Tulane Nutrition

The Tulane Nutrition program offers a variety of academic opportunities for students at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine to further their professional and academic interests related to nutrition and food security.

Tulane Nutrition Academic Options

MPH in Nutrition
The Master of Public Health program in nutrition emphasizes the social and environmental determinants of nutrition problems and how to solve them through nutritional assessment of populations, community nutrition actions, health promotion programs, and food and nutrition policies. The program trains future public health nutritionists to manage programs and shape policies that improve the nutritional health and food security of populations. Two tracks are available to students: (1) a generalist public health nutritionist track and (2) the nutrition - MCH leadership track which interweaves the MPH program with the Tulane Dietetic Internship.

1. Public Health Nutrition Track: This track is ideal for those students without an extensive background in nutrition and dietetics who are interested in gaining the knowledge and skills needed to work as public health nutritionists to improve the nutritional status of populations. Graduates of the program will be equipped to do this through education, advocacy, and public health practice applied to populations at either the community, state, national, or international level.
    
2. Nutrition - MCH Leadership Track: The Tulane Nutrition - MCH Leadership track is meant for those students with dietetic backgrounds who are, or will become, Registered Dietitians, and who seek leadership skills in maternal and child health (MCH). Eligible students must have completed a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Students in this track may be eligible for the HRSA funded Nutrition Leadership Training Program.

Nutrition Leadership Training Program
The HRSA funded Tulane Nutrition Leadership Training Program (NLT) is a unique professional enrichment opportunity available to Tulane students in the MPH Nutrition program who have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the nutritional health status of women, children, and their families. Recipients will improve their leadership skills through nutrition research experience, clinical and community-based field rotations, teaching opportunities, and structured mentorship in addition to the MPH Nutrition curriculum. This program offers eligible students* a taxable stipend of $10,000 as a HRSA funded MCH Nutrition Trainee. This program is typically limited to five (5) new students each academic year.

*Eligible students must have (1) completed a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and (2) be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident.

Dietetic Internship
The Dietetic Internship (DI) is a graduate-level supervised practice program for students who would like to become registered dietitians. It is a full-time non-degree program with a community emphasis.

Program Combination Options
Tulane has two ways to combine the MPH and DI programs. Students pursuing either option may be eligible for a $10,000 stipend as a HRSA funded MCH Nutrition Trainee in the Tulane Nutrition Leadership Training Program.

1. Complete the Tulane MPH Nutrition MCH Leadership track first and apply for a pre-select slot in the Tulane Dietetic Internship (DI) program, avoiding the national matching system (DICAS). Students pursuing this option will begin taking MPH courses over the summer, complete the MPH requirements by the end of the following summer, enter the DI program, and complete both the MPH and DI within 25 months.
    
2. Complete the Tulane Dietetic Internship program first, then enter the MPH Nutrition MCH Leadership track and complete both requirements within 25 months (must apply to Tulane SPHTM for the MPH program through SOPHAS).

Food Security & Resilience Summer Course in Italy 
This unique two-week summer course in Italy is offered to graduate students, specifically students interested in nutrition and food systems. Students learn the elements and dynamics of resilient food systems, as well as the people, communities, relations, and policies that contribute to resilience. The course is taught in an historic convent, and includes lodging, Italian meals, and guided transportation on field trips to local and international food organizations.

Graduate Certificate in Community Health and Nutrition Programs
This graduate certificate serves as a second area of concentration for Tulane SPHTM students enrolled in the MPH*, MSPH, MPH&TM, or MHA degrees. This certificate program is well-suited for those who are interested in gaining additional skills related to community health and nutrition programs in either an international or domestic setting. The courses provide the knowledge and skills to contribute to the design, management, and implementation of community-based health and nutrition programs.

*Students in the GCHB MPH Nutrition program are NOT eligible.

Jobs/Fellowships
Opportunities for Tulane Nutrition and other Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine students are available on Handshake and frequently posted on the TU Nutrition Facebook page. For more information about career services, please contact Catherine Gergen at cpugh1@tulane.edu.

To learn more about the MPH Nutrition program options, please review the website, contact Keelia O’Malley at komalley@tulane.edu, and connect with us at TU Nutrition on Facebook. For more information about Tulane’s Nutrition Leadership Training Program, please contact komalley@tulane.edu and connect with us on TU Nutrition Facebook and tu.nutrition on Instagram.