Graduate Admissions Requirements
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Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
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“B” average during undergraduate study or demonstrated potential for graduate work
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Completed application
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Submit an essay discussing your career objectives and why you want to pursue a career in nutrition or sports nutrition (350-word minimum).
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Official, sealed transcripts
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Two or three letters of recommendation
Facilities & Technology
Exercise Science Lab
The Exercise Science Lab includes a biochemistry lab, climate-controlled room, and equipment that measures:
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Aerobic Capacity
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Anaerobic Power
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Strength
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Bone Density
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Airway Function
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Body Composition
In addition to traditional food testing tools, our Food Science Lab contains equipment to prepare students for food preparation in real-world commercial settings:
Blast Chiller and Rethermalization Unit
Metabolic Kitchen
Sensory Evaluation Lab
Ingredient Room
Food Science Lab Photo Gallery
Our Healthy Demo Classroom is used for instruction and demonstrations, for both students and the community at large.
Our Sensory Evaluation Lab allows students to test the products they make in the Food Science Lab. The two laboratories are connected for easy evaluation.
O'Neill Center for Healthy Families
The O'Neill Center for Healthy Families, located on University Avenue, provides classroom and research space, joining academic programs to innovative research. Students from the Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, Exercise Science, Respiratory Therapy, and Physician Assistant programs have classes in this building. It is also home to The Human Performance Lab, a state-of-the-art facility designed to serve the needs of student, professional, amateur, and recreational athletes and the community.
The Keith J. O'Neill Center for Healthy Families, dedicated on October 18, 2002, was named in honor of its benefactor, esteemed alumnus and former trustee Keith J. O'Neill '76, the first male to graduate from Marywood's dietetics program and an accomplished leader in the dietetics profession. He credits Marywood for "(giving) me the skills and confidence to take on the challenges that come from running a large food service department and eventually from the challenges created by starting my own company."
In 2024, Marywood University further expanded its deep commitment to health sciences during the dedication of the Pascucci Family Health Sciences Pavilion, a transformative addition to the Keith J. O'Neill Center for Healthy Families and a cornerstone of the EMPOWER Campaign.
The $11.5 million Pascucci Family Health Sciences Pavilion is a realization of Marywood's commitment to providing state-of-the-art facilities for education in the health sciences. Generously supported by the Pascucci Family and other dedicated donors, this new space elevates the learning experience of future healthcare professionals and contributes to the University's mission of fostering excellence in education.
Food Science Lab
In addition to traditional food testing tools, our Food Science Lab contains equipment to prepare students for food preparation in real-world commercial settings:
- Blast chiller and rethermalization unit
- Metabolic kitchen
- Sensory evaluation lab
- Ingredient room
Exercise Science Lab
Marywood's 2,040-square foot Exercise Science Lab is one of the area's leading sites for student and faculty research. Located in the Center for Athletics and Wellness, the lab is fully equipped to conduct a wide array of physiological measurements to assess health, fitness and athletic performance, and to complete various physiological and biological research.
The lab provides testing for those who wish to improve athletic performance or monitor their progress toward their fitness and/or weight loss goals. It is not a fitness facility. For recreational and competitive athletes, we offer body composition analysis, VO2max (aerobic) testing, lactate profiling, and Wingate anaerobic power testing. The purpose of fitness testing includes education of participants about their present fitness status relative to healthy standards and age/gender-matched norms, as well as
Housed within the Exercise Science Lab is an independent biochemistry lab fully equipped for the preparation and analysis of chemical compounds and biological specimens. An environmental chamber, also within the lab, is available for studies needing precisely controlled temperature, humidity, or gas concentrations. The laboratory is equipped with a full complement of utilities, including climate control, electricity (110 VAC, 220 VAC), water, natural gas, vacuum, and compressed air, and a 30" x 36" certified fume hood.
Scholarships
Morris K. Udall Scholarship
The Udall Foundation seeks future leaders across a wide spectrum of environmental fields, including policy, engineering, science, education, urban planning and renewal, business, health, justice, and economics. The Foundation also seeks future Native American and Alaska Native leaders in public and community health care, tribal government, and public policy affecting Native American communities, including land and resource management, economic development, and education.
