Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences -Non-Thesis Option

at University of New Hampshire - Durham Campus USA

Nutrition is the study of how nutrients and food components function at molecular, cellular, and whole-body levels to impact human health and disease. Students are grounded in fundamental sciences as they develop nutrition-specific competencies in nutrition and health, foods, nutritional assessment, wellness, life cycle nutrition, and/or metabolic biochemistry.

The nutrition program prepares students for entry-level positions in health care, education, or the biotechnology industry, or entry into post-baccalaureate professional programs. Nutrition faculty have expertise in clinical nutrition, sports nutrition, and food science, as well as assessing risk factors of chronic disease risk (i.e. obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular, cognitive) in diverse populations (pediatric, young adult, older adult).

Students who complete the Nutrition and Wellness option are prepared for jobs in agencies or businesses that have an emphasis on health and wellness, including schools, fitness centers, and non-profit or community organizations.

The Option in Finance provides students with the knowledge and analytical skills necessary to make informed financial decisions for themselves and their organizations. Business students interested in numbers, quantitative analysis, problem solving, utilizing creativity, and practical applications will appreciate this option. Opportunities exist in a variety of fields, including commercial and investment banking, insurance, corporate finance, money management, venture capital, risk management, and real estate.

The job outlook for finance students is strong, and starting and mid-career salaries are typically among the highest of all majors at a university. Many premier jobs in business, such as hedge fund manager, investment banker, and CFO, are in finance.

The goal of the finance option is to provide students with general exposure to the field while allowing them to specialize in one of three tracks: analytics and quantitative finance, financial analyst, and real estate. Tracks are not required; please inquire with the finance option coordinator for details.

Marine biologists seek to understand and protect marine and estuarine ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them. A graduate degree in marine biology prepares you for a successful career in science, technology, education and public service.

Students in the Forestry option typically have an undergraduate degree in forestry or natural resource management. These degrees are specifically designed to meet the accreditation standards of a professional society. Those without this background may need to complete some additional coursework as part of their MS program. Areas of interest include forest resource economics and management, biometrics/measurements, forest health, forest ecosystem dynamics, and spatial data analysis (remote sensing and GIS).

The College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA) and the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) jointly offer a bachelor of science degree in environmental sciences. Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the interaction of biological, chemical, and physical processes that shape the environment, and control the response of natural systems to human activities.    Students graduating with a degree in environmental sciences will have an understanding of these interacting processes, experience working in interdisciplinary teams to apply this understanding, and the ability to communicate effectively with both scientific and lay audiences.  While in this program, students will acquire significant experience with field, laboratory and analytical methods appropriate for employment in professional environmental science positions as well as a basic understanding of environmental policy.  The University of New Hampshire is a recognized leader in environmental sciences research, and the environmental sciences program capitalizes on faculty expertise in this area. Program faculty emphasize teaching and research in the areas of biogeochemical cycling, environmental chemistry, ecosystem science, global change, hydrology, plant ecology, soil science, and water resource management among many other fields.

Employment opportunities include environmental consulting firms; educational facilities (e.g., science centers), environmental monitoring laboratories (e.g., water treatment plants, the Environmental Protection Agency), government agencies (e.g., the U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resource Conservation Service), university and government research laboratories, and nongovernment environmental organizations. The environmental sciences program also constitutes an excellent preparation for graduate programs in several areas relating to the environment.

The Program has four options, and specific course requirements for the major vary by option. The ecosystems and soils and watersheds options are both managed by the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment in COLSA, and the geosystems and hydrology options are both managed by Earth Sciences in CEPS. 

The master of arts in liberal studies (M.A.L.S.) is an innovative, interdisciplinary graduate program, intended to promote broad intellectual comprehension and enrichment rather than vocational or professional training within a single field or discipline. Housed within the College of Liberal Arts but drawing its courses and instructors from across the University, the program makes available a diverse spectrum of offerings and a wealth of faculty expertise and resources. The program addresses the particular interests of students who seek to deepen their knowledge by designing their own challenging but flexible program of cross-disciplinary learning.

Under this option, the required courses deal with the application of basic biological sciences and chemical engineering principles to the design and operation of large-scale bioprocesses for the production of high-value medicinal, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, biomedical, genetic engineering, and health care products. The elective courses permit the student to study topics of special interest in more depth or gain a broader perspective in bioengineering or some closely related subjects such as biochemistry or biotechnology experience in manufacturing or research. Three courses are required, and a minimum of two additional courses of at least three credits each should be selected from the electives list. Students interested in the bioengineering option should declare their intention to the department faculty during the sophomore year. 

The art history curriculum provides a comprehensive, in-depth study of Western art from the ancient world to the present as well as some exposure to non-Western cultures and artistic traditions. All courses in the program teach basic skills of interpretation and critical analysis within the framework of broad cultural perspectives that connect the visual arts to larger historical developments. They also teach good writing and research skills. In addition, art history majors typically branch out into other fields, such as history, literature and foreign languages. By the time they graduate, most majors are well equipped to pursue such traditional careers in the field as museum and gallery work, teaching, publishing or librarianship. But because art historical education is so broad, it also prepares students for a variety of other, more flexible options, such as law, business or architecture.

Students in the Advertising and Public Relations option develop knowledge and skills relating to the use of strategic communication practices within a variety of settings such as ad agencies, commercial businesses, and nonprofit organizations. A dynamic mix of historical, social, ethical, organizational, creative, analytical, and experiential perspectives is used to create a strong foundation for professional success and graduate study. Coursework covers topics such as earned and paid media, social media, graphic design, media writing, data analytics, and audience research. Some courses use field trips and guest speakers to keep students up-to-date with current trends. An internship in advertising and public relations is required.

The goal of the UNH BSEP program is to produce broadly-trained engineers who can provide solutions to today’s challenging problems in support of a technologically evolving society. The core of the program is based on interdisciplinary training, complemented with a deeper understanding of the physical principles needed to support careers in engineering,  engineering research or, perhaps, further training in systems engineering. The program balances depth and breadth in skill development; flexibility and functionality are what drive the program in the sense that 1) the particular focus is based on the student’s interests, and 2) the breadth of the course selection is guided by the post-graduation goals of the student (e.g., employment versus graduate school).