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Contact information

Kerrie Zigler, Program Director

Western Region Graduate Program

Students with residence in the Western states pay in-state tuition through the WRGP Program.

About Accordion Closed
The MPH Nutrition Program at NAU is a 24-month residential program that includes graduate courses in public health and dietetics along with supervised experiential learning. Our instructors and preceptors are dedicated to preparing students to serve the public health and nutrition needs of Northern Arizona communities and beyond. Students progress through a series of graduate-level courses in public health and nutrition that include learner-centered teaching approaches. Courses include innovative uses of simulation and service learning activities so that students don’t just learn about public health and nutrition, they learn how to apply these concepts into real world settings.    The MPH Nutrition Program is an accredited Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Examination. Contact information for ACEND: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995. 800/877-1600, ext. 5400. 312/899-0040. Fax: 312/899-4817. acend@eatright.org. www.eatrightpro.org/acend.      While the state of Arizona does not currently have licensure for registered dietitian nutritionists, we understand that you may end up moving out of state following completion of our program. For more information on licensure in other states for the Health Sciences MPH in Nutrition, view NAU’s Professional Licensure by State table. While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND's considered opinion that the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND-accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state's licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license. Learn more about state licensure and certification.

Mission and Vision Accordion Closed
Mission   The mission of the NAU Master of Public Health Nutrition program is to prepare graduates, through learner-centered educational strategies, research, and public service, to practice as Registered Dietitian Nutritionists who support the advancement of population health and the prevention of disease for diverse, underserved communities.  Vision   The MPH Nutrition program’s vision is to advance population health and achieve global health equity through education, research, and public service. 

Admission Requirements Accordion Closed
Baccalaureate Degree Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from a four-year college or university, or its international equivalent with a 3.0 GPA or better in any subject. Students who earned a degree in nutrition/dietetics and have received a verification statement are eligible to apply, as are students who earned a degree in any other subject, as long as they have completed the required pre-requisite courses prior to admission. 

Course Plan Accordion Closed
The MPH Nutrition program is completed in a cohort model, meaning that coursework must be completed exactly as outlined in the course plan. Supervised Experiential Learning Supervised experiential learning is incorporated throughout the program through the use of classroom-based simulation and collaborative projects with local nutrition and public health agencies. In the final six months of the program, students will be placed at supervised experiential learning rotations in clinical nutrition, foodservice management, and public health. Supervised experiential learning sites may be up to one hour’s drive outside of Flagstaff. Possible supervised experiential learning placements include: Clinical Nutrition
    • Flagstaff Medical Center
    • Fresenius Renal Care 
    • US Renal Care  
    • Summit Healthcare 
    • Verde Valley Medical Center
    • Tuba City Regional Health Care
    • Whiteriver Indian Hospital
    • Winslow Indian Health Care Clinic 
    • On the Brink Nutrition  
    • Spectrum Nutrition  
Foodservice Management
  • Aspire Transitional Care  
  • Coconino County Senior Services (Congregate Meals/Meals on Wheels) 
  • Flagstaff Medical Center
  • NAU Campus Dining (Sodexo)
  • Flagstaff Unified School District
  • The Bluffs of Flagstaff Senior Living  
Public Health Nutrition
  • Coconino County, Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
  • AM Nutrition
  • Coconino County SNAP-ED
  • Coconino County Senior Services
  • Flagstaff Community Market  
  • Inspire
  • Native Americans for Community Action
  • Evolve Nutrition
Integrated Learning Experience

Each student completes a graduate project, the Integrated Learning Experience, that aligns with their chosen public health concentration. As part of the first year MPH coursework, students learn how to write a project proposal and learn methods to support their ability to plan a project. Students identify a public health agency and the Integrated Learning Experience is planned out to benefit or support an agency. MPH students should coordinate with a public health agency and develop a project that benefits the agency. Students will also have a faculty member mentor from the Department of Health Sciences. Students can develop their own Integrated Learning Experience project and propose the project to an agency and faculty member with similar interests. The final project is submitted in the Spring semester Graduate Seminar class in the form of a submitted written product and an MPH Conference presentation.

Applied Practice Experience During the semester that the student completes the 3-unit applied practice experience, students complete pre-planned tasks and deliverable products to demonstrate attainment of their selected CEPH competencies.

