MS in Exercise and Sports Nutrition

• In the thesis option, you will complete a thesis with an oral defense and take less semester credit hours.
• The coursework-only option allows you to take more semester credit hours in replacement of completing a thesis and oral defense.

Learn more about program requirements for each option below.

With advisor approval, you can earn your IOC certification while enrolled in the MS in Exercise and Sports Nutrition program.

The IOC certification option requires 30 semester credit hours.

Already have your IOC certification?

If you already have your IOC certification, you can transfer up to 12 graduate semester credit hours into an MS in Exercise and Sports Nutrition degree.

Texas Woman's Nutrition and Food Sciences offers this highly competitive year-long internship focusing on medical nutrition therapy for students in the MS in Nutrition and MS in Exercise and Sports Nutrition programs. The program affiliates with more than 50 prestigious internship sites in the Denton/DFW Metroplex and greater Houston area.

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.

Available on TWU's Denton and Houston campuses.

Learn more about the Dietetic Internship Master’s Degree Program Guide.

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

• Examining the effect of berries on bone health and prevention of osteoporosis
• Evaluating the impact of various protein sources on muscle growth and recovery
• Examining the effect of different exercise and nutrition strategies to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes
• Evaluating the effect of dietary fats on neurological behavior and neuroinflammation
• Examining the use of nutritional supplements/ergogenic aids to maximize athletic performance and recovery

Community nutrition options include the development of community education programs and evaluation and design or outreach opportunities. 

In this program option, you will complete a total of 34 semester credit hours broken down into:

• 28 credit hours of required coursework
• Six credit hours of thesis coursework
• Complete a final oral examination (thesis defense)

A full list of courses and requirements are available in the course catalog.

In this program option, you will complete a total of 43 semester credit hours broken down into:

• 21 credit hours of required coursework
• 17 credit hours of electives
• Two credit hours of a capstone seminar

A full list of courses and requirements are available in the course catalog.

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)
• Preferred minimum GRE score of 143 verbal and 141 quantitative; GMAT 330 total or verbal score of 21 and quantitative score or 17; or MCAT total score of 500-507 (125-126 critical analysis/reading; biological and biochemical foundations of living systems: 125-126. 
• 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

1. Apply for admission to the TWU Graduate School.
2. Take the GRE General Test and submit your GRE scores to TWU (or alternate test identified above.)