Faculty
Courses & Curriculum (39 Total Credits)
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Course Numbers
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Course Names
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Credit Hours
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Core Courses
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9 Credits
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SHPN 560
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Biochemistry of Nutrition & Exercise
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3
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SHPN 581
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The Energy Nutrients and Alcohol
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3
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SHPN 582
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Advanced Nutrition Vitamins and Minerals
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3
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Major Specific Courses
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9 Credits
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SHPN 549
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Sports & Human Perf Nutrition I: Theory
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3
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SHPN 550
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Sprts & Hmn Prfrmnce Nutrition II - App
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3
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SHPN 575
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Body Composition for Sports & Performnce Management
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3
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Research Sequence
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9 Credits
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SHPN 590
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Research Methodology
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3
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SHPN 591
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Statistical Analysis
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3
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SHPN 595A
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Research Thesis
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1
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SHPN 595B
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Research Thesis
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1
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SHPN 595C
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Research Thesis
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1
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Non-Thesis
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3 Credits
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SHPN 596
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Capstone Experience
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3
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Electives
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9 Credits
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SHPN 503
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Endocrine Disorders, Nutrition and Exerc
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3
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SHPN 509
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Principles of Strength & Conditioning
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3
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SHPN 513
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Exercise and Aging
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3
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SHPN 523
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Immunology, Exercise & Nutrition
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3
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SHPN 525
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Clinical Nutrition: Pharmacology and Fluid-Electrolyte Balance
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3
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SHPN 575
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Body Composition for Sports & Performnce Management
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3
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Students cannot be guaranteed that a particular elective course will be available.
Because SHPN courses are cross listed with ND courses, additional courses from the core or electives in the MS in Nutrition may be selected with permission of the department chairperson. Other graduate-level courses may be acceptable from Psychology, Business, or other departments with permission of the chairperson.
Student Resources
Prepare for your Thesis
What's a Thesis?
The culminating project for both the M.S. in Nutrition and M.S. in Sports and Human Performance Nutrition is a master's thesis. A thesis is an original research project developed by you, the student, in collaboration with a 3-person committee, which approves the thesis.
You are encouraged to begin thinking about your thesis as early as possible. Class assignments can be used to explore topics of interest. Before submitting a thesis proposal, you should be knowledgeable about the topic.
You will begin to develop your proposal in ND/SNES 590: Research Methodology .
Considerations
Some of the issues you should consider include:
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Do you have access to an appropriate population?
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Do you have the technical and statistical skills to complete the project?
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Are there validated instruments that can be used?
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What equipment is needed and is it available?
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What costs will be incurred and how will they be paid?
The Process
The final product of ND/SNES 590 is a very rough draft of a potential thesis. You can use this as a starting point to enlist a faculty mentor and two committee members to work with you on the final project. Your mentor must be a Marywood faculty member from the department that houses the program in which you are enrolled. The other two committee members can be other faculty or people outside the University. They must hold at least a master's degree.
Thesis credits are divided into 595A, 595B, and 595C. Each of these courses is 1 credit. 595A must be finished before you register for 595B or 595C. These courses are not formal courses that meet for a set number of hours each week. It is your responsibility to schedule meetings with your mentor and committee members to discuss ideas, submit proposal drafts, complete revisions, and ultimately prepare to defend your completed proposal.
After a mentor has agreed to work with you on your project, you must sign up for your mentor's section of ND/SNES 595A. This section involves completing a polished version of the first 3 chapters of your thesis, defending it to the committee, and submitting it to the Marywood IRB. This section takes the longest to complete. It is wise to register for ND/SNES 595A during the summer after you complete ND/SNES 590.
Section B involves the collection of data and readying it for analysis. It is wise to take ND/SNES 591: Statistical Analysis during this period.
Section C involves analyzing the data and writing chapters 4 and 5 of your thesis. This should be done in close collaboration with your mentor and committee.
Defending Your Thesis
After you've completed your thesis, you must present it and answer questions from your committee. Your committee then decides if your thesis is a pass, pass with modifications, or not passing. Most theses are pass with modifications. In this case, you have 1 week to make modifications.
If your thesis does not pass, you must correct any problems and defend your thesis again.
