)

*International students must provide an official credential evaluation of foreign transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended showing all courses taken and grades received, as well as proof of English proficiency. Please contact the Office of International Programs at oip@sfasu.edu for more information on international student admission requirements. This program is solely given online/distance. The Office of International Programs can determine your visa status when you apply and provide you with the next steps.

Prerequisites for Admission Consideration:

1. Completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
2. Completion of specific coursework (or equivalent), including:
   • Introductory Nutrition
   • Cell Biology
   • Human Physiology
   • Nutritional Biochemistry (preferred but not required)
3. Graduate statement of purpose (1,000-word minimum): 
   • How did you become interested in functional nutrition and integrative health? Establish that you have had a long-term interest in this area.
   • Discuss your experiences in the nutrition field and how these experiences have prepared you for advanced practice in the field.
   • What are your future goals and how will this degree help you achieve them?
   • What attracted you specifically to SFA and this program?  
4. Résumé

The general concentration for the MS in nutrition and integrative health requires completion of 36 hours of nonthesis graduate credit. Required graduate courses, including nine hours of core courses: six hours of integrative and functional nutrition I and II and three hours of research methods.

All graduate courses are fully online or have hybrid Zoom-enabled offerings and are 3 credit hours. Students will not be required to live in the area.

Required Courses (9 hours):

• NUTR 5335 Integrative and Functional Nutrition I (hybrid F2F, online, zoom livestream) - This course provides in-depth study of the metabolic processes and nutrition therapy as it relates to integrative and functional nutrition. Analysis and interpretation of research studies will be emphasized. Nutrient supplementation, elimination diets and dietary modifications as part of the therapeutic management of gastrointestinal conditions, weight management, cardiovascular disease and other nutrition-related conditions will be covered. Prerequisite: none required. To be successful, should have a nutrition course, plus anatomy and physiology. (Fall)
• KINE 5350 Intro to Research in Health & Kinesiology (3 cr hrs, online) - Concepts and skills involved in understanding and analyzing research in kinesiology and health science. The course should enhance the student’s ability to locate, read, comprehend and critically analyze research. Prerequisite: none required. (Fall)
• NUTR 5339 Integrative and Functional Nutrition II (hybrid F2F, online, zoom livestream) - This course provides an in-depth study of the metabolic processes and nutrition therapy as it relates to integrative and functional nutrition. Analysis and interpretation of research studies will be emphasized. The integration of nutrigenomics and dietary modifications as part of the therapeutic management of autoimmune and neurological conditions, cancer, and other conditions will be covered. Prerequisite: none required. To be successful, should have a nutrition course, plus anatomy and physiology. (Spring)

Complete 18 hours of HDFS, HMSC, HUSC, INDS, NUTR coursework as advised.
Nutrition Coursework includes courses in women’s health, pediatric nutrition, private practice, sports nutrition, public health nutrition, health and kinesiology and more.

Complete 9 hours of electives as advised in AGRI, HDFS, HMSC, HUSC, INDS, KINE, NURS, NUTR, PCOU, PADM, SOCW.

The advisor will work with you to determine a list of courses related to your goals and field of study.

For a full list of the courses, descriptions, modalities, and semesters typically offered, please see the graduate student handbook.