Our mission: To prepare a diverse population of students for careers that focus on behavior change in nutrition and physical activity through communications and interventions based on evidence-based biologic sciences.
This innovative program reflects the collective wisdom of Friedman faculty, students, and alumni. It prepares future leaders to translate the latest science into practice and policy.
Merging nutrition science, health communication, and behavior change, this program prepares graduates to address the most pressing health and nutrition challenges facing our communities and society at large.
Doctoral student Lindsay Tanskey, N10, NG17, teaches third grade students about different kinds of citrus fruits as part of the GREEN Project Lunch Box Study.
The Master's Degree Program in Nutrition Interventions, Communication, and Behavior Change is designed to prepare its graduates for the growing job opportunities available to professionals trained to explain research findings in ways that the public can understand and apply. The Doctoral Degree prepares students to conduct research and generate scholarship in the areas of Nutrition and Physical Activity Interventions, Communication, and Behavior Change.
This program and its faculty are in the Division of Nutrition Interventions, Communication, and Behavior Change.
Prerequisites
To be eligible, applicants must have completed a Bachelor's degree. The school has permanently removed the GRE as a requirement. However, applicants to the Ph.D. program are strongly encouraged to submit GRE scores as they can be helpful in the Admissions Committee’s assessment of readiness for doctoral study. Read more about this new change in admissions policy and what it means for your application to the school. For students taking the GRE who seek to refresh their verbal and quantitative skills, self-study materials and sample questions are available from the Educational Testing Service. Students whose native language is not English must meet TOEFL or IELTS requirements.
Prior course work in nutrition is not required, although many applicants will have taken one, or even several, nutrition courses. Applicants include both registered dietitians and individuals who majored in human biology as undergraduates, as well as those with backgrounds in journalism or liberal arts. Applicants must have demonstrated their ability to master basic science and to communicate effectively.
Students will be required to have completed a minimum of one course in biology and one course in chemistry. They will be strongly encouraged to take a course in physiology and in biochemistry as well and to consider a course in microeconomics. Prospective applicants who are considering the option of becoming registered dietitians will need to be advised about the appropriateness of their science electives to fulfill their specific requirements.
Master of Science
The Master's Degree Program in Nutrition Interventions, Communication, and Behavior Change is a two-year academic program and is designed to prepare graduates for the growing job opportunities available to professionals trained to communicate sound nutrition information effectively. The program combines the expertise of Friedman's own internationally recognized faculty, and the enormous breadth of knowledge available across all the Tufts campuses with a wealth of opportunities for related work experience. Together, the combination of academic courses and practical experience prepares graduates for exciting and rewarding careers in which effective communication makes a difference.
The Nutrition Interventions, Communication, and Behavior Change curriculum includes core courses in three broad areas: nutrition, study design and analysis, and communications and behavior change. Sixteen courses (48 credits) are required for the degree. The exact number of required courses will depend upon the student's prior academic preparation. Unless otherwise noted, each course is equivalent to one credit. A standardized training in ethical treatment of human subjects is also a requirement for graduation.
Doctor of Philosophy
Students enrolled in the doctoral program must have completed courses equivalent to the NICBC master's degree based on previous graduate-level coursework taken either at the Friedman School or elsewhere. Students entering at the Ph.D. level must complete or be exempted from all required courses of the M.S. curriculum. Students in the doctoral program must first pass a written and oral qualifying examination, and then complete and formally defend a doctoral dissertation based on original research. For more information about that application and admissions process for the doctoral program, please click HERE.
Division Faculty
Larissa Calancie
Research Assistant Professor
Virginia R. Chomitz
Associate Professor, Secondary Faculty
Sai Das
Associate Professor
Kimberly Dong
Secondary Faculty, Assistant Professor
Christina Economos
Dean ad interim
Sara C. Folta
Associate Professor
Jeanne Goldberg
Professor of Nutrition Emerita, Research Professor
Daniel Hatfield
Research Assistant Professor
Erin Hennessy
Assistant Professor
Kelly Kane
Assistant Professor
Corby Kummer
Senior Lecturer
William A. Masters
Professor
Perrie O’Tierney-Ginn
Secondary Faculty
Ronit Ridberg
Research Assistant Professor
Susan Roberts
Professor
Jennifer Sacheck
Adjunct Professor
Edward Saltzman
Associate Professor
Nadine Tassabehji
Secondary Faculty
View Current Degree Requirement Worksheet
Current students should refer to the degree requirement worksheet associated with their year of entry for the most accurate course requirements.
