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MS in Nutritional Science

Program Highlights

Data are over a 5-year period for 2012-13 to 2016-17 unless stated otherwise*.

At least 90% or more of students who start the program complete it.

  • Over a 6 year period, 95% of students who started the program completed it*

At least 80% or more of students who apply to dietetic internship (DI) programs, to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), are accepted.

  • Over a 5-year period, 32 students applied to dietetic internship programs and 97% were accepted

At least 90% or more of students completing a DI program pass the national registration examination for RDNs.

  • Over a 5-year period, 100% of students passed the national registration examination for RDNs

At least 80% or more of students applying for doctoral programs are accepted.

  • Over a 5-year period only 2 students applied to PhD program and both were accepted. Students are attending Purdue University and University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

At least 75% or more of students secure nutrition-related employment in healthcare, state or federally funded programs, industry, or education.

  • Over a 5-year period, 43 students graduated. Two are in PhD programs, 33 are registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) or are currently or soon to be enrolled in dietetic internship programs. One is a dietitian in a foreign country, one is a WIC nutritionist, two are instructors for 4-year colleges, and one is a research analyst for a nutrition center. It is unknown what three individuals are doing. Thus, 93% of graduates secured nutrition-related employment.

Graduates of the program will indicate they are satisfied with the MS program in 80% of the items listed on the alumni survey (12 items on a survey; 51 completed the survey).

  • 86-100% of graduates of the program were satisfied (rating 3 to 5 out of a 5-point scale; where 1 is low and 5 is high) with the MS program*

  • 100% of graduates indicated that the MS program prepared them for a career and 95% indicated that their graduate internship that provided pre-professional experience was valuable*

*These data are from the last self-study report (2005-2011)

Other Indicators of Success

From 2012 -2017, there were 27 peer-reviewed papers published with graduate student authors. Graduate student names are bolded.

