Learn more about the Master of Public Health in Nutrition.
About the Program
The Master of Public Health in Nutrition, offered by the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, is a terminal professional dietetics degree. The program prepares future public health dietitians to identify and assess population needs; plan, implement and evaluate programs to address those needs; and ensure the needs of diverse populations are met to improve their overall health status, particularly their nutritional/dietary needs. The MPH in Nutrition program has a strong focus on addressing the environmental, social and cultural factors related to individual and population nutrition and associated health disparities over the life course. Our graduates will serve individuals and communities promoting and sustaining healthy lives.
The MPH in Nutrition is a full-time, 21-month on-campus program. While some courses may be offered online or in hybrid formats, most of the coursework is delivered in person over 16-week academic terms. Throughout the program of study, students engage in guaranteed placements at our clinical, foodservice and public health supervised experiential learning sites.
For more information about the on-campus MPH in Nutrition program, please contact the CPH Office of Admissions at cph@temple.edu or 215-204-5200.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 2 years and 8 months (150% of planned program length)
Campus Location: Main, with some instruction online
Full-Time/Part-Time Status: Full-time study is required.
Affiliation(s): The MPH in Nutrition maintains dozens of affiliation agreements with community partners in clinical, foodservice and public health nutrition. The program has long-standing research and fieldwork affiliations with The Food Trust; Fox Chase Cancer Center; Health Federation of Philadelphia; NORTH, INC.; Philadelphia Department of Public Health; School District of Philadelphia; and many other community health agencies. These partnerships allow us to offer students a wide range of fieldwork opportunities to translate skills learned in the classroom to actual practice in the community.
The MPH in Nutrition program director and clinical coordinator assist students in finding appropriate placements throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.
Accreditation: The MPH in Nutrition program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Achieving accreditation in 1985, Temple's MPH program is a well-established accredited MPH program in community health.
Areas of Specialization: The MPH degree program is offered in six specialty fields of study:
- Applied Biostatistics (APBIO)
- Environmental Health (EH)
- Epidemiology (EPI)
- Health Policy and Management (HPM)
- Nutrition (NUTR)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS)
Job Prospects: Graduates with an MPH in Nutrition degree have a multitude of job options working in clinical, foodservice or public health nutrition settings. Clinical dietitians work with other health professionals treating individuals in hospitals and outpatient clinics. Foodservice dietitians work in hospitals, school foodservice, restaurants and food stores, such as supermarkets and convenience stores, selling fresh food and overseeing the large-scale production of food. Public health dietitians work in a wide range of nutrition settings, including emergency food, food delivery, nutrition education and school foods programs. Additionally, as an MPH graduate, students have a variety of job opportunities open to them within the whole of public health.
Licensure/Certification: Graduates are eligible to take the exam offered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Students who complete the MPH in Nutrition at Temple University may also be eligible to sit for the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam offered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners and the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) exam offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC). For more information about credentialing in public health, visit https://www.nchec.org/.
Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Non-matriculated students are required to speak with an advisor before registering for classes and to obtain the permission of the course instructor. If accepted to the program, a maximum of three courses (9 credits) may be applied toward the degree program. Exceptions to this policy relate to formal certificate programs.
Financing Opportunities: Limited Teaching and Research Assistantships are available in the College of Public Health and are assigned on a competitive basis among students who academically excel. The Graduate School website details the types of graduate student support. Assistantships are awarded on a term or annual basis. Students whose Fall applications are complete prior to the application deadline are eligible for a Teaching Assistant (TA) position. TAs are required to work 20 hours per week in any combination of teaching assignments made by the department and must meet the English Language Proficiency standards set by the University and the College. Students who hold Teaching or Research Assistantships are not permitted to hold other employment without the written prior approval of their advisor, the Director of Graduate Programs, and the Graduate School. To be considered for a Teaching or Research Assistantship, students must complete an application form that is sent to them upon admission to the MPH program.
The College of Public Health awards a limited number of partial scholarships on a competitive basis to students with an outstanding academic record. No separate application is needed for these awards as outstanding applicants are automatically considered following submission of their application. Other available scholarships are listed at https://cph.temple.edu/admissions/scholarships. Students may also be eligible for financial support through the Office of Student Financial Services. For more information on assistantships, scholarships and financial aid, please contact the CPH Office of Admissions at cph@temple.edu or 215-204-5200.
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: April 15
All applicants to the MPH program must apply via the Centralized Application Service for Public Health (SOPHAS). The system can be accessed at https://sophas.liaisoncas.com/.
Applicants should check their application status on the SOPHAS portal often and inquire directly of SOPHAS about receipt of materials. For other questions, please contact the CPH Office of Admissions at cph@temple.edu or 215-204-5200.
Deposit Deadline for Admitted Applicants:
Fall: Within 3 weeks of receiving admissions decision
Applicants who are accepted to the program must pay a $500 deposit to secure their enrollment in the MPH in Nutrition program. For questions about the deposit and payment process or to request an extension, please contact the CPH Office of Admissions at cph@temple.edu or 215-204-5200.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 3
From Whom: Letters of recommendation, which are completed electronically through the SOPHAS system, should be obtained from college/university faculty members familiar with the applicant’s academic background and achievements. Applicants who have been out of school for an extended period of time should ensure that letters are provided by supervising employers or professional colleagues who can discuss their relevant academic skills, including critical thinking, research and writing.
Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: Applicants' files are reviewed for undergraduate coursework in mathematics and/or statistics, social sciences and writing. Applicants who completed prior graduate coursework or earned a graduate degree are expected to submit documentation for consideration in the application review process.
To be eligible for acceptance into the MPH in Nutrition program, applicants are required to have completed:
- Anatomy and Physiology (3 credits)
- Biochemistry (3 credits)
- Biology (6 credits)
- Chemistry (6 credits)
- Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
- At least one introductory Nutrition course (3 credits)
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of an accredited baccalaureate degree. The minimum acceptable undergraduate GPA is 3.0.
Statement of Goals: As part of your application, address the following questions in 1,000 words or less:
- Why are you pursuing admission to the MPH in Nutrition program?
- What are your particular areas of interest in public health nutrition?
- What academic or professional experiences demonstrate your commitment to public health nutrition?
- What exceptional circumstances related to your previous academic performance would you like the Admissions Committee to note?
Standardized Test Scores:
Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:
- TOEFL iBT: 79 (send officially to SOPHAS using the SOPHAS-specific TOEFL code 5688)
- IELTS Academic: 6.5
- PTE Academic: 53
- Duolingo: 110
Resume: Current resume or CV required.
Laptop: All incoming students in the College of Public Health are required to have a laptop. Academic programs in the college are technology intensive. They incorporate statistical and database analyses; utilize specialized tools for athletic training, kinesiology and physical therapy; stream audio and video for communication sciences; facilitate online interactive counseling for social work; and foster clinical experiences and online assessments. The laptop requirement enables the College of Public Health to improve opportunities for active learning and provide greater access to specialized software and required tools in and out of the classroom, better preparing students for the workforce. Learn more about device specifications and suggested vendors. Students can use excess financial aid (i.e., funds that are reimbursed after all tuition and fees are paid) to meet student needs, including the purchase of a laptop. Scholarships may also provide funding.
Transfer Credit: Graduate credits from an MPH program accredited by CEPH may be transferred into the MPH in Nutrition program. The credits must be equivalent to coursework offered at Temple, and the grade must be a "B" or better in order to transfer. The Director of Graduate Studies approves the transfer of credits based on a review of course materials provided by the student. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 9.
Clearances: The MPH in Nutrition program requires students to complete fieldwork education. As part of the MPH program, the fieldwork sites determine students’ required clearances, including criminal background check and FBI fingerprinting. The results of these clearances determine whether a student may be onboarded at a respective site.
Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 48
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| College Core Course | ||
| HRPR 5001 | Current and Emerging Issues in Public Health and Health Professions | 0 |
| Public Health Core Courses | ||
| ENVH 5004 | Environmental Health | 1.5 |
| EPBI 5006 | Biostatistics and Applied Analysis of Health | 4.5 |
| EPBI 5101 | Fundamentals of Epidemiology | 3 |
| HPM 5006 | Political and Economic Aspects of Health | 3 |
| SBS 5001 | Fundamentals of Public Health | 3 |
| SBS 5002 | Program Planning, Theory, and Practice | 3 |
| Nutrition Courses | ||
| NUTR 5015 | Nutrition Education and Counseling | 3 |
| NUTR 5035 | Nutritional Biochemistry | 3 |
| NUTR 5087 | Food Preparation and Management I | 1.5 |
| NUTR 5387 | Dietetics Experiential Learning | 3 |
| NUTR 5525 | Food Preparation and Management II | 1.5 |
| NUTR 5535 | Medical Nutrition Therapy | 3 |
| NUTR 5815 | Cultural and Community Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 5835 | Nutrition Through the Lifecycle | 3 |
| SBS 5015 | Public Health Nutrition | 3 |
| MPH Fieldwork Experience | ||
| NUTR 9289 | MPH Fieldwork I | 3 |
| NUTR 9389 | MPH Fieldwork II | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 48 | |
Proposed Plan of Study Outlined by Year and Term
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| EPBI 5101 | Fundamentals of Epidemiology | 3 |
| HRPR 5001 | Current and Emerging Issues in Public Health and Health Professions | 0 |
| NUTR 5035 | Nutritional Biochemistry | 3 |
| SBS 5001 | Fundamentals of Public Health | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| EPBI 5006 | Biostatistics and Applied Analysis of Health | 4.5 |
| NUTR 5015 | Nutrition Education and Counseling | 3 |
| NUTR 5087 | Food Preparation and Management I | 1.5 |
| SBS 5015 | Public Health Nutrition | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Summer I | ||
| HPM 5006 | Political and Economic Aspects of Health | 3 |
| SBS 5002 | Program Planning, Theory, and Practice | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Summer II | ||
| NUTR 9289 | MPH Fieldwork I | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Fall | ||
| ENVH 5004 | Environmental Health | 1.5 |
| NUTR 5525 | Food Preparation and Management II | 1.5 |
| NUTR 5535 | Medical Nutrition Therapy | 3 |
| NUTR 9389 | MPH Fieldwork II | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| NUTR 5387 | Dietetics Experiential Learning | 3 |
| NUTR 5815 | Cultural and Community Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 5835 | Nutrition Through the Lifecycle | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 48 | |
Minimum Grade to be Earned for All Required Courses: B-
Culminating Events:
Supervised Experiential Learning:
Students have the opportunity to synthesize and integrate the knowledge and skills acquired in coursework through Supervised Experiential Learning (SEL) that includes 280 hours in clinical, 140 hours in foodservice and 500 hours in public health settings. SEL counts toward the hours required by ACEND and CEPH, the accrediting bodies for dietetics and public health.
During the clinical and foodservice SEL, students develop skills and judgment needed by practicing RDNs. During the public health SEL, students have a rich public health experience, taking a deep dive into the population needs and assets, community context, and environmental influences. The public health SEL provides students with the opportunity to develop expertise in a specific area of public health nutrition and to contribute to the public health nutrition body of knowledge.
Evaluative Paper:
As part of the public health SEL, students work with their preceptor and instructor for Fieldwork I and II (SBS 9289 and SBS 9389) to develop a nutrition intervention or program evaluation. This is an exciting opportunity to build on existing knowledge, develop unique public health nutrition skills, and practice as a public health nutritionist.
Contacts
Program Web Address:
https://www.temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/nutrition-mph-hp-nutr-mph
Department Information:
Dept. of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Ritter Hall Annex, 9th Floor (004-09)
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6005
215-204-8726