The Nutrition Interventions, Communication and Behavior Change curriculum includes core courses in three broad areas: nutrition, study design and analysis, and communications and behavior change. Forty-eight semester hour units are required for the degree. The exact number of required courses will depend upon the student's prior academic preparation. Unless otherwise noted, each course is three semester hour units. A standardized training in ethical treatment of human subjects is also a requirement for graduation. Please refer to the NICBC degree requirement worksheet to review all degree requirements which is also in an abbreviated format below.
Nutrition
The nutrition core provides students with an understanding of basicand applied nutrition. Courses in this area reflect the broad science and policy mission of the school.
The following nutrition science and policy courses are required:
- Nutrition Science (NUTR 245/NUTR 246)
- Nutrition in the Life Cycle (NUTR 301)
- Nutrition and Chronic Disease (NUTR 312)
- Fundamentals of Nutrition Policy and Programming (NUTR 203)
- Economics for Food Policy Analysis (NUTR 238)
In addition to these courses, a standardized training in ethical treatment of human subjects is a requirement for graduation.
Registered dietitians and students who have completed the
undergraduate nutrition requirements that would enable them to become
registered dietitians are exempt from these courses if taken within the
past five years. They must, however, complete a minimum of four full
courses in nutrition.
Study Design and Analysis
The study design and analysis core provides students with the
knowledge to critically evaluate scientific studies, from design to
interpretation. Minimum requirements include two biostatistics courses
and two epidemiology courses. Those who plan to work in intervention
program design, implementation, and evaluation are encouraged to take
Survey Research in Nutrition (NUTR 210).
The study design and analysis core includes:
- Principles of Epidemiology (NUTR 204)
- Statistical Methods for Nutrition Research (Policy) (NUTR 207)
- Regression Analysis for Nutrition Policy (NUTR 307)
- Nutritional Epidemiology (NUTR 305) OR Data Visualization and Effective Communication (NUTR 393)
Registered dietitians and students who have completed the undergraduate nutrition requirements may be exempt from this course.
Communication
- Introduction to Writing about Nutrition and Health (NUTR 220)
- Theories of Behavior Change and Their Application in Nutrition and Public Health Interventions (NUTR 211)
- Communications Strategies in Health Promotion (NUTR 218)
- Writing Well About Food and Nutrition (NUTR 322)
- Communicating Health Information to Diverse Audiences (NUTR 306)
- Social Media for Health and Nutrition Communication (NUTR 213)
- Translating Nutrition Evidence into Multimedia for the Public (NUTR 337; note offered in Fall 2022)
Interventions
- Introduction to Writing about Nutrition and Health (NUTR 220)
- Theories of Behavior Change and Their Application in Nutrition and Public Health Interventions (NUTR 211)
- Management, Planning, and Control of Nutrition and Health Programs and Organizations (NUTR 216)
- Communications Strategies in Nutrition and Health Promotion Nutrition (NUTR 218)
- Community and Public Health Nutrition (NUTR 228)
- Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health (NUTR 272)
- Social Psychology of Eating Behavior (NUTR 273)
- Writing Well About Food and Nutrition (NUTR 322)
Students may cross-register at Boston College, Boston University, and Brandeis University, as well as Harvard School of Public Health for courses of particular interest to them.
Internship Requirements
The internship has several purposes: to give students practical field experience that complements academic study, to give students experience in an institution where they might work in the future, to allow students to determine the kinds of jobs they wish to find after graduation, and to give them an opportunity to make contacts in the professional sphere where they will seek employment.
With the launch of the new Ellie Block and Family Careers Services Center, our support for your career goals has never been stronger. From 24/7 access to a digital resource hub, to job listings and one-on-one appointments with alumni in the field, the Friedman School has stepped up services for every student at the school and for every alum in the field.
Alumni of the Nutrition Communication program report high job satisfaction. As one graduate put it “I never get bored.”
Alumni attributed their high job satisfaction to the fact that their jobs are:
- "Creative"
- "Flexible"
- "Provides me with an opportunity to help others"
- "Provides frequent opportunities to mentor"
- "Diverse"
"I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the process of getting the nutrition story straight."
Where do our graduates work?
In a word, everywhere:
- Private sector
- Public relations
- Publications/media
- Dietetics
- Industry
- Public sector
- Teaching
- Program intervention
- Public health
- Government