Application Accordion Closed
  • Applicants must submit application materials in the following two places prior to the January 15th deadline:
  1. NAU Office of Graduate and Professional Studies (OGPS) Admission website
  2. Dietetic Internship Central Application Services (DICAS)
  • Application Fee. Applicants must pay the following application fees for both application systems:
    • NAU OGPS application: $65
    • DICAS application: $50 to apply to one program + $25 for each additional program
  • Resume or Vita. Include your resume or vita in both your NAU OGPS and DICAS applications.
  • Personal Statement. Please write a one to two page letter of personal introduction and professional intent. Include the following information in your personal statement and submit your personal statement in both your NAU OGPS and DICAS applications:
    • The concentration to which you are applying
    • Your academic focus or interest areas in health and wellness
    • Your professional goals and how the MPH Nutrition program at NAU aligns with these goals
  • Supplemental Question. In addition to the personal statement above, please answer the following supplemental question in ONLY your DICAS application:
    • Please describe your current understanding of public health. Why is it important for dietitians to also have knowledge and skills in public health? In what ways would earning a degree in public health enhance your abilities as a dietitian? (Please answer the following essay question in approximately 200-250 words). 
  • Transcripts. Submit transcripts from all colleges and universities attended that contributed to the baccalaureate degree as well as transcripts documenting completion of the pre-requisite courses (see Admission Requirements above). Please submit transcripts in your NAU OGPS and DICAS applications.
  • Supplemental Application Materials (only if applicable). If applicable, please include the following documentation in your NAU OGPS and DICAS applications:
    • If you are enrolled in a pre-requisite course the same semester you apply, please include evidence of enrollment in final pre-requisite courses.
    • If you opted to complete the ServSafe® exam in place of a college-level food safety and sanitation course, please upload your ServSafe® certification.
  • Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The Graduate Record Examination is NOT required and is NOT used to evaluate applicants.
  • Letters of Recommendation. Applicants need three professional references, which will be submitted by recommenders through the DICAS Application on their behalf. At least one reference should be a faculty member. At least one reference should be a supervisor or manager. The third reference can be either a supervisor/manager or a faculty member. (Applicants are encouraged to request letters of recommendation from faculty and supervisors at least 3-4 weeks prior to the application deadline.)
  • International applicants: Applications submitted after January 15 will not be evaluated for admission, please apply to the next available admission term.
If English is not your native language, you must provide proof of English proficiency from one of the following testing agencies on your NAU Graduate Admissions Application: Center for International Education- NAU Attention: Meaghan Gruber 523 S Knoles Drive PO Box 5598 Flagstaff, AZ 86011 The minimum English proficiency scores for most programs are: 80 (TOEFL iBT) or 6.5 (IELTS). Scores must be sent directly to the Center for International Education from the Testing Institution. The TOEFL/IELTS may be waived:
  • If you are a native speaker of English. Native speakers are considered applicants who are from and have completed a high school or university education at an institution in an English-speaking country. List of English speaking countries can be found at https://legacy.nau.edu/cie/education-abroad/programs/english-speaking-countries/
  • If you have earned a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from a U.S. university or college.

Program Cost Accordion Closed
Learn more about up-to-date tuition, fees, and estimated living expenses for all NAU graduate programs. Financial Aid The NAU Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid can help students apply for Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Scholarships, fellowships and awards may also be available. Visit the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies website and hover over Resources in the navigation bar for more information. Graduate assistantships are sometimes available within the department, depending on available research funding. College level assistantships are also available. If you live in Western states you may qualify for the WRGP program which allows you to pay in-state tuition. Visit the WRGP website for qualifying state residence.

