Master of Science in Nutrition with a Specialization in Sport Nutrition
Maximize athletes’ performance and deepen your knowledge of nutrition in this fast-growing field.
Program Overview
Learn more about our M.S. in Nutrition – Sport Nutrition
Build a strong career and help others optimize their athletic performance with an online M.S. in Nutrition – Sport Nutrition. This accelerated program is ideal if you aspire to provide sound sports nutrition information to athletes and others who are physically active.
You will learn to expertly analyze diet and health status, assess nutritional deficiencies, and provide evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle guidance. Coursework includes theoretical and practical concepts for the development and monitoring of training programs for strength, fitness and conditioning; weight management; and an examination of the scientific method and its application to the study of nutrition-based research.
Research shows that nutrition has a tremendous impact on sports performance. Demand for nutritionists is expected to grow 11% through 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The credentials you gain from this sport nutrition program can be applied to a variety of settings, including personal training; rehabilitation; and the food, beverage and supplement industry. Sports nutritionists have the training and flexibility to work in fitness clubs, private practices and hospitals, or as consultants for professional athletes and professional athletic teams.
If you are currently a registered dietician, you can receive up to 3 credit hours in the sport nutrition program.
If you are interested in taking the Registration Exam for Dietitian Nutritionist, a Dietetic Internship track is available for those who qualify. Spaces are limited. For more information, please email [email protected].
In this M.S. in Nutrition, you will:
- Gain a deeper understanding of strength, fitness and conditioning training programs
- Research weight management and discover strategies for reducing obesity
- Study the human organism and the role and effects of physical activity
- Explore eating disorders: from identification and cause to treatment and prevention
- Gain expertise in how to improve athletic performance and physical activity
- Gain a deeper understanding of strength, fitness and conditioning training programs
- Research weight management and discover strategies for reducing obesity
- Study the human organism and the role and effects of physical activity
- Explore eating disorders: from identification and cause to treatment and prevention
- Gain expertise in how to improve athletic performance and physical activity
Career outcomes for the M.S. in Nutrition – Sport Nutrition program include:
- Personal Trainer (private training or athletic club)
- Coach or Sport Trainer
- Sport Nutritionist
- Private Chef
- Rehabilitation Coach
- Personal Trainer (private training or athletic club)
- Coach or Sport Trainer
- Sport Nutritionist
- Private Chef
- Rehabilitation Coach
Tuition
Our budget-friendly tuition can be paid as you go
Below is the tuition breakdown for the online M.S. in Nutrition – Sport Nutrition. Our tuition is affordable and can be paid by the course.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Program* |
|---|---|---|
| M.S. Nutrition – Sport Nutrition | $342 | $10,262 |
*University fees are included in the tuition listed. University fees are able to be covered by Financial Aid if you choose to apply and are qualified.
Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice due to action by the Board of Regents or the Texas State Legislature.
In addition to textbooks, some courses may require ancillary course materials that may range up to $150 each. Use of additional resources are at the discretion of each professor.
Total program cost depends upon transfer hours and program advisement relevant to program requirements. For more information, contact a Lamar University enrollment specialist.
Financial Aid
Ready to get started on your degree program online but need help finding ways to fund your education? We can help you discover student financing sources that include grants, loans and other payment options. Learn more about financial aid here.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
When can you start?
Our online M.S. in Nutrition – Sport Nutrition features multiple start dates to accommodate your busy schedule. Find the start date that works best for you and apply before the application deadline associated with it.
| 8 week courses | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring I | 1/16/25 | 12/26/24 | 1/2/25 | 1/7/25 | 3/7/25 |
| Spring II | 3/17/25 | 2/24/25 | 3/3/25 | 3/10/25 | 5/7/25 |
| Summer I | 5/29/25 | 5/8/25 | 5/15/25 | 5/20/25 | 7/31/25 |
| Fall 1 | 8/21/25 | 8/7/25 | 8/7/25 | 8/15/25 | |
| Fall 2 | 9/29/25 | 9/15/25 | 9/15/25 | 9/23/25 |
Now enrolling:
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?
Admissions
Requirements for our sport nutrition program
Lamar University’s online programs have specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please review the admission guidelines carefully. For specific questions or more details, view our admission FAQs.
Admission Requirements:
- Online Application
- Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science or Nutrition
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5
- Submit your application and one-time $25 application fee online
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited university is required
- A cumulative GPA of 2.5
Co-Requisite Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the necessary prerequisites as prescribed for the Master of Science in Nutrition – Sport Nutrition. In some instances, leveling coursework may be required if undergraduate course transcripts do not provide sufficient evidence for successful mastery of cognitive and/or practical applied skills and abilities as related to the program. All leveling courses are taken online.
*All applicants must submit official transcript(s) indicating: 1) The conferred bachelor's or master's degree as required for the program of application from a regionally accredited US institution or its equivalent. 2) The transcript of the most recent attendance if it differs from the institution of the conferred degree. This requirement applies regardless of the length of time in attendance and regardless of whether credit was earned or is desired. However, if a department or program wishes to review additional transcripts from prior attendance for decision purposes, the department or program may directly request the applicant to submit the official transcript(s) to the Office of Admissions for processing. Students must be eligible to re-enter all colleges and universities previously attended. Failure to disclose previous college attendance is justification for revocation of acceptance and dismissal from Lamar University.
Send all required documents to:
Lamar University Online Admissions
PO Box 10017
Beaumont, TX 77710
OR
Submit electronically to [email protected]
Check to see if the program is offered to residents in your state before applying by clicking here.
Courses
Here's what you'll learn in our online sport nutrition program
The M.S. in Nutrition – Sport Nutrition online program