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Master of Science in Nutrition and Wellness (M.S.N.W.)
Introduction
Program Home Page
In our dynamic health care environment it is essential for health practitioners to develop skills for fostering improved health outcomes. The Master of Science in Nutrition and Wellness (M.S.N.W.) program at Benedictine University provides a powerful foundation in nutrition and health risk assessment, motivation, intervention, and evaluation. The M.S.N.W. degree serves as a portal to careers in health promotion and risk reduction, therapeutic intervention and community education.
Students become broadly educated in the core discipline of nutrition and wellness, and may concentrate in one of several areas that reflect the current needs of the profession as well as emerging trends. Learning at Benedictine University combines instructional expertise with individual initiative, creativity, research and field experience so that the adult learner will find the educational experience a stepping stone to professional success.
Overview
Benedictine University's Master of Science in Nutrition and Wellness (M.S.N.W.) prepares students to become vital ingredients in community-based nutrition and wellness programs. Through this program, students gain the essential skills to provide health promotion services to diverse populations across the lifespan.
Designed for those who want to help others and make a positive difference in their communities, the M.S.N.W. program develops one's skills to educate and counsel people on preventative and therapeutic concerns. The research component is applied, fostering development of skills in evaluating the outcomes of a health education assessment or intervention (possibly within one's own work setting) or conducting community-based research.
This program is unique in that it is a life science-based health promotion program. The program provides the opportunity for students to select a concentration in nutrition (Sports Nutrition or Dietetic Internship) or from the complementary fields of Health Education or Exercise Physiology.
- The Dietetic Internship Concentration provides the practice-based knowledge and experience for practice as a registered dietitian. This Dietetic Internship program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of The American Dietetic Association (ADA), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995, 312/899-0400.
- The sports nutrition concentration was developed using the content outline for Board Certification as a Specialist in Sports Dietetics. More information about Certification by CDR is posted at: http://www.cdrnet.org/whatsnew/Sports.htm.
- With appropriate course selection, students would be eligible for certification by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as a Health/Fitness Instructor or Exercise Specialist, or by National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) as a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).
In addition to professional preparation, the program also provides an excellent educational background for those who wish to pursue further study at the doctorate level.
Quality instruction, whether core faculty or adjunct faculty drawn from experienced professionals in the field, is central to the Benedictine University M.S.N.W. program. Courses are offered at convenient times; either one night a week or on successive weekend days so that a student's professional life can continue.
The admission process for the degree program is conducted throughout the year. Students who wish to test their suitability for graduate work may start, as students-at-large, without formal admission and may take up to 16 credits before being accepted for degree candidacy. Acceptance into the Dietetic Internship concentration is by separate application at times designated by the CADE of the ADA.
Students may begin their program in any of the four quarter terms; however, summer or fall terms are best. Students may begin with the traditional core course sequence or may move directly into their areas of concentration. Students accepted into the Dietetic Internship program attend the program full-time beginning each the fall.
Curriculum
Students take an active role in their own learning process through shaping their curriculum. The M.S.N.W. program requires 58 quarter hours(approximately 39 semester hours)of graduate coursework, which consists of:
- 34 quarter hours of required Nutrition Core
- 24 quarter hours of coursework in a concentration: Dietetic Internship; Exercise Physiology; Health Education; or Sports Nutrition.
Nutrition and Wellness Core (34 quarter hours)
NTR 614 (4) Advanced Human Nutrition
NTR 621 (4) Obesity: Theory and Practice Applications
NTR 625 (4) Complementary and Alternative Nutrition
NTR 629 (4) Nutrition and Health Research Planning
NTR 633 (2) Instructional Design
NTR 684 (4) Program Development and Administration
MPH 604 (4) Epidemiology
NTR 694 (4) Applied Nutrition Data Analyses
NTR 697 (2) Nutrition Research I
NTR 698 (2) Nutrition Research II
Faculty
Catherine Arnold, Ed.D., M.S., R.D., L.D.N.
Professor and Department Chairperson of Nutrition
B.S., 1984, Benedictine University; M.S., 1985, Rush University; Ed.D., 2006, Northern Illinois University
Julie Davis, M.S., R.D., L.D.N.
Associate Faculty, Nutrition
B.S., 1984, Eastern Illinois University; M.S., 1985, Rush University
Deepa Handu, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.N.
Assistant Professor, Nutrition, MSNW Program Director
B.S., 1995, M.S., 1997, Maharaja Sayajirao University, India; Ph.D., 2005, Michigan State University
Julie Moreschi, M.S., R.D., L.D.N.
