Diet and Exercise

Dietetics
The Diet and Exercise program integrates advanced scientific knowledge with practical skills in nutrition, exercise physiology, and health promotion. This program is designed for individuals aspiring to become registered dietitians, exercise physiologists, wellness coaches, or pursue further studies in related health professions.
Program Homepage Program Handbook

This program provides a rigorous academic foundation and practical experience to empower graduates to improve health outcomes through nutrition and exercise interventions, preparing them for leadership roles in promoting wellness and preventing chronic disease.


Degrees Offered:

  • Master of Science (M.S.)

 

How long does it take to earn a degree?

  • Median time to earn the master’s: 2.0 years (Methods)

Peter Clark

pjclark@iastate.edu
515 294-9770
Brenda Emery, Graduate Program Coordinator
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition
220 MacKay Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-1123

Learning Goals

  • Demonstrate understanding and technical competency in the fundamental principles and concepts of nutrition and exercise science.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in interpersonal communication and the ability to work successfully in teams to solve multidisciplinary problems.
  • Effectively prepare and deliver technical information to food science/human nutrition and exercise science professionals as well as to the general public.
  • Find, evaluate, and accurately interpret research literature.
  • Critically evaluate information, including the ability to distinguish verifiable facts from value claims, detect bias, and identify sources of conflicts.
  • Understand the dimensions of issues facing professionals in the field of nutrition and exercise science, including ethical, cultural, and environmental components.
  • Identify important health-related interactions between dietary nutrients and exercise used to assess and design dietary and exercise programs for maintenance of optimal health.
  • Evaluate and synthesize metabolic, dietary, and exercise research to devise advanced strategies in exercise and dietary intervention.
  • Design, conduct, and interpret research.
  • Apply theoretical information to solve practical problems.
  • Submit a paper for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Admission Requirements

Graduate College Requirements:

  • 4 year Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)
  • Academic Records/Transcripts
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA (Program may alter requirement.)
  • Proof of English Proficiency.

Program Specific Requirements:

International Requirements:

  • Financial Statement:  Application
  • English Proficiency Minimum:
    TOEFL Paper (PBT) 550
    TOEFL Internet (iBT) 79
    IELTS 6.5
    PTE 53
    Duolingo (approved through spring 2026) 115

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines:

October 1 of junior year

Application Details:

This program is open to domestic and international students.

Application Instructions