Majors & Programs

Nutrition and Integrative Health, MS | Functional Nutrition

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Nutritionist taking notes at a desk with a tray of fruits and vegetables
Overview

This concentration is offered as an option under the Master of Science in nutrition and integrative health program.

Designed for flexibility and growth, this concentration focuses on nutrition's role in integrative and functional medicine. Curriculum focuses on the holistic approach and in-depth understanding of integrative health practices.

Wherever life takes you

Courses are offered fully online and hybrid livestreaming. Each semester, choose course delivery methods that work best with your schedule.

Do any of these describe you?

  • Future dietitian who needs a master's degree before or during a supervised practice experience.
  • Current registered dietitian who wants to specialize in integrative and functional nutrition.
  • Graduate student in another health care field looking to broaden your expertise.
  • Future professional aiming for careers in private practice, higher education, community health or the nutrition industry.

This program is tailored for both practicing health professionals and students looking to advance their education and careers in the nutrition and functional medicine sectors.

See curriculum

Curriculum requirements

Are classes online?
Yes. View FAQ for more info.

How many credit hours are required?
36.

Part of the College of Health Professions.
Collection of prepared meals with holistic nutrition

This program follows SFA's rolling admissions, accepting student enrollment in the Fall, Spring or Summer semesters.

International students should contact the Office of International Programs to determine eligibility.

Apply to the functional nutrition concentration

To be eligible for consideration into this concentration track within the Master of Science in nutrition and integrative health, you must:

  • meet SFA's graduate school requirements
  • achieve an undergraduate 3.0 GPA or higher overall
  • have completed prerequisite courses
  • and hold a bachelor’s degree in the allied health field from a regionally accredited college or university

Ready? Complete the graduate school application.

  • If you're still taking undergraduate courses and meet all other requirements, you may be eligible to apply if you're:
    • in your final year of undergraduate work
    • or have 95 or more semester hours of undergraduate work at SFA and be approved as an overlap student.
  • If you hold degree(s) outside the allied health field, contact the graduate program coordinator to determine if additional requirements are needed.

You should have completed coursework in:

  • introductory nutrition
  • cell biology
  • and human physiology.

Nutritional biochemistry is preferred, but not required.

If you didn't complete a statistics course at the undergraduate level, you may be required to complete a graduate-level statistics course.

You will submit the following with your application to the program:

  • current résumé
  • transcripts from all attended higher institutions
  • statement of purpose describing:
    • how you became interested in functional nutrition and integrative health
    • experiences that have prepared you for advanced study and practice
    • your professional goals and how the degree will help you achieve them
    • and why you're interested specifically in SFA's program.

Frequently Asked Questions

No.

The required supervised practice experience is not part of the functional nutrition curriculum.

If you're interested in pursuing the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential, apply to the registered dietitian master's concentration. You'll need to meet all program admission requirements, including submission of a Didactic Program in Dietetics verification statement.

Eligibility is determined on an individual basis.

The functional nutrition concentration includes graduate coursework that fulfills some Didactic Program in Dietetics competencies. Upon completion of those specific courses, along with the required undergraduate DPD coursework, you may be eligible to receive a DPD verification statement.

Your academic background and previous coursework determine the additional coursework needed. Contact us for more information.

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Questions about the program?

If you have questions about the Master of Science in nutrition and integrative health, contact the graduate program coordinator.

Darla O'Dwyer

Contact

dodwyer@sfasu.edu

Physical Address
Norton HPE Complex, Room 208