FAQs Accordion Closed
Q: Is this program offered online?
A: No. The majority of courses are taken on the Flagstaff Mountain campus and courses are typically Monday-Thursday in the afternoon and/or evening. Supervised experiential learning rotations – completed in the final Spring and Summer semesters – are also located in Flagstaff and surrounding communities. However, the following courses in the summer and during supervised experiential learning rotations are provided as asynchronous online courses: HS 511, HS 572, HS 698, NTS 657.
Q: Will I be eligible to sit for the RD exam when I am finished with this program?
A: Yes. Once the program is completed and all competencies have been passed, you will be eligible to sit for RD exam through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Verification statements and test eligibility will be issued after the degree is conferred by NAU.
Q: Do I need to have an undergraduate degree in nutrition or dietetics to be accepted into this program?
A: No. Applicants are only required to have a bachelor’s degree; it does not have to be in nutrition, dietetics, or any related field. The only requirement is that you complete the list of pre-requisite courses (basic/intro nutrition, basic/intro statistics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, anatomy/physiology, microbiology, biochemistry, and food safety/sanitation).
Q: How do I determine if a course I took will “count” as a pre-requisite course?
A: If the course was a college-level course taken at an accredited university and the title of the course is similar to the titles of our pre-requisite course requirements, then chances are good that the course will “count” as a pre-requisite. If you have any concerns or questions about a specific course, contact the program director at  Kerrie.Zigler@nau.edu  and include the course number, institution, and course description in your email.
Q: I’m having a hard time finding the food safety and sanitation pre-requisite course at my local community college. Any suggestions?
A: You may take a ServSafe course online and sit and pass the ServSafe exam in lieu of taking a college level food safety and sanitation course. Please upload the ServSafe certification in your application.
Q: How many students do you accept into your program each year?
A: We accept 12 students into our MPH Nutrition program each year.
Q: Do you accept students into your program in the fall to start in the spring?
A: No. We only accept applications to start in the fall.
Q: If I miss the priority deadline of January 15 will you still have openings?
A: Not likely. We typically fill our spots with those who applied prior to the January 15 priority deadline. You are welcome to submit an application up until April 1st, but it is very unlikely that your application will be reviewed.
Q: How do you evaluate applicants? What do you look for in applicants?
A: Applicants are evaluated based on their GPA; writing ability (as demonstrated in the personal statement); general fit for the program based on career goals and interests; previous experience managing multiple commitments; interest, experience and readiness to serve underserved communities; and letters of recommendation.
Q: Do you consider applicants with GPAs lower than 3.0?
A: Yes, we will still be able to review your application. We have a holistic approach to reviewing applicants, meaning that we consider life and work experiences, writing abilities, and overall fit for the program, and not just overall GPA. We also look at GPA of the last 60 units and general grade trajectory. Students with inconsistent grades in their last few semesters of their undergraduate program will likely not receive interviews. Note: International applicants cannot be considered if they have a GPA lower than 3.0
Q: Do you interview applicants? If so, how many do you interview?
A: Yes, we hold 30-minute video conference interviews with our top 25 applicants.
Q: If my undergraduate degree is in nutrition and dietetics, will I be able to skip out on taking some of the courses you have in the course plan which are similar to courses I’ve already taken?
A: No. The NAU program uses different accreditation standards than your undergraduate program and therefore you must take all courses on the course plan as listed regardless of previous coursework.
Q: Are there assistantship opportunities or other opportunities for funding?
A: There are a few graduate assistantships offered at NAU and prospective students are encouraged to check the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies website assistantship list frequently during the semester they are applying. Check current "at large" assistantship openings at the bottom of the Graduate Assistantships page. There are very few graduate assistantships currently offered within the Health Sciences Department. However, students can apply for TA and RA positions that provide hourly pay (no tuition waiver).

