The graduate concentration in Nutrition at Jacksonville State University is designed to prepare students for advanced study in nutrition and future employment in the field of nutrition and related careers in wellness and corporate fitness. Special attention is also given to knowledge and skills necessary for students preparing for the ISSN Certified Sport Nutrition exam and potentially preparing for a program leading to becoming a Registered Dietitian. The Nutrition program prepares graduates for interaction with both healthy active populations and populations that are affected by chronic diseases (e.g., CVD, diabetes) and the impact of nutritional interventions in these populations.
Application Deadlines
Deadline dates for application and receipt of all required application materials:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 1 | Fall Admission |
| November 1 | Spring Admission |
| April 1 | Summer Admission |
Any exceptions to these deadlines must be granted by the graduate program chair.
Application Materials Required for the MSE in Physical Education - Nutrition
All of the following documents must be submitted to Graduate Admissions to be considered for admission:
Graduate Admissions
Jacksonville State University
700 Pelham Road North
Jacksonville, Alabama 36265-1602
- Completed JSU Graduate Application for Admission.
- Non-refundable $35 application processing fee.
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities with degrees posted. (Students who have previously attended JSU do not need to request a transcript from the university.)
- Three Graduate Reference Forms completed by individuals who can provide qualitative assessment of the applicant’s potential for success in graduate coursework. Reference forms will be submitted electronically. Instructions for submission will be sent through email to the applicant upon submission of the online graduate application.
- Official scores for the General Test of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) will be required if the undergraduate degree posted GPA is below 2.75.
- International student applicants must see the International Student Applicants section of this catalog for other application and enrollment requirements.
Admission Requirements for the MSE in Physical Education - Nutrition
Applicants who meet the general admission requirements to graduate studies are eligible for admission to the MSE Physical Education degree with a concentration in Nutrition (non-professional educator certification). All applications are reviewed by graduate faculty for admission approval into the program.
A degree in Exercise Science, Nutrition, or a closely related field is required for admission into the Nutrition Concentration.
Completion of undergraduate deficiencies may be required to meet program admission.
Applicants must meet one of the following admission requirements:
Unconditional Admission
- Applicants may be eligible for unconditional admission to the program with a GPA on the initial undergraduate degree of at least 2.75 on a 4.00 scale.
Conditional Admission
- Applicants who fail to meet the 2.75 GPA requirement for unconditional admission may be eligible for conditional admission to the program with a GRE mean score equal to or greater than 145 or a MAT score equal to or greater than 375.
- If GRE or MAT scores are required, they must be on file at JSU prior to consideration of program acceptance.
Applicants who are granted conditional admission must achieve a GPA of at least 3.00 on the first 12 graduate hours attempted. Failure to meet these conditions will result in the student being dropped from graduate studies.
Minimum Requirements for the MSE in Physical Education - Nutrition
An overall 3.00 GPA is required on all coursework attempted for the master’s degree. Transfer credit cannot be used to raise the GPA to the required 3.00.
Upon completion of the required 30 hours of coursework, students must pass a comprehensive examination. Accommodations will be made to support students with either onsite or offsite qualifying exam administration. Students should contact the graduate program faculty about dates of comprehensive exams.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| HPE 537 | Diversity Issues and Trends in Wellness and Sport Studies | 3 |
| HPE 540 | Law and Ethics in Wellness and Sports Studies | 3 |
| HPE 553 | Applied Exercise Physiology I | 3 |
| HPE 578 | Research in Wellness and Sports Studies | 3 |
| Nutrition Concentration | ||
| HPE 531 | Clinical Cardiopulmonary Physiology | 3 |
| or HPE 554 | Applied Exercise Physiology II | |
| HPE 539 | Diet and Performance | 3 |
| HPE 590 | Directed Studies in HPE | 3 |
| FCS 536 | Advanced Nutritional Therapy | 3 |
| FCS 537 | Advanced Methods of Nutritional Assessment | 3 |
| FCS 538 | Critical Issues in Nutrition and Food Science | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
30 Graduate Semester Hours Required for this Degree
Graduation and Comprehensive Exam
A comprehensive exam is required for this degree; please see the graduate advisor for full details. All students must apply for graduation by the given deadline of the semester in which they plan to graduate. Please see the Graduation and Comprehensive Exam section of this catalog for more information.