Nutrition Science
Holy Cross offers a cooperative program with the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy for students interested in pursuing careers in the diverse field of nutrition. This unique, interdisciplinary program is ideal for students interested in the microbiome, agriculture and environment, food economics, data science and AI or planetary health. The program is open to students of all majors. Your advisor offers one-on-one guidance to connect you to the resources and tools that will enable you to achieve your individual career goals.
How it Works
Students must complete 32 courses at Holy Cross, their Holy Cross major, all common area requirements, and take up to four graduate level classes at the Friedman School in their junior and senior years. The Friedman School’s M.S. in Nutrition program offers 14 specialization areas, including:
- Agriculture, Food, and Environment
- Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition
- Climate, Sustainability, and Food*
- Community Interventions and Behavior Change
- Data Analytics & AI in Nutrition*
- Food Policy, Programs, and Economics
- Food Systems Modeling
- Humanitarian Assistance*
- Nutrition Communication
- Nutrition, Diet, and Disease Across the Lifecycle
- Nutrition Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Nutrition Equity
- Nutritional Epidemiology and Public Health Nutrition
- Nutrition Science and Policy (online only)*
- A “Build Your Own” track for highly individualized study
*Indicates specialization is available online.
Students can complete the master’s degree in as little as one year in the online program or 1.5 years in the residential program following their May graduation from Holy Cross, with tuition savings of up to 25% off the total cost of the M.S.
Requirements
During sophomore year, students can seek advising on which courses will be available to take their junior year.
- Students may apply to the program beginning spring of their junior year.
- Students complete up to four graduate level classes at the Friedman School.
- Tufts courses are offered in multiple modalities: online asynchronous, online synchronous, in-person and hybrid: a combination of on campus students joining with students online.
- Students may take courses at Tufts during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters
- Two of the four Tufts courses will double count toward your Holy Cross degree, and the other two courses will be applied to your MS upon acceptance to the program. No tuition will be charged for these four courses.
- To be eligible for admission, applicants must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 or above, and have demonstrated their commitment and ability to succeed in the program through previous coursework, including at least one course in general biology, chemistry, or physiology (with a grade of B- or higher).
- Once a student is admitted into the M.S. in Nutrition program, they may count any of the Tufts courses toward Holy Cross credit, subject to the 2 course online limit.
-
Gaby Avila-Bront
Health Professions Advisor, Associate ProfessorAreas of Expertise Physicals and Materials -
Kirsten Hagstrom
Associate Health Professions Advisor, Senior LecturerAreas of Expertise Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics