Master of Arts in Nutrition and Food Science

Wayne State's Master of Arts in Nutrition and Food Science prepares students for advanced roles in healthcare, research, public health and the food industry. Our program combines coursework in nutrition, food safety and human health with opportunities for applied research and professional development.

Students develop expertise in assessing nutritional needs, analyzing food systems and promoting health through diet and food policy. Graduates are equipped for careers in clinical nutrition, food regulation, community health and wellness programs or further doctoral studies in the field.

About nutrition and food science

Nutrition and food science both explore food and its role in human life, but they focus on different aspects of the field. Nutrition is centered on how food affects health, examining the relationship between diet and well-being. This includes topics such as disease prevention, dietary planning and the impact of food accessibility on communities. Food science, in contrast, studies the composition, production, distribution and safety of food. This discipline covers areas like food safety, packaging and beverage science, ensuring food remains high-quality and safe from production to consumption.

Prerequisites

All incoming students are expected to have the following undergraduate courses or their equivalent:

Course # Title Credits
NFS 2130/2140 Intro Food Science and Lab 4
NFS 2220 Nutrition Laboratory 1
NFS 3230 Human Nutrition 3
BIO 2200 Intro Microbiology 4
BIO 2870 Anatomy and Physiology  
CHM #### One semester of Organic Chemistry  
XXX #### Courses in biochemistry and statistics are recommended  

View all requirements

Career insights

A degree in nutrition and food science can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are just a few of the many opportunities available in this field.

Career Median salary
Agricultural inspectors $64,000
Agricultural technicians $44,000
Dietitians and nutritionists $71,000
Dietetic technicians $39,000
Food science technician $54,000
Food scientists and technologists $84,000

This data provides a broad overview of how major selection can lead to careers and is provided without any implied promise of employment. Some careers will require further education, skills or competencies. Actual salaries may vary significantly between similar employers and could change by graduation, as could employment opportunities and job titles.

Explore career outlook

Contact 💬

Paul Burghardt, graduate program director
nutrition.grad@wayne.edu