Nutritional Science, Dietetics Concentration, BS + Nutritional Science MS

Admissions Requirements
Graduate Standing Requirements
Program Requirements (144 units)
Advising Roadmap

The Nutritional Science Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) Scholars Program provides students the opportunity to earn their Nutritional Science, Dietetics Concentration, BS and Nutritional Science, MS degrees simultaneously, completing both degrees in five years, rather than the usual six years when completing them individually.The SAGE Scholars Program Coordinator works closely with the students to ensure a seamless transition from undergraduate to graduate status, without students having to file a formal application for admission to the graduate program. The BS program is designed to meet the needs of the student who has a baccalaureate degree and seeks advanced preparation in nutrition science, nutrition education, geriatric nutrition, and foodservice/restaurant management. The program is intended to prepare candidates to assume leadership roles in their profession and communities and to provide the opportunity to acquire a foundation for doctoral study. The MS graduates have earned doctorates, become college and university faculty, been employed in private, federal, and state research institutions, and have established their own private practice or consulting business. In the process of fulfilling requirements for the SAGE MS degree, students who have completed the dietetics concentration will meet the academic requirements of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) toward becoming a registered dietitian.

Total SAGE Program Units (BS + MS) 144

For more information, contact the SAGE Scholars Program Coordinator Dr. Xi Feng.

Admissions Requirements

Be enrolled in or have completed the undergraduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (100W/GWAR) prior to admission into the SAGE Scholars program;
Successfully completed a minimum of 60 Nutritional Science BS applicable units and not more than 120 undergraduate degree applicable units at the time of admission in the program;
Completed NUFS 106A and NUFS 100W with grades of “C” or better;
Minimum 3.0 cumulative SJSU GPA at time of admission.

Graduate Standing Requirements

Requirements for program continuation and advancement to candidacy in the graduate program, include:

Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students in the first four years of the program who do not maintain these standards will be removed from the SAGE Scholars program and returned to the non-SAGE BS in Nutritional Science program. In that event, students in the dietetics concentration will be eligible for the Nutrition and Dietetic Technician Registered (NDTR) credential.
Students may apply for the master’s program at that point like any other non-SAGE Scholars applicant.
Students are converted to graduate status when they have completed 120 SAGE program-applicable units. The following University Requirements are satisfied with required courses in the major: GE Area 5 and GE UD Area 4. Alternate courses that may satisfy these requirements are not counted in the calculation of the 120 SAGE program-applicable units.
Completed all lower-division work (designated 1-99, including lower-division general education courses and American Institutions courses.

Culminating Experience

Plan A (Thesis)

For this plan, the student is required to complete 6 units of NUFS 299 . The student is required to complete a research project under advisement of a Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging faculty. The research must result in the generation of a thesis that meets the University Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines. The student must pass an oral examination defending the research to a departmental faculty committee. The student must prepare an oral presentation or poster presentation for the public.

Plan B (Project)

For this plan, the student is required to complete 3 units of NUFS 298 and submit a written project in publication format. The student must pass an oral examination defending the research to a departmental faculty committee. The student must prepare an oral presentation or poster presentation for the public, community partner, or industry.

Plan B (Comprehensive Exam)

For this plan, the student is required to complete 3 units of NUFS 298 . All graduate students opting for the courses-only option must pass the Comprehensive Exam (given once a semester) to earn the MS in Nutritional Science degree. The Comprehensive Exam is the student’s opportunity to demonstrate mastery and integration of the knowledge and skills of the MS in Nutritional Science curriculum. The comprehensive exam is an oral and a written exam administered on campus.

Program Requirements (144 units)

Nutritional Science, Dietetics Concentration (114 units)

Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment, and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Note Abbreviations ).

University Requirements (23 units)

The Lower and Upper Division General Education requirements may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. To satisfy the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) , students must pass NUFS 100W or PH 100W with a grade of “C” or better (“C-” not accepted).

GE Areas 1, 3, 4/American Institutions (US123), 6 (21 units)
Physical Education (2 units)

Major Preparation (22 units)

BIOL 66 - Human Physiology 5 unit(s) (GE Area 5B and 5C / Formerly Area B2 and B3)
CHEM 1A - General Chemistry 5 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
CHEM 30B - Introductory Chemistry 3 unit(s)
NUFS 100W - Writing Workshop 3 unit(s) (WID)
PSYC 1 - Introduction to Psychology 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D)

Complete one course:

(UNVS 15 may be used in lieu of the statistics course required by this major.)

