Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, & Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion

Advance Your Career with a Degree from Mississippi State

Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, & Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion

The Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion is designed to develop practitioners with the skills and competencies to effectively assess, design, implement and evaluate health promotion programs in a variety of settings.

Next Application Deadline (Spring Semester):
Aug 1, Dec 1, May 15

Semesters Offered:
Fall, Spring, Summer

Number of credit hours:
33 Hours

Tuition per credit hour:
602.50

Instructional Support Fee per credit hour:
$25.00

Tuition and fees listed are subject to change and do not include all possible charges. Additional fees may apply. Please refer to the master class schedule for individual course charges.

Program Highlights

In-State Tuition for All: Students both in and out of state only pay In-State tuition rates.
Fully Online: All courses are 100% online, making them accessible from anywhere in Mississippi and beyond.
The core of the program is designed around coursework that helps students develop the skills and competencies required of entry level health educators as delineated on the Certified Health Education Specialist credential.

Respected Degree from an Accredited University: Earn your degree from Mississippi State University, a nationally recognized research institution and leader in online education.
Flexible Schedule: Courses are delivered asynchronously to accommodate work and life schedules.

Career Opportunities

Health promotion is one of the fastest growing areas of employment in the United States. Organizations who employ individuals with this degree include the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, public health services, schools and universities, healthcare institutions and public policy and lobbying organizations. To learn more about what the Bureau of Labor Statistics says about Health Educators' career outlook, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Some of the potential careers for which this degree prepares you include:

public health educator
health coordinator

community health specialist

Degree Requirements

A student must have acquired a minimum of 33 hours in order to graduate in both the thesis and non-thesis options. Other electives may be taken as approved by advisor. For a complete listing of courses offered each semester online:

Visit the Class Schedule
Select the term, choose "Online Education" as your campus, "FNH" as your subject, and "Graduate" as your level
Click on "Display Classes" at the bottom

Course Number	Course Title	Credit Hours
FNH 8563	Principles of Epidemiology and Health Science Research²	3
KI 8313 EPY 6214	Interpretation of Data in Kinesiology (or approved transfer course) OR Educational and Psychological Statistics	3
FNH 8673 FNH 8000	Applied Projects for CHES (3 hours) OR Research/Thesis (6 hours)	3

Course Number	Course Title	Credit Hours
FNH 8513	Theory and Practice of Health Education²	3
FNH 8523	Health Promotion Techniques	3
FNH 8553	Behavioral Epidemiology	3
FNH 8613	Design and Administration of Health Promotion Programs¹	3
FNH 8653	Implementation and Evaluation of Health Promotion Programs¹	3

Course Number	Course Title	Credit Hours
FNH 6253	Nutritional Biochemistry of Foods
FNH 6373	Career Skills in Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion	3
FNH 6393	Prevention and Control of Disease	3
FNH 6773	Intro to Environmental Health	3
FNH 6783	School and Community Drug Use Prevention	3
FNH 8193	Problems in Health Education	3
FNH 8543	Health Education for Diverse Populations	3
FNH 8623	Current Issues in School Health	3

¹ FNH 8613 is a prerequisite for FNH 8653
² These courses should be the first two classes taken. If these are not available in your first semester, please contact your advisor for alternatives.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to twelve (12) hours of graduate level credits from regionally accredited institutions. The decision to grant transfer credit is made by the advisor and the student’s graduate committee. If you wish to transfer credits, contact your advisor. You will need to provide an official transcript showing the courses you wish to transfer.

Commonly Asked Questions

Will the degree say it was earned online?

No, degree from Mississippi State University do not show whether the requirements were met through online or in-person courses

Who should pursue this degree?

Are you interested in a rewarding opportunity to work with clients and help them understand and improve their health? This is an ideal degree to help you meet those goals.

What Our People Say

"This has been an amazing experience. By being able to attend online, I was able to go back and earn my degree at the age of 34, work full-time, and also enjoy watching my children play sports."