Meet Current or Former Students Accordion Closed

Student Spotlight

Brittany Dawn Jim
bj236@nau.edu   Ya’at’eeh! My name is Brittany Dawn Jim, and I am Diné-Navajo. I am a mother of two beautiful children and am currently in my second year of the Master of Public Health (MPH) Nutrition program at Northern Arizona University (NAU). Born in Arizona and raised on the Navajo Nation, I graduated summa cum laude with an associate’s degree from Diné College. I then continued my education at Fort Lewis College, earning a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science-Physiology and graduating magna cum laude. After completing my undergraduate education, I returned home to the Navajo reservation to pursue a career goal of promoting physical health and wellness. I had the opportunity to work with the Diabetes Prevention Program and the Health Promotion Disease Prevention Program, serving as a Diabetes Program Specialist and Physical Activity Specialist. In these roles, I worked closely with community members, organizing and leading initiatives such as the Get Fit Challenge, the Hiking Series, the Just Move It Walk & Run Summer Series, and a Garden Expo. I also conducted group functional strength training classes and delivered presentations about the benefits of physical activity and exercise. During my time with these programs, I recognized a significant need for nutrition education and guidance within my community. Witnessing the high rates of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and other nutrition-related chronic diseases motivated me to seek further education focused on nutrition. This insight led me to enroll in the MPH-Nutrition program at NAU. As I enter my second year in the program this fall (2024), I reflect on the wonderful opportunities I have experienced so far. The program is rigorous, yet it is guided by a team of valued professors who are experts in public health and nutrition. I have explored new topics such as epidemiology, biostatistics, research methods, and program evaluation. Initially, these subjects felt intimidating, but I have come to appreciate the importance of data analysis, program evaluation, and management. I enjoyed the critical thinking involved in case study evaluations and the ADIME (Assessment, Diagnosis, Intervention, Monitoring, and Evaluation) process in my medical nutrition class. The motivational interviewing course was especially impactful, equipping me with tools to support future patients seeking behavioral change therapy in nutrition. Additionally, courses focused on health inequities and disparities have deepened my understanding of the importance of delivering quality, culturally competent, and respectful healthcare. These insights are crucial as I prepare to work in my Navajo community, which faces various health disparities and challenges. In my final year of the program, I am excited to start my Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) project, where I plan to participate in a research initiative promoting a plant-based diet to improve overall health. This project builds upon a curriculum originally designed and geared towards traditional Navajo nutrition. It is led by one of my professors, who has a background in exercise physiology, prestigious research experience, and recently received her registered dietitian credential. I am confident that I will learn a great deal from this opportunity. I also look forward to applying everything I have learned to provide real-life support and guidance for patients in need during my clinical rotations. Additionally, I am eager to work under the supervision of a registered dietitian to gain more insight into this wonderful career. Upon completing my education at NAU, I plan to work as a registered dietitian on the Navajo reservation, focusing on promoting holistic health and nutrition-related chronic disease prevention with youth and adults.
Lizzy Schmitter
es2625@nau.edu
Lizzy Schmitter is a recent graduate of the Master of Public Health - Nutrition program at Northern Arizona University, where she was the program’s 2024 distinguished graduate student. She is from Colorado and received her undergraduate degree in International Studies and Economics from the University of Denver. Prior to starting her graduate studies, Lizzy spent ten years working in restaurant technology and software sales before deciding to make a major career change by embarking on the journey to become a Registered Dietitian. Although she didn’t have undergraduate experience in nutrition and it had been 10 years since she was last in school, her career experience equipped her well for NAU’s MPH program by teaching her a lot of practical skills that applied to the demands of a graduate program.
In addition to being a student, Lizzy worked as a Research Assistant during her time in the MPH program on an NIH-funded project examining gender differences in physical activity in jails. Her research focused on evaluating dietary intake among incarcerated populations. She also taught undergraduate introductory nutrition lectures and worked as a teaching assistant for the MPH program’s biostatistics course. Post-graduation, Lizzy is staying involved with NAU by instructing with the Health Sciences department again and continuing her work as a Research Assistant with NAU’s Center for Community Health and Engaged Research. She is also doing research, data analysis, and program evaluation for Pinnacle Prevention, an Arizona-based nonprofit whose mission is to cultivate a just food system and opportunities for joyful movement across the state. She is grateful for all of her time in the MPH Nutrition program, as her experiences in the program along with the personal and professional connections she made along the way have presented her with multiple purposeful career opportunities that align with her interests in nutrition security, food systems, and the social and structural determinants of health.
Josie Carter, MPH Nutrition Class of 2023
jp3226@nau.edu Josie is passionate about sharing her knowledge about nutrition to improve community health in the Southwest. Josie’s journey towards community nutrition started in 2011 when she served with AmeriCorps within a rural, low-income community health center in Washington state. Working with patients to help them improve their health through food ignited a fire within her and set her on the path she is on now. Josie graduated magna cum laude from Fort Lewis College in 2017, with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health as well as a certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In 2023, Josie graduated from the NAU MPH program and received the honor of distinguished graduate student in the nutrition program. She is now a registered dietitian, a part-time instructor in the NAU Health Sciences department, and recently completed her first year in the NAU Interdisciplinary Health PhD program. Her primary interest is in maternal and child nutrition, as she feels strongly about the power of healthy eating habits from a young age and the kind of trajectory this can set someone’s life on. In her free time, she loves cooking with her kids, listening to audiobooks, and dabbling with ultramarathons.  
 
Department of Health Sciences
Location
Room 435 Building 60
Student and Academic Services
1100 S. Beaver St.
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Mailing Address
PO Box: 15095
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
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