Program Schedule and Requirements
Program Overview
Students will demonstrate competencies according to both the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics Graduate Programs (GP) (7 domains/37 competencies) and the Council on Education for Public Health (8 domains/22 competencies).
Upon completion of the MPH: ND, including all program requirements listed in the Program of Study, graduates will receive an MPH degree and a verification statement to establish eligibility to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians. The program ensures that all students who complete the program meet the requirements to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), including education and supervised experiential learning, and are eligible and prepared for the Registration Examination for Dietitians and Tennessee state certification/licensure.
No GRE Required
Application Process
Applicants to the MPH: Nutrition and Dietetics program must:
Step 1: Meet UTC Graduate School’s admission requirements, including a baccalaureate degree completed before the start of graduate coursework.
Step 2: Meet MPH: Nutrition and Dietetics program Application and Admission Requirements listed below. In the application, you will be asked to confirm that you have or will have completed prerequisite courses prior to the start of the program.
Step 3: Prepare application materials including:
- Personal Statement
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Applicants will be asked a series of questions in the essay section of the application, please be prepared to:
- Explain what public health means to you and why you are interested in pursuing a career in public health. We encourage you to include meaningful experiences that inspired you to pursue a career in public health.
- Share what draws you to the UTC MPH program in Nutrition and Dietetics and how our program fits with your career plan.
It is recommended that the statement should be typed prior to uploading it into the application system and should not be heavily formatted. During the online application process, you will be asked to copy and paste your responses to text boxes in the application. Please note that responses cannot exceed 750 words per question. Your statement will be evaluated in terms of writing quality, evidence of your general knowledge and experience in public health, and potential for success in our program.
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)
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Prospective students will also be asked to upload a current resume or CV as part of the online application process. There are no specific formatting requirements other than to adhere to general standards and provide the most current information about past research and work experiences, class- and community-based projects, as well as any other health-related experiences that make you a strong candidate for our MPH program.
- References
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Applicants must provide contact information for three professional references through the online admissions platform. Please ensure that you select professional reference in the drop-down menu for all three. All recommendations should be from people who know the applicant well enough to comment frankly on their ability to complete a master's level program of study. At least one of the professional references should be from a college professor who has observed the applicant's performance in a college-level course and/or research environment.
Please note that it is good practice to communicate with each of your references before you begin the application process. As soon as you enter their information into the online application, they will receive a request to submit their recommendation directly through the system. Applicants should follow-up with their references to ensure that the recommendations have been submitted in a timely fashion. An applicant's file is not considered complete and will not be acted upon until all three recommendations are received.
Step 4: Submit a Graduate application through the UTC application portal. This will include a payment of $35 non-refundable application fee for domestic applicants or $40 for international applicants.
Step 5: Request and submit Official Transcripts from every college attended.
Checking Your Application
If you have any questions about the MPH program application, please contact the MPH Program Manager at [email protected]. You can check the completion status of your application through the online application system. If you need more detail or have questions about any element to the UTC graduate school application, please contact Jessica Dickerson.
For international applicants, please contact Lora Cook.
Academic and Program Schedule
The program schedule includes:
- Fall-Semester I
- Spring-Semester II
- Fall-Semester III
- Spring-Semester IV
The program follows the UTC Graduate School calendar and exam schedule. Any student who plans to complete supervised experiential learning hours with a preceptor at a site that is open during a university holiday must notify the Supervised Experiential Learning Coordinator or Program Director at least 14 business days prior to the university holiday. It is the responsibility of the student to make an emergency contact plan with the preceptor and the program faculty/staff.
MPH Nutrition and Dietetics Program of Study
Application and Admission Requirements
In addition to the application and admission requirements associated with the UTC Graduate School and MPH Program, as described on the UTC Graduate School and MPH websites, students must meet the following MPH ND additional admission requirements:
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited 4-year institution with a 3.0 GPA or better.
- The following prerequisite courses need to be at the baccalaureate level or higher with a minimum grade of B (3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale) and must be completed prior to enrollment:
- Human Nutrition
- Life Cycle Nutrition
- General Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Anatomy and Physiology with Lab*
*Depending on the institution where the course is completed, this may be two separate and distinct courses; a series of Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 courses; or one course. Students should complete the course(s) with a lab that includes the structure and function of the whole human body.
Students who have not completed all pre-requisites may still be considered for program admission; however, the program may request proof of enrollment or completion of a course prior to admission. The program may also request additional requirements during the application review process.
Graduation and Program Completion Requirements
The maximum amount of time to complete the program requirements is six calendar years from the time the student enrolls in his/her first course. See “Time Limit of Program of Study” in Graduate School Academic Policies.
In addition to the graduation and program completion requirements associated with the UTC Graduate School and MPH Program, as described on the UTC Graduate School and MPH websites, MPH: ND includes the following additional graduation and program completion requirements:
- No grade lower than a C in any course listed in the Program of Study
- A minimum of 1000 Supervised Experiential Learning (SEL) Hours
Verification Statement Requirements
The program disseminates Verification Statements in accordance with ACEND policies. The program graduates are provided Verification Statements, which will be issued when the student has completed the MPH: ND Program requirements (didactic and supervised experiential learning) and the registrar has cleared the student for graduation, which indicates that all graduate degree requirements have been completed.
Distance Education
The MPH: Nutrition and Dietetics coursework is a combination of online and hybrid/blended courses and cannot be completed entirely online. Supervised Experiential Learning (SEL) hours are assigned to students by the program’s faculty and SEL Coordinator and are located <100 miles from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in nutrition and public health related organizations with qualified preceptors. Remote (>100 miles) and student identified SELs are not available.
UTC IT
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Activate Your UTC Account, Duo, MyMocsNet, MocsMail+, Canvas, UTC Alerts, Prepare Your Computer Equipment, Access Software and Zoom
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