Master of Science in Applied Nutrition

MScPostgraduateHealth Sciences

Part Time Available

About This Programme

The College of Health Sciences is committed to providing high quality intellectually challenging educational programs that prepare students for a successful career in the health field. The programs provide sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge to satisfy the requirements of the national and international accreditation bodies, thus allowing our graduates the opportunity to practice a wide range of perspectives within the health system, from disease prevention to palliation regionally and internationally. The master's degree in Applied Nutrition program provides students with the multidisciplinary knowledge and skills to further advance in various career paths including community nutrition, clinical nutrition for chronic disease, and nutrition research. Applied nutrition consists of the translational arm of the science of nutrition. It focuses on the application of the theory and basic sciences in nutrition into healthy lifestyles and practices that are geared to improve health and prevent diseases. The MSAN program at UoS is built around evidence-based nutrition practices and guidelines, research, and the application of knowledge and skills to both individuals and communities.

Course Highlights

34 credit hours
Taught in English
College of Health Sciences
Study system: Courses and Theses
Full-time and part-time study
AED 3,200 per credit hour

What You'll Study

Study plan (34 credit hours): six compulsory courses (16 credit hours), three elective courses (9 credit hours) and the thesis (9 credit hours).

Year 1, Fall semester

9 credit hours

0507501Public Health and Community Nutrition3 credits
This course provides an overview of public health and community nutrition, focusing on interventions to improve food choices, dietary intake, and nutritional status at population, regional, or national levels. It equips students with skills to conduct community-based assessments and tackle specific nutritional problems.
0507504Advanced Biostatistics for Nutrition Research3 credits
This course teaches advanced biostatistical methods for applied nutrition research, including regression analysis and statistical modeling, using SPSS for hands-on problem-solving.
Elective course3 credits

Year 1, Spring semester

9 credit hours The study plan lists this course as 0507502A Advanced Nutrition Metabolism and Disease; the course descriptions give 0507-502 Advanced Nutrition Metabolism and Metabolic Disorders.

0507502Advanced Nutrition Metabolism and Metabolic Disorders3 credits
This course explores the biochemical and metabolic processes involved in energy regulation and their relation to chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and liver diseases.
0507505Research Methods in Nutrition3 credits
An introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods relevant to health-related research, emphasizing research techniques used in nutrition, public health, and health services research.
Elective course3 credits

Year 2, Fall semester

10 credit hours

0507503Advanced Clinical Nutrition Therapy3 credits
This course applies the nutrition care process (NCP) model in complex pathophysiological situations like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and malnutrition, offering hands-on experience in nutrition support through hospital visits.
0507599Thesis3 credits
Students develop a research question, hypothesis, and design in applied nutrition, culminating in a thesis presented to a committee.
Elective course3 credits
0507506Seminar1 credit
This course develops critical thinking skills for evaluating scientific literature and presenting research, focusing on recent advances in Applied Nutrition.

Year 2, Spring semester

6 credit hours (programme total: 34)

0507599Thesis6 credits

Elective courses

The course descriptions list six electives. The study plan names four, with different codes: in the fall, Selected Topics (0507-719) and Food Safety Management Systems (0507-709); in the spring, Functional Foods (0507-714) and Maternal and Child Nutrition (0507-708).

0507508Maternal and Child Nutrition
This course addresses nutrition issues affecting pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and young children, integrating public health issues with clinical practice guidelines.
0507509Food Safety Management Systems
This course covers food safety hazards and the mitigation of these hazards through HACCP and ISO 22000, as well as food safety law and regulations in the UAE.
0507510Geriatric Nutrition
This course emphasizes the nutritional needs of older adults and the dietary interventions for diseases common in older persons.
0507511Functional Foods
This course explores the clinical aspects of functional foods and nutraceuticals, discussing their regulation, production, health-promoting properties, and applications in disease prevention.
0507512Special Nutrition Support
This course covers enteral and parenteral feeding regimens for critically ill patients, discussing the prevention and treatment of malnutrition and the management of nutrition therapy complications.
0507513Selected Topics in Applied Nutrition
This course examines current and evolving topics in Applied Nutrition, providing evidence-based perspectives on the prevention and treatment of diet-related conditions and diseases.

Further courses listed on the programme page

The page lists these two courses in a separate table without saying how they relate to the study plan.

0507250Introduction to Nutrition
This course introduces students to the basic principles of essential nutrients, their sources, digestion, absorption, functions, and requirements. Food safety is also addressed.
0507350Nutrition Assessment
This course provides an introduction to nutrition assessment systems, covering anthropometric, laboratory, clinical, and dietary assessments, along with their strengths and limitations.

Entry Requirements

Academic: Admission requirements for master programs: • The student must hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognized university with a CGPA of 3.00 out of 4.00. • Students with a CGPA between 2.5 and 2.99 may be admitted conditionally. • The degree must be in a major that qualifies the student to study the master's program. • Students must meet the English language proficiency requirement. • Attachment of ‘no objection of study certificate’ from the authorities responsible for national service for male Emirati students (ages from 18 to 30 years old). • Attachment of a letter of study approval from the Kuwait Embassy Cultural Office for Kuwaiti students only. • Attachment of People of Determination card (if applicable). • In case the student works in a certain place, please attach a letter from the employer stating that the student is working for this agency. • For individuals with foreign qualifications, it is necessary to provide a Certificate of Equivalency.

English: For programs taught in English, a score of 550 in TOEFL (ITP) (or its equivalence), or 6 in IELTS must be obtained. Native English speakers are exempt from the English proficiency requirement if the language of instruction for their undergraduate studies was English. Additionally, students who graduated from academic institutions where English is used as the primary medium of instruction for bachelor’s studies are also exempt. Equivalent scores (EmSAT / paper-based TOEFL ITP / IELTS academic): 950-1075 / 450 / 4.5; 1100-1225 / 500 / 5.0; 1250-1375 / 530 / 5.5; 1400-1525 / 550 / 6.0. The paper-based TOEFL ITP is offered only by the University of Sharjah, AMIDEAST Dubai, and Abu Dhabi head offices. The UoS reserves the right to require students to attend an interview in the Languages Institute. Students may be required to take a further in-house test to ensure their scores are consistent with their English Language proficiency.