Associate Faculty, Nutrition, Dietetic Internship Director
B.S., 1983, Bradley University; M.S., 1985, Rush University
Craig Broeder, Ph.D., F.A.C.S.M., FNAASO
Professor and Director, Clinical Exercise Physiology Program
B.A. 1983, M.S., 1985, University of North Texas; Ph.D., 1991, University of Texas at Austin
Alan Gorr, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Professor and Director of Public Health; Dean of College of Education and Health Services
B.A., 1964, University of Iowa; M.A., 1967, University of Toronto; M.P.H., 1976, University of Illinois; Ph.D., 1971, University of Iowa
Georgeen Polyak, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor, Public Health
B.A., University; M.S., 1973, Northern Illinois University; M.S. 1989, University of St. Francis; Ph.D., 1995, University of Illinois
Theodore Hogan, Ph.D., C.I.W.
Instructor, Public Health
B.A., 1978, Loyola University; M.S., 1980, Ph.D., 1982, University of Illinois
Starting the Program
Prerequisite Degree and Courses:
Applicants must have a bachelor degree in a life science (e.g., biology, nutrition or dietetics, nursing, health, exercise physiology) or physical science (e.g., chemistry, biochemistry).
Prerequisite courses for this master degree include undergraduate (or graduate) courses in each of the following: physiology, biochemistry, statistics, basic nutrition, and advanced nutrition. Recommended is a basic course in research principles. Applicants may be admitted on a conditional status if they have up to two required course prerequisites outstanding. Prerequisite courses may be taken at Benedictine University.
Concentrations
Sports Nutrition (24)
MPH 601 (4) Behavioral and Social Aspects of Public Health
NTR 519 (2) Sports Nutrition for Health
NTR 530 (4) Science of Sports Nutrition
NTR 631 (2) Nutrition for Elite Athletes
NTR 632 (2) Counseling for Disordered Eating in Sports
NTR 521 (2) Fitness Testing Lab
NTR (8) electives
Dietetic Internship (24)
NTR 595 (2) Nutrition Counseling
NTR 615 (4) MNT Advanced Concepts and Outcome Measurement
NTR 622 (2) Case Studies in Dietetics
NTR 624 (3) Portfolio and Professional Issues
NTR 670 (1) DI Orientation
NTR 671 (2) DI Foodservice
NTR 672 (1) DI WIC
NTR 673 (1) DI ENP
NTR 674 (1) DI Community
NTR 675 (3) DI Clinical
NTR 676 (2) DI LTC/SubAcute
NTR 677 (2) DI Community Education
Exercise Physiology (24)
MPH 601 (4) Behavioral and Social Aspects of Public Health
NTR 519 (2) Sports Nutrition for Health
NTR 521 (2) Fitness Testing Lab
NTR 522 (2) EKG Lab
NTR 619 (3) Laboratory Ethics and Laboratory Procedures
NTR 623 (3) Graded Exercise Testing
NTR 560 (4) Advanced Cardio and Respiratory Physiology
NTR 685 (4) Fitness Internship
Health Education (24)
MPH 601 (4) Behavioral and Social Aspects of Public Health
MPH 607 (4) Community Health Analysis
MPH 609 (4) Cultural Context of Health Care
MPH 634 (2) Professional Health Education Preparation
MPH 664 (4) Marketing of Health Care Services
MPH 688 (4) Community and Risk Communications
NTR 686 (2-4) Health Education Internship
Certificate Programs
Certificate in Sports Nutrition
This 16 quarter hour graduate certificate program is designed for Registered Dietitians who are seeking applied specialty knowledge in sports nutrition. The curricula for the sports nutrition courses was developed using the content outline for Board Certification as a Specialist in Sports Dietetics. Note that certificates do not contribute towards the 1,500 hours of required specialty practice hours for the Board Certification as a Specialist in Sports Dietetics, administered by the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR). This university awarded educational certificate is not the CDR Board Certification.
Sports Nutrition Certificate Courses (16):
NTR 519 (2) Sports Nutrition for Health
NTR 530 (4) Science of Sports Nutrition
NTR 621 (4) Obesity: Theory and Practice Applications
NTR 631 (2) Nutrition for Elite Athletes
NTR 632 (2) Counseling for Disordered Eating in Sports
NTR 521 (2) Fitness Testing Lab
Certificate prerequisites: To be awarded this certificate, the recipient must be a Registered Dietitian (U.S.A. CDR credentialed). The courses have prerequisites of physiology, biochemistry, and advanced nutrition (undergraduate or graduate level). A completed or concurrent enrollment in a master degree is recommended.
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