Master of Public Health Nutrition Concentration

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Gillings School of Global Public Health)

The UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health offers a nationallyranked Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Nutrition. The program blends rigorous scientific training with practical skills needed to improve population health through evidencebased nutrition interventions.

Why Choose UNCs Nutrition Concentration?

Program Overview

The MPH is a twoyear, 42credit program (fulltime) designed for students with a bachelors degree in any discipline. Core public health courses are combined with nutritionspecific classes, culminating in a capstone project that solves a realworld nutrition problem.

Core Public Health Courses (required)

• Foundations of Public Health
• Epidemiology for Public Health
• Biostatistics
• Environmental Health Sciences
• Health Policy & Management

Nutrition Concentration Courses (selected examples)

• Nutrition and Metabolism
• Nutrition Epidemiology
• Community Nutrition
• Food Systems and Policy
• Clinical Nutrition for Public Health
• Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation

Electives & Specializations

Students may tailor the degree with electives such as:

• Global Food Security
• Obesity Prevention
• Maternal & Child Nutrition
• Nutrition Communications
• Data Science for Nutrition Research

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

1. Assess nutrition status and needs of diverse populations.
2. Design, implement, and evaluate nutrition programs that are culturally appropriate and evidencebased.
3. Analyze policy and environmental drivers of dietary behavior.
4. Communicate scientific findings to policymakers, practitioners, and the public.
5. Apply quantitative methods to interpret nutrition data and guide decisionmaking.

Career Paths

UNC MPH Nutrition alumni work in a variety of settings, including:

• State and local health departments (e.g., nutrition program director)
• Federal agencies such as the CDC, USDA, and NIH
• Nonprofit organizations (e.g., Feeding America, World Food Programme)
• Health care systems (e.g., clinical nutrition manager)
• Academic and research institutions
• Private sector consulting and food industry health & wellness roles

Admission Requirements

• Bachelors degree from an accredited institution (any major).
• Minimum 3.0 GPA (or equivalent).
• Official transcripts.
• GRE scores (optional for 20242025 cycle; check latest policy).
• Two letters of recommendation.
• Personal statement describing interest in public health nutrition.
• Resume/CV outlining relevant experience.

Application Timeline (Typical)

Deadline	Action
December 1	Earlyaction submission (priority review)
February 15	Fall intake deadline
June 15	Spring intake deadline
Rolling	International student visa documentation

Financial Support

UNC provides several funding options:

• Meritbased scholarships (e.g., Gillings Merit Scholarship)
• Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)
• Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)
• Federal workstudy
• External fellowships (e.g., HRSA, TEACH)

Student Experience

Nutrition students join a vibrant community of over 1,200 graduate peers. The School hosts regular seminars, journal clubs, and networking events. Students also benefit from the Student Leadership Council, which organizes service projects and outreach to the Triangle region.