STAT 95 - Elementary Statistics 3 unit(s) (GE Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
PH 67 - Introductory Health Statistics 3 unit(s) (GE Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)

Major Requirements (66 units)

Major Core (40 units)

NUFS 8 - Nutrition for the Health Professions 3 unit(s)
NUFS 20 - Sanitation and Environmental Issues in the Hospitality Industry 2 unit(s)
NUFS 21 - Culinary Principles and Practice 3 unit(s)
NUFS 31 - Professionalism in Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging 1 unit(s)
NUFS 101A - Food Science 4 unit(s)
NUFS 103 - Food Processing and Packaging I 2 unit(s)
NUFS 106A - Human Nutrition in the Life Span 3 unit(s)
NUFS 106B - Research Methodology in Nutrition and Food Science 3 unit(s)
NUFS 111 - Foodservice Production Management 3 unit(s)
NUFS 134 - Multicultural Complementary and Alternative Medicine 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 4 / Formerly Area S)
NUFS 139 - Hunger and Environmental Nutrition 3 unit(s)
NUFS 144 - Food Culture: Consuming Passions 3 unit(s)
NUFS 151 - Food Microbiology 2 unit(s)
NUFS 192 - Field Experience in Nutrition and Food Science and Packaging Technology 1-6 unit(s)
PKG 107 - Principles of Packaging 3 unit(s)

Dietetics Concentration (26 units)

NUFS 108A - Nutrition and Metabolism 3 unit(s)
NUFS 110B - Medical Nutrition Therapy 3 unit(s)
NUFS 113 - Foodservice Systems: Mgmt & Proc 3 unit(s)
NUFS 114A - Community Nutrition for Majors 3 unit(s)
NUFS 190 - Nutrition Education and Counseling 3 unit(s)
Complete 11 units (or by Advisement): 3 unit(s)
- NUFS 22 - Catering and Beverage Management 2 unit(s)
- NUFS 103L - Food Processing Laboratory 1 unit(s)
- NUFS 104A - Cultural Aspects of Food 3 unit(s)
- NUFS 105 - Current Issues in Nutrition 3 unit(s)
- NUFS 116 - Aging and Nutrition 3 unit(s)
- NUFS 123 - Nutrition for Sport 3 unit(s)
- NUFS 124 - Disordered Eating and Nutrition Therapy 3 unit(s)
- NUFS 180 - Individual Studies 1-6 unit(s)
- NUFS 194 - Entrepreneurial Nutrition 1 unit(s)
- SPAN 1A - Elementary Spanish 4 unit(s) (GE Area 3B / Formerly Area C2) OR SPAN 4A - Basic Spanish I 4 unit(s) (or by advisement)

University Electives (3 units)

Nutritional Science, MS (30 units)

Core Courses (15 units)

NUFS 201 - Colloquium in Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging 3 unit(s)
NUFS 217 - Issues in Nutrition, Food and Packaging 3 unit(s) (GWAR)
NUFS 257 - Biostatistics in Research 3 unit(s)
NUFS 295A - Research Methodology 3 unit(s)
Complete one course (3 units):
NUFS 219A - Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism 3 unit(s)
NUFS 219B - Seminar in Advanced Topics in Human Nutrition & Dietetics 3 unit(s)
NUFS 220A - Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy 3 unit(s)
NUFS 242 - Advanced Foodservice/Restaurant Management 3 unit(s)
NUFS 243 - Nutrition and Dietetics Leadership 3 unit(s)
NUFS 260 - Multidisciplinary Health Promotion in Later Life 3 unit(s)

Specialization Area (9-12 units)

Complete two courses (6 units). These six units are shared between the undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.
- NUFS 109 Advanced Nutrition 3 unit(s)
- NUFS 110A Medical Nutrition Therapy 3 unit(s)
Complete 3-6 units of electives selected in consultation with the graduate coordinator.
[Note: Students choosing Culminating Experience Plan A (Thesis) will complete 3 units of electives. Students choosing Culminating Experience Plan B (Project or Comprehensive Exam) will complete 6 units of electives.]

Culminating Experience (3-6 units)

Program departments are required to certify when Plan A or Plan B has been completed satisfactorily via the Verification of Culminating Experience form.

Complete One Option:

Plan A (Thesis) (6 units)
- NUFS 299 Master’s Thesis 1-6 unit(s)
Plan B (Project) (3 units)
- NUFS 298 Special Studies in Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging 1-6 unit(s) (3 units required)
- An additional 3-unit elective selected in consultation with the graduate advisor 3 unit(s)
Plan B (Comprehensive Exam) (3 units)
- NUFS 298 Special Studies in Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging 1-6 unit(s) (3 units required)
- An additional 3-unit elective selected in consultation with the graduate advisor 3 unit(s)

Total Units Required (144 units)

Note: The standalone Nutritional Science, MS program requires 3-6 units of courses in a Specialization Area. Students satisfy this requirement in this SAGE Scholars Program by completing 6 units from NUFS 109 and NUFS 110A in the Nutritional Science, Dietetics Concentration, BS program. These 6 units are considered to count toward both the graduate and undergraduate degrees, thus allowing SAGE students to meet the minimum unit requirements for both degrees.

Documentation of a minimum of 450 hours of dietetics work/volunteer experience is required before applying for the Dietetic Internship. These hours must be completed before the application semester.

NUFS 220A - Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy is a required course for SAGE students in the Dietetics concentration who will be planning for the SJSU Dietetic Internship.

To support student success, the SAGE program allows for extended enrollment to accommodate unforeseen circumstances or personal commitments. Students have the option to add an additional semester to ensure they complete all program requirements.