  • Boek S, Chan K, Bianco-Simeral S, Goto K. Gender and race are significant determinants of students' food choices on a college campus. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 2012; 44(4):372-378.
  • Goto K, Waite A, Chan K, Giovanni M, Wolff C. Do environmental interventions impact elementary school students' lunchtime milk selection? Journal of Applied Economic Perspectives & Policy. 2012; 35 (2): 360-376.
  • Kopping D, Nevarez H, Goto K, Morgan I, Frigaard M, Wolff C. A longitudinal study of overweight, elevated blood pressure and acanthosis nigricans among low-income middle school students. Journal of School Nursing 2012; 28(3) 214-219.
  • McCarthy E, Wolff C, Bianco-Simeral B, Goto K. Promoting fruit and vegetable preferences among low-income Hispanic and White middle school students. Journal of Child Nutrition and Management 2012; 336 (2)
  • Silliman K, Mahoney J, Michaels V, Miles T. No apparent impact of meal glycemic index on postprandial lipid response in lean and abdominally obese women. The Open Nutrition Journal, 2012, 6, 97-103.
  • Anderson S, Silliman K, Schneider J. Awareness of the Red Dress Symbol and heart disease among college women. Californian Journal of Health Promotion 2013; (11):1, 36-44.
  • Evans K, Goto K, Wolff C, Frigaard M, Bianco-Simeral S. Teachers' perceptions indicate success for Harvest of the Month nutrition education program. Californian Journal of Health Promotion 2013; 10 (1), 105-116.
  • Gerson A, Goto K, Wolff C, Giovanni M. Food, health and values: the effects of attitudes and behaviors regarding sustainable food practices on overall diet quality among college students. Californian Journal of Health Promotion. 2013; 11(2): 53-60.
  • Gunnare NA, Silliman K, Morris MN. Accuracy of self-reported weight and role of gender, body mass index, weight satisfaction, weighing behavior, and physical activity among rural college students Body Image 2013; 10(3):406-410.
  • Keeler LA, Clifford DE, Buck A, Kowalski P, Morris MN.Examination of a peer-led, non-diet nutrition and exercise adherence pilot program on a college campus: FitU. Californian Journal of Health Promotion 2013; 11(1): 84-96.
  • Thompson J, Silliman K, Clifford D. Impact of an early education multimedia intervention in managing nutrition-related chemotherapy side effects: a pilot study. SpringerPlus 2013, 2 (1):179.
  • Zhao, Y., Goto, K., Wolff, C., Song, C., Bianco-Simeral, S. Relationships between children's food consumption and social and cultural capital levels among Latino, Hmong, and Non-Hispanic White Parents of K–2 Children. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition, 2013; 8(4): 472-489.
  • Chen, Q., Goto, K., Wolff, C., Bianco-Simeral, S., Gruneisen, K., & Gray, K. Cooking up diversity: impact of a multi-component, multi-cultural, experiential intervention on food and cooking behaviors among elementary school students from low-income ethnically diverse families. Appetite 2014; 80:114-122.
  • Chen Q, Goto K, Wolff C, Zhao Y. Relationships between children's exposure to ethnic produce and their dietary behaviors. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 2015; 17(2):383-388.
  • Fennessy H, Clifford D, Neyman Morris M. Nutrition students gain skills from motivational interviewing curriculum. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2014; 114(11), 1715-1717.
  • Goto K, Whitten J, Giovanni M, Wolff C. Consumer attitudes and behaviors regarding ethnic produce at farmers' markets. Californian Journal of Health Promotion. 2014; 12 (3): 71-78.
  • McDonnell L, Holland J, Morris, M. WIC participants' perceived behavioral control, attitudes toward, and factors influencing behavioral intentions to redeeming cash-value vouchers at certified farmers' markets. Californian Journal of Health Promotion. 2014; 12(2): 22-31.
  • Voorhees J, Goto K, Wolff C. Overweight, hypertension, and fruit and vegetable consumption among Hmong and white middle school students. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 2014; 16:273-279.
  • Clifford D, Ozier A, Bundros J, Moore J, Kreiser A, Neyman Morris M. Impact of non-diet approaches on attitudes, behaviors and health outcomes: A systematic review. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2015; 47: 143-155.
  • Humphrey L, Clifford D, Neyman Morris M. Health at Every Size college course reduces dieting behaviors and improves intuitive eating, body esteem, and anti-fat attitudes. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2015; 47(4):354-360.
  • Morris J, Goto K, Wolff C, Bianco S, Samonte A. Get Cookin': Investigating the effects of a six-week cooking intervention on cooking and dietary behaviors among low-income families. Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 2015; 13 (2): 48-60.
  • Roche A, Goto K. Zhao Y, Wolff C. Bonding and bridging social and cultural capitals: perceived factors associated with family eating practices among Hmong, Latino and white mothers and fathers. et>Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2015; 47 (6): 540-547.
  • Bundros J, Clifford D, Silliman K, Neyman Morris M. Prevalence of orthorexia nervosa among college students based on Bratman's test and associated tendencies. et>Appetite. 2016; 101: 86-94.
  • Goto K, Whitten J, Giovanni M, Wolff C. Bianco S. Understanding possible roles of locally-grown ethnic produce in dietary practices and food cultures: An exploratory study. Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition. 2016; 11(1): 72-85.
  • Magalis R, Giovanni M, Silliman K. Whole grain foods: Is sensory liking related to knowledge, attitudes, or intake? Nutrition and Food Science. 2016; 46(4):488-503.
  • Pierson S, Goto, K, Giampaoli J, Wylie A, Seipel B, Buffardi K. The development of a mindful-eating intervention program among third through fifth grade elementary school children and their parents. Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 2016; 14(3): 70-76.
  • Medina X, Giampaoli J, Goto K, Hart S. Impact of a farm stand on fruit and vegetable preferences, self-efficacy, and availability at home among students from a low-income school. Journal of Child Nutrition and Management 2017; 41(1).
    • From 2012-2017, there were 38 graduate student research posters presented at national or state meetings of the following professional organizations: Experimental Biology, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Biennial Childhood Obesity Conference, the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Institute of Food Technologists, and the Society of Nutrition Education and Behavior.