Tammy Jones,
replaceMe

Admissions – Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, & Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion

Ready to advance your education with a flexible, fully online Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, & Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion degree in Mississippi State Online? Follow the steps below to apply for the Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, & Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion at Mississippi State University.

Additional Required Application Step

Complete Identity Verification: Applicants must complete identity verification through Stripe Identity as part of the required application process. This step helps confirm the applicant’s identity before the application can be completed.

Academic Advising

Advising is an essential part of your success in the Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, & Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion program. Whether you're just getting started or preparing to graduate, your dedicated academic advisor is here to guide you every step of the way.

Dr. Leah Pylate

Health Promotion

Assistant Professor

lbp77@msstate.edu

662-325-0401

Meet Your Academic Advisor

Advising Guidelines

Upon university admission, reach out to your advisor to determine the appropriate courses.
Mississippi State University relies on email as its official means of communication for all MSU students.
Check your MSU email daily for important updates. Find instructions for setting up your MSU online on the student services website.

Program Reminders

Ensure to consult with your advisor if you intend to deviate from the program.
If you opt for courses outside your recommended program of study, there is a risk that the classes will not count toward the degree.

Comprehensive Exam

All Health Promotion graduate students who are planning to graduate in Fall 2026, Spring 2027, or Summer 2027 must complete an Application for Degree through myBanner for Students under Academic Records. Students must submit the application and appropriate fee by the applicable graduation deadline.

Students who have not previously completed the comprehensive exam must also complete an Application for Comprehensive Exam form (located in this packet). If you are interested in taking the comprehensive exam, please contact your advisor for more information and applicable deadlines.

The comprehensive exam dates for upcoming terms are:

Fall 2026: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Spring 2027: Thursday, April 8, 2027
Summer 2027: Tuesday, July 13, 2027

Successful completion of the comprehensive exam is a requirement for graduation. To qualify to take the comprehensive exam, students must be within six (6) hours of graduation and/or enrolled in their final semester of the program and must be enrolled in an MSU course, rather than receiving transfer credit, during the semester in which they take the exam.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact your advisor.

Dr. Leah Pylate currently serves as the advisor for Health Promotion graduate students.
Email: lbp77@msstate.edu

Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, & Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion

Tuition & Fees

Apply Now!

myState

Class Schedule

Request Info

Advance Your Career with a Degree from Mississippi State

Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, & Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion

Program Highlights

Career Opportunities

Degree Requirements

Transfer Credit

Commonly Asked Questions

What Our People Say

"This has been an amazing experience. By being able to attend online, I was able to go back and earn my degree at the age of 34, work full-time, and also enjoy watching my children play sports."

Tammy Jones,
replaceMe

Admissions – Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, & Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion

Additional Required Application Step

Academic Advising

Dr. Leah Pylate

Health Promotion

Meet Your Academic Advisor

Advising Guidelines

Program Reminders

Comprehensive Exam

Contact Us

Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, & Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion

Tuition & Fees

Apply Now!

myState

Class Schedule

Request Info

Advance Your Career with a Degree from Mississippi State

Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, & Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion

Program Highlights

Career Opportunities

To find more career opportunities, visit the following links:

Graduates of Our Program Work in a Variety of Settings

Certified Health Education Specialist

Degree Requirements

Research Methods (9-12 hours)

Core Courses (15 hours)

Electives (6 - 9 hours)

Transfer Credit

Commonly Asked Questions

What Our People Say

"This has been an amazing experience. By being able to attend online, I was able to go back and earn my degree at the age of 34, work full-time, and also enjoy watching my children play sports."

Tammy Jones, replaceMe

Admissions – Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, & Health Promotion with a concentration in Health Promotion

Admissions Requirements

How to Apply

Domestic Unclassified Admissions

Readmission

Additional Required Application Step

Academic Advising

Dr. Leah Pylate

Health Promotion

Meet Your Academic Advisor

Advising Guidelines

Program Reminders

Comprehensive Exam

Contact Us

Tammy Jones,
replaceMe