MS Exercise and Sports Nutrition

Students interested in becoming Registered Dietitian Nutritionists may complete the  MS in Exercise and Sports Nutrition  in conjunction with an ACEND-accredited RDN preparation program at TWU. Program structure and admission requirements vary by campus and pathway. Visit the RDN Preparation Programs page for details.  

At TWU, you have the opportunity to participate in research with faculty in any of the on-campus laboratories. Research possibilities in exercise and sports nutrition include:

• Impact of plant and other compounds on body composition and sport performance
• Evaluation of and implications of exercise and diet on cardiovascular health and aging
• Assessment of nutrition status and cardiorespiratory health of first responders.

• Working with sports teams and athletes (collegiate, high school, professional, Olympic)
• Working with first responders
• Corporate wellness
• Research in sports nutrition
• Academia
• Nutrition consultancy

Salaries in these areas vary widely. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a median annual income of $73,850 per year for dietitians and nutritionists with a much faster than the average growth rate.

he Master of Science in Exercise and Sports Nutrition requires a minimum of 30 semester credit hours. Students may complete the degree through either a thesis or coursework-only option.

Thesis Option
Available in Houston and Denton.

• 13 semester credit hours of required coursework
• 11 semester credit hours of elective coursework in the major
• 6 semester credit hours of thesis coursework
• Total: 30 semester credit hours

Coursework-Only Option
Available in Houston, Denton and fully online.

• 15 semester credit hours of required coursework
• 15 semester credit hours of elective coursework in the major
• Capstone Seminar completed during the final semester
• Total: 30 semester credit hours

Students completing the MS in Exercise and Sports Nutrition in conjunction with an RDN preparation program follow a program-specific degree plan and course sequence that incorporates additional dietetics coursework and supervised experiential learning. The Houston GPND Exercise and Sports Nutrition pathway requires 39 semester credit hours. Refer to the applicable RDN Preparation Program webpage for detailed curriculum and sequencing.

Students enrolled in an external ACEND-accredited dietetics program may be eligible to apply NFS 5853: Competency Development in Dietetics Practice as a 3-semester-credit-hour elective, subject to program approval.

A complete list of degree requirements and courses is available in the TWU Graduate Catalog.

Program Contact

Wen-Hsing Cheng, PhD, (ESN Denton)
Chair & Professor
wcheng1@twu.edu
940-898-3715

Application Deadlines

Fall — June 15*
Spring — October 1*
Summer — April 1*

* Our department has rolling admission for all of our graduate programs, however, to ensure a proper start time, we recommend having your application completed by the dates listed above.

Admission Requirements

• Undergraduate semester credit hour prerequisites, including:
  • Chemistry, including Organic and Biochemistry (9-12 hours)
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology (3-4 hours)
  • Introduction to Nutrition (3 hours)
  • Upper-level Nutrition, Advanced Nutrition, Macronutrients and Micronutrients (6-9 hours)
• Minimum 3.25 GPA on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 undergraduate semester credit hours and all post-baccalaureate and graduate semester credit hours.

Applicants who meet the above criteria with exception of GPA may qualify for provisional admission if they have at least a 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale) on the last 60 undergraduate semester credit hours. If the applicant has previously earned graduate credits from TWU or another regionally accredited graduate program, the first 12 credit hours completed will be considered in lieu of the last 60 undergraduate hours.

Begin by reviewing your program's website to see if there are additional admission requirements and application deadlines prior to applying.  

1. Apply online.
   Apply to Graduate Programs  via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal following instructions below.  
2. Submit transcripts to TWU.
   • Domestic Applicants must submit official transcripts for each college or university attended, both undergraduate and graduate. See the Information on Transcripts website for more details. Original transcripts for each college/university attended must be submitted, even if referred to on another schools transcripts.
   • International Applicants are now required to provide an evaluation prepared by a NACES or AICE member evaluation service. International transcripts should not be sent directly to TWU. See the International Admissions website for more details.
3. Submit Recommendation Requests
   If your program requires you to submit names for recommendations you will need to do it in the application. List of programs-majors.  
4. Pay the application fee.
   The $50 fee ($75 fee for International applicants), which applies to all new and returning applicants, can be paid by:
   1. Credit card - Pay Online through the application as the last step before submitting the application. The second portion of the application will not be available until the application fee has been received.
   2. Fee Waivers - Graduate applicants who are certified McNair Scholars are eligible for a McNair Scholar Application Fee Waiver. TWU Alumni may be eligible for the Alumni Advantage Fee Waiver. Check your eligibility here: https://twu.edu/alumni-advantage/. If eligible submit the request using the Application Fee Waiver Submission
   3. Following fee payment return to the application dashboard where supplemental application documents can be uploaded. The online application will list which documents are needed to fulfill the program admission requirements. You can also check the program's website.
5. Submit Program supplemental documents
   1. Review the specific requirements for your intended program to identify any supplemental materials needed for your application.

Watch for emails from your new program/department that may come to your TWU email address.

For more information or assistance with the application or graduate admissions, visit the Graduate Admissions website.

Students who wish to apply for a Graduate Assistantship must meet the General Criteria for Appointment of Graduate Assistants.