Undergraduates pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics already have an interest in public health. NYU now offers students an opportunity to build upon their BS and add a Master of Public Health degree by extending their studies for just one additional year.
The BS/MPH is a five-year program that allows students to work toward an MPH in Public Health Nutrition (PHN) from GPH at the same time they earn a BS from NYU Steinhardt, via an expedited program that enables them to earn both degrees and requires less time and tuition than is needed to complete each program separately.
The goal of this program is to create a path to meeting new, higher standards for nutrition practitioners. It will prepare students to assume leadership positions in public health nutrition settings that require a systematic approach to addressing issues. In January 2024 the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics will adopt a minimum requirement of a master’s degree for entry-level registered dietitians. With the BS/MPH, students can earn their professional RD credential on an accelerated basis, streamlining a path to their career goals.
How it Works
Students who major in the Nutrition & Dietetics program at NYU Steinhardt are eligible to apply to the program on a rolling basis, with admission for either the Fall or Spring semesters. Students admitted to the 4+1 BS/MPH program will accelerate their progress to the MPH degree by earning 18 MPH credits during their undergraduate program. These 18 credits comprise the MPH required core courses which students may double count toward both the BS and MPH degrees.
Students who pursue the 4 + 1 will have a total of 157 credits and two degrees at the end of 5 years. Taken separately, both degrees would take a minimum of six years and a total of 175 credits.
Key Skills
Upon graduating from the program, students will be able to:
- Identify and assess diet and nutritional status related health problems among diverse populations.
- Describe key factors that contribute to malnutrition risk among populations.
- Communicate nutrition-related information both orally and in writing.
- Analyze programs or policies aimed at improving food security health status among diverse populations.
- Critically evaluate and interpret nutrition research findings and their implications for the development of nutrition policies.
How to Apply
Students may communicate their interest in the 4 + 1 program to a GPH Public Health Nutrition faculty member as early as their freshman year, usually after completing their first semester in the Department of Nutrition & Food Studies at NYU Steinhardt.
The application process requires students to complete an online application form, submit a personal statement, and meet with a GPH PHN advisor in person. Students are not required to complete the GRE and they must be in good standing in Steinhardt’s Nutrition and Dietetics program, with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
The deadline for the Fall semester is August 15th. The deadline for the Spring semester is December 1st. For more information or to ask a question please contact the Program Director for GPH’s Public Health Nutrition concentration at gph.nutrution@nyu.edu.
Students enrolled in this program may also simultaneously complete the necessary course requirements and apply for a dietetic internship to prepare to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Learn more about how to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, which involves completing a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).
4 + 1 Public Health Nutrition Course Sequence: students who are pursuing the online version of PHN would take all courses below as 5000-level courses; for example GPH-GU 5106 instead of GPH-GU 2106)
| Fall 1 (15 credits) | Spring 1 (17 credits) |
| Steinhardt coursework | Steinhardt coursework |
| Fall 2 (17 credits) | Spring 2 (16 credits) |
| Steinhardt coursework | Steinhardt coursework |
| Fall 3 (15 credits) | Spring 3 (13 credits) |
| GPH-GU 2106 Epidemiology (3) GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social & Behavioral Health (3) Steinhardt coursework (9 credits) | GPH-GU 2213 Public Health Nutrition (3) GPH-GU 2361 Research Methods in Public Health (3) Steinhardt coursework (7 credits) |
| Fall 4 (15 credits) | Spring 4 (16 credits) |
| GPH-GU 2995 Biostatistics for Public Health (3) GPH-GU 5171 Global Health Informatics Workshop (0) Steinhardt coursework (12 credits) | GPH-GU 2342 Global Issues in Public Health Nutrition (3) GPH-GU 5170 Introduction to Public Health (0) Steinhardt coursework (13 credits) |
Summer - 180 hours of public health practice, plus students may take the coursework below to lighten their load in the MPH year (7 credits) GPH-GU 5110 Health Care Policy (2) Note: students should work with their GPH advisor on their plans for summer and their MPH year. These courses are always offered over the summer, as well as one or two electives. | |
| Fall 5 - MPH year (11 credits) | Spring 5 - MPH year (11 credits) |
| GPH-GU 2359 Applied Practice Experience Seminar (2) GPH-GU 2218 Assessing Community Health Needs & Resources (3) GPH-GU 2030 Introduction to Global Health (2) Elective (3) | GPH-GU 2360 Integrative Learning Experience Seminar (2) GPH-GU 2275 Nutrition Epidemiology for Public Health (3) Elective (3) Elective (3) |
* students in the Public Health Nutrition concentration may take any GPH-GU course as an elective, pending any prerequisites or concentration restrictions.
Students may keep track of their MPH courses using this 4+1 Public Health Nutrition Planning Checklist.
Students who began their coursework for the 4+1 in Public Health Nutrition prior to Fall 2024 can follow this sequence.