Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics

at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville USA

The exercise science program in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior at SIUE is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), as well as the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES) and offers the only accredited program in the state of Illinois. The program reports annual outcome data and is held to the high standards of CoAES. Over the last five academic years, the exercise science program at SIUE reported a 98% retention rate and a graduate placement rate of 82%.

At SIUE, the exercise science program in the Department of Applied Health combines coursework in both the basic sciences and exercise sciences, along with real-world internships to ensure our students are prepared to excel in a variety of professional health and fitness settings. The program is based upon the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) professional certifications. The exercise science program provides students with a solid academic foundation and is structured in a way that students have the opportunity to develop the skills and abilities that are critical in the growing fields of health, fitness, medicine, and physical and occupational rehabilitation.

If you have diverse academic interests that span the disciplines and would like to turn these interests into a cohesive program, then the integrative studies program could be for you! Working professionals can also earn a baccalaureate degree to better position them for opportunities for advancement where a baccalaureate degree is required.

Integrative studies is an interdisciplinary program geared toward meeting each student’s personal, academic and career goals, as well as providing knowledge and skills to meet the needs of emerging professions. This program provides students the opportunity to embrace their individuality and widen their perspectives by exploring and making connections between different fields of study. Students design their own program of study, in consultation with a professional advisor and a faculty mentor, and in doing so take responsibility for their education and career planning.

What can I do with a degree in Integrative Studies?
Students graduating with an undergraduate degree in integrative studies will be well prepared to pursue career opportunities in a variety of professional settings, such as advertising, public service, military, sales, human services, ministry, sports promotion, higher education, public relations, and youth development, among others. Graduates will also be prepared to pursue a master’s or professional degree in various fields.

At SIUE, we have a graduate student-to-faculty ratio of two-to-one, so our students receive personalized attention from faculty recognized for outstanding teaching and excellent research. The Department of Mathematics and Statistics at SIUE provides learning and research opportunities in many areas and students are exposed to various cultures from diverse faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences.

What can I do with a degree in Mathematics?
Professionals holding positions as mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries consistently rank their careers at the top of surveys on job satisfaction and security. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook in these fields remains strong, and growth is projected at 25% over the next 10 years.

While pharmacists work to manage patient care with emphasis on therapies using existing drugs, pharmaceutical scientists are engaged in the discovery and development of new drugs. The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences provides a multidisciplinary approach to not only determine the detailed biological mechanism of disease, but develop the molecular interventions that can provide the treatment or cure. Students in SIUE's School of Pharmacy are taught in state-of-the-art laboratories by an internationally recognized faculty with many years of both academic and pharmaceutical industry experience.

This program, which is held within SIUE's School of Education, Health and Human Behavior, is intended for students who seek master's-level training appropriate for clinical work with primarily adult clients. This training often leads to employment in organizations providing clinical psychological services (e.g., community mental health agencies, hospitals, mental health facilities) or continued education in doctoral training programs. The clinical psychology program in the Department of Psychology is a full-time program only, with most courses offered during the day in seminar rooms and clinical settings.

What can I do with a degree in Clinical Psychology?
Many of our graduates enter doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology or other fields, either immediately after graduation or after some time in the field. Those who enter the workforce immediately after graduation have obtained positions in psychiatric hospitals, research institutions and various types of clinical agencies.

Students in the mechatronics and robotics engineering program, offered through the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, create intelligent devices by combining mechanical and electrical engineering principles. Graduates from the School of Engineering are shaping the future by designing smarter cars, autonomous farm equipment, robots for the manufacturing industry and much more. These devices have mechanical and electrical components, sensors and computer software - all working together, harmoniously.

As automation and robotics increase around us, so does the need for engineers with specialized knowledge of these topics. The field of mechatronics and robotics engineering emerged out of this need to develop the best possible design while seamlessly merging mechanical and electronics knowledge. Mechatronics and robotics engineers have the interdisciplinary knowledge necessary to oversee the design and development of such intelligent devices from beginning to end, rather than completing mechanical, electrical and control designs separately.

What can I do with a degree in Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering?
Mechatronics and robotics engineers find jobs in companies that design, develop and manufacture intelligent devices, systems and equipment for medical, automotive, communication, agriculture, construction and entertainment industries. Some examples of these are:

• Mobile or industrial robots
• Quadcopters and drones
• Autonomous vehicles
• High-tech prosthetic limbs
• Consumer electronics
• Space and defense
• Smart home, smart city and smart planet

The study of communication involves the development of theories and research tools to analyze, explain and improve human interaction. The applied communication studies program is offered in the College of Arts and Sciences through the Department of Applied Communication Studies. Departmental courses focus on two-person interaction, small-group decision making, communication patterns in organizations and other complex systems, public relations, and speaker-audience interaction in public speaking.

What can I do with a degree in Applied Communication Studies?
In America, employers increasingly recognize the need for more effective communication. As a result, job opportunities for graduates trained in applied communication studies are prevalent in business and industry, government agencies, educational systems, nonprofit organizations, and community-based resource centers. Graduates often have several career choices. Examples of communication careers departmental graduates have entered are: teaching and administration; management, training and consulting in organizations; public relations; human relations and employee assistance programs; sales; and government service. Graduates find employment in various types of for-profit and nonprofit organizations locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Applied communication is also an in-demand minor for students majoring in areas such as, business, mass communications, political science and sociology. Our graduates are also well-prepared for graduate school.

Graduates of the computer science program at SIUE will typically find careers as software engineers. However, some pursue careers as research scientists, technology infrastructure specialists or technology consultants. In recent years, 80-90% of graduates have accepted a career position before graduation day. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that demand and salaries for computer scientists and software engineers will continue to increase in the coming decade.

The Master of Public Health (MPH) is offered through the Department of Applied Health within the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior. This interdisciplinary program addresses the health of worldwide populations, covering the five core areas of public health:

• Biostatistics
• Environmental health sciences
• Epidemiology
• Health policy and management
• Social and behavioral sciences

This program emphasizes public health leadership and the administrative skills associated with leadership careers in public health. Coursework and practical experiences are combined to prepare students for leadership roles in a variety of communities, for profit and nonprofit health agencies, universities and other research settings to prevent diseases and promote strategies to improve health. Elective courses are selected in coordination with other departments, and are focused on general leadership and administrative knowledge and skills.

What can I do with a master's degree in Public Health?
The MPH is widely regarded as the entry-level degree for leadership positions in a variety of settings, including local, state, national and international health agencies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for public health professionals are rising faster than the average for all occupations nationally.

Students earning an MPH will graduate with in-depth knowledge, as well as skills to manage, plan, implement, evaluate and disseminate public health programs, and develop and analyze policies. Graduates typically pursue careers in community and public health practice, health policy, management, research, health education, health promotion, consulting or private practice, and education.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) allows students who have an undergraduate degree in areas other than education the opportunity to earn a master's degree, as well as gain certification to teach special education to students in kindergarten through age 21. Students can earn state licensure and a master's degree in just two years. The MAT program provides integrated coursework focused on diverse learners, as well as field experiences that require theoretical and practical knowledge application.

Offered through the Department of Teaching and Learning, the MAT prepares candidates for Learning Behavior Specialist I licensure, which requires teachers to build a knowledge base to identify and intervene with students who exhibit a wide range of disabilities, including learning disabilities, cognitive impairments, autism, social/emotional disabilities and physical disabilities or other health impairments. Students with undergraduate degrees in teacher education are not eligible for this program.