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Dual Degree Program: MS in Nutrition and Food Science/MBA

MBA, MS • Master's

Student in chef's jacket wearing safety goggles working in the food lab

Ready to turn your passion for food and wellness into leadership opportunities? Our dual MS in Nutrition and Food Science/MBA equips you with the scientific expertise and business skills to thrive in today’s growing health and nutrition industries. This STEM-designated, 54–55 credit program combines advanced study in nutrition, food science, and food systems with an MBA curriculum built around innovation, problem-solving, and global strategy.

You’ll take classes in a flexible hybrid format — with some evening, online asynchronous, and live online options — making it easier to balance school, work, and life. The MBA portion is cohort-based, so you’ll move through the core business curriculum alongside the same group of peers, building strong connections and a lasting professional network.

In Nutrition and Food Science, you’ll explore courses in community-based nutrition, wellness, research, food ethics, sustainability, food safety, and policy. Paired with the MBA’s focus on management, finance, and strategy, you’ll graduate ready to lead and innovate across the health and food industries.

Whether you want to launch new food products, assist with planning and coordinating nutrition-based wellness programs, consult with organizations, or build your own food service venture, this dual degree gives you the flexibility to design a career that aligns with your skills and passions. See the curriculum.

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Flexible Learning Format

Full-Time Hybrid

The full-time hybrid format offers flexibility while keeping you connected to a strong learning community. Courses are delivered in the evenings and online through both asynchronous and live synchronous sessions, allowing you to balance academics with work and personal commitments.

The MBA portion of the program is cohort-based, meaning you’ll move through the core business curriculum with the same group of peers — building lasting professional relationships and a supportive network. At the same time, the Nutrition and Food Science coursework gives you options to learn in a way that fits your schedule. Together, this structure combines the convenience of hybrid learning with the collaboration and community of a traditional graduate program.

Focus Your Studies

Want to combine scientific expertise with business leadership? The MS in Nutrition and Food Science/MBA dual degree gives you the tools to succeed in today’s health and food industries. This STEM-designated, 54–55 credit program blends advanced study in nutrition, food science, and food systems with an MBA curriculum focused on strategy, innovation, and problem-solving. You’ll learn in a flexible hybrid format with evening, asynchronous, and live online classes, while the MBA’s cohort model helps you build a strong professional network. Graduates are prepared to lead in careers ranging from wellness and food product development to consulting, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and more.

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Admission Requirements

  • Equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree.
  • Applicants with non-U.S. degrees: Please visit the international applicants page to review U.S. degree equivalency information.
  • Program Qualifications and GPA Expectations: The dual degree conducts a holistic process when reviewing applications and considers students from a wide variety of educational backgrounds. All of the supplemental materials you submit will be carefully considered by the academic department in order to render an admission decision. As a general guideline, it is advised that applicants have a 2.8 GPA or above in order to be considered for admission. Prospective students with a GPA below 2.8 are encouraged to consider applying to the Sustainable Food Practices Certificate program as a first step to possibly continuing on to the dual degree program.

Application Checklist

  • Application Deadline: Rolling admission.
  • Online Application: Submit application and $60 non-refundable fee (or waiver if applicable).
  • Transcript: One from each college attended.
  • Essays/Personal Statement: A 500-1000 word essay responding to the prompt below.
  • Letters of Recommendation: Two.
  • Resume: Required
  • Standardized Test Scores: GRE. If you have earned a bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of a 3.0 or above, you are eligible for a GRE waiver.
Application Essay Prompt

The STEM-designated MBA and MS in Nutrition and Food Science programs each have their particular lens, not easily shared by taking only one or two courses in the other program. The MS in Nutrition and Food Science provides students with nutrition, food science, and food systems. It prepares professionals for careers in nutrition and wellness, healthcare, education and research, food and nutrition administration, nutrition policy, food production, food safety and regulations, and food and nutrition management.

The MBA curriculum is shaped around instilling core business competencies, with a real-world focus on innovative problem solving and global strategic thinking. Having a dual MS/MBA degree program can be a valuable asset in the health industry because it allows graduates to design a career pathway that is uniquely suited to their interests and skills (e.g., corporate wellness, food and nutrition consultant, food product development, sustainability, supplement marketing and sales, and entrepreneurship).

Write a brief 500-1000-word statement about why your career goals or previous experiences lead you to pursue a dual degree that addresses both of these. Please note that this statement is your opportunity to demonstrate your written communication skills as well as your interest in the dual degree program. Therefore, please use your own words to write the statement.


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