Online MPH Nutrition, Food Systems and Health

The MPH Nutrition, Food Systems and Health concentration equips current and aspiring public health professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to improve the health of individuals and groups around the globe.

In addition to emphasizing the science of nutrition, this course of study explores behavior change, communication, counseling and the effects of dietary culture on individuals and within communities. Students gain the skills to assess scientific evidence for nutritional guidelines, effectively communicate nutritional information to the public, and evaluate how social, cultural, environmental and community factors affect nutrition-related health outcomes. That means you’ll graduate with a truly integrated understanding of nutrition and the powerful ways it can be used to prevent and combat diverse health concerns.

“The field of nutrition plays an important role in public health and spans from the cell (basic science) to society (public policy). Since food is a basic necessity and is needed for human growth, development and disease prevention, it is essential to determine and understand the causes and consequences of under- and over-nutrition. Nutrition researchers and practitioners use this knowledge to design, implement and evaluate nutrition-related interventions and programs and/or create and influence nutrition-related public policy.“

Kimberly Truesdale, PhD, MSPH
Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition
Concentration Lead for Nutrition, Food Systems, and Health

The online Nutrition, Food Systems and Health concentration prepares you to meet the following Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) competency requirements:

Our Department of Nutrition, a global leader in research and education, is the only nutrition department in the United States jointly situated in a school of public health and a school of medicine. With a curriculum that draws on the expertise of both institutions, students develop a nuanced and well-rounded understanding of nutrition issues.

Through research and practice, Department of Nutrition faculty members — all of whom are dually appointed for the UNC School of Medicine and the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health — are committed to improving the health of underserved and minority populations around the world. They specialize in a variety of topics, including:

The Gillings School of Global Public Health also offers the Nutrition, Food Systems and Health concentration on-campus.

Designed to accommodate full- or part-time schedules, MPH Nutrition, Food Systems and Health emphasizes experiential learning, evidence-based solutions and interdisciplinary knowledge that students can apply right away.

After completing the Gillings MPH Core courses and developing a strong foundation in public health, students are ready for more specialized nutrition courses.

*Students without a prior college course in Human Nutrition will also take NUTR 705: Human Nutrition (3 credits) as an elective.

How can we help individuals, communities and entire populations lead healthier lives through nutrition? Public health professionals who specialize in nutrition are uniquely prepared to answer that question and develop practical, evidence-based solutions. From food security and access to disease prevention, nutrition issues intersect with myriad other sectors, industries and public health disciplines.

“I’m interested in opening a private practice one day and also in mass communications — whether it’s nutrition writing for a magazine or a local news station. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to do public health, so I could gain more experience in nutrition communications instead of just focusing on the individual patient-provider level.”

Anna Feld
MPH Nutrition Student | September 2019 Cohort 

Employment of dietitians and nutritionists is expected to grow by 7% from 2022 to 2032 — faster than the average for all occupations.² 

The UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health MPH Nutrition, Food Systems and Health program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).