MS in ESN - Denton Campus
Graduate in as little as 2 years | 34-40 credit hours | Flexible course and practicum locations
Why earn your MS in ESN at TWU’s Denton program?
Thesis or coursework only options
Flexibility to complete the MS in Exercise and Sports Nutrition your way by choosing thesis or coursework-only option.
Thesis option: 28 credit hours of required coursework, six credit hours of thesis coursework and a final oral exam (thesis defense).
Coursework-only option: 23 credit hours of required coursework and 17 credit hours of additional coursework.
Practicum rotation opportunities
Gain practical experience through working with athletes in intercollegiate and professional teams, local school districts, as well as in hospitals, private practice RDNs and corporate wellness centers.
As part of the Exercise and Sports Nutrition degree requirement, all students participate in and complete 3 semester credit hours of structured, supervised practical experiences, potentially including both on and off-campus experiences. A minimum of 45 clock hours of supervised practice is required for each semester's credit hour.
Recent or upcoming practicum rotation sites may include:
- EXOS
- TWU Athletics
- University of North Texas Athletics
- Nutriworks (Eve Pearson, RDN)
- Texas Health Resources Sports Medicine
- Absolute Recomp
Dietetic internship opportunity
TWU's Denton campus ESN program offers a highly competitive year-long internship focusing on medical nutrition therapy for students. The program affiliates with more than 50 prestigious internship sites in the Denton/DFW Metroplex.
The dietetic internship/master's program prepares you to become an RDN ONLY if you already have a nutrition-related bachelor’s degree. If you do not have a nutrition-related bachelor's degree and want to be an RDN, we recommended completing our BS in Nutrition (Dietetics) program first before pursuing the dietetic internship/master's program.
Learn more about the Dietetic Internship Master’s Degree Program Guide.
Conduct research with TWU faculty
At TWU, you have the opportunity to participate in research with faculty in any of the on-campus laboratories. Research opportunities related to exercise and sports nutrition include:
- Examining the effects of walnut butter on improving satiety and body composition in overweight and obese adolescents engaged in a weight management program
- Evaluating the effects of mango feeding in exhaustive exercise on immune response in healthy non-active young adults
- Assessing the impact of short term consumption of watermelon-rind blended product with exercise testing on inflammatory and vascular (microRNA) biomarkers
- Analyzing the impact of plant, animal and bacterial-based protein sources on muscle growth and recovery
- Evaluating the effect of different dietary proteins and lipids on blood glucose and insulin action in diabetes
- Exploring the effect of different dietary proteins on sex hormones and parameters associated with reproduction
- Evaluating the impact of specific vegetables on weight regulation and satiety in obesity
- Developing alternative ergogenic products to be consumed during and following exercise
- Exploring the nutritional health and wellbeing of Firefighters and other First Responders
- Developing treatment modalities to reduce the symptoms and consequences of PTSD
"TWU was supportive of the research I wanted to do. Taking advantage of TWU’s strong research background was the greatest asset for my career. Now I'm using that research, applying it in the real world and taking new products up Mt. Everest."
Denton Research Faculty
Career Opportunities
TWU's ESN program prepares you to work as a sports nutritionist or wellness coach in a variety of settings. Opportunities include working in:
- Professional and amateur sports teams or collegiate athletics
- Hospitals, clinics or rehabilitation centers
- Government agencies or public schools
- Private practice
Courses & Curriculum at TWU
The MS in ESN program core courses focus on nutrition, exercise physiology, sports nutrition and research methods. Internship and practicum requirements provide hands-on skills and training in clinical and laboratory settings.
Admission to the M.S. in Exercise and Sports Nutrition
Program Contact
Shane Broughton, PhD, (ESN Denton)
Chair & Professor
OMB 307
kbroughton@twu.edu
940-898-2637
Wesley Tucker, PhD, (ESN Houston)
Assistant Professor
713-794-2379
WTucker1@twu.edu
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 and Nutrition through the Lifecycle (6-9 hours)
- GRE is not required.
- 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.
How to Apply
- Apply for admission to the TWU Graduate School.
Scholarships and Financial Aid for MS in ESN students
In addition to university-wide types of financial aid, there are also scholarships specifically for the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences.
- Doris McCarter Brownell Endowed Scholarship (Nutrition)
- Claudia G Williams Scholarship (Nutrition)
- Elora Watkins Dale Endowed Scholarships in Nutrition & Food Sciences (Nutrition)
- Mary Anne Carter Duke Ebert Endowed Scholarship (Nutrition)
- Nutrition Department - Departmental Scholarship
- Ima Jean Boenker Scholars Award
Explore the full list of available scholarships for graduate ESN students through the TWU Pioneer Scholarship System.
Request Info about our MS in Exercise and Sports Nutrition Denton campus
Page last updated 8:36 AM, January 19, 2023