Sports Nutrition Emphasis
Coordinated Masters Program- Sports Nutrition Emphasis
The University of Utah’s Division of Nutrition is proud to be one of the few graduate programs in the country and the only PAC-12 University that offers a Sports Nutrition Emphasis. The Sports Nutrition Emphasis is designed to integrate scientific principles of nutrition as they relate to exercise and sports and prepare students to become Board Certified Specialists in Sports Dietetics (CSSD). Selected on a competitive basis, students pursuing the Sports Nutrition Emphasis will obtain supervised training in various aspects of sport and exercise nutrition as part of the practice hours required in the CMP program. Registered Dietitians in the Nutrition Science Masters Program (NSMP) Sports Nutrition emphasis will also complete sports nutrition practicum hours as part of their specialty training.
Course work is taken in both the Division of Nutrition and the Department of Exercise and Sport Science.
Selection
There are approximately four (4) openings per year in the Sports Nutrition Emphasis option which are selected from the overall CMP and NSMP application pool during the admissions process.
Students selected for Sports Nutrition Emphasis will be placed in settings related to sports, exercise, or wellness depending on the interests of the student. The Division of Nutrition offers three main practicum sites. However, opportunities also exist for students to complete practicum hours in various aspects of health such as clinical eating disorders, community health, and corporate wellness.
Careers
After completion of the CMP or NSMP with the Sports Nutrition, students are prepared to become Board Certified Specialists in Sports Dietetics following two years of practice as a Registered Dietitian. Students receive the same training as those completing the general emphasis with the addition of a specialty area – sports nutrition. Graduate students with the Sports Nutrition Emphasis have found employment in a variety of settings including:
- Sports Medicine Clinics
- Collegiate Athletics
- Corporate Wellness
- Research
- University and Community Colleges
- Health and Fitness Clinics
Thesis and Non-Thesis Options
The CMP and NSMP with the Sports Nutrition Emphasis is generally considered a non-thesis track; however, a thesis option is available for interested and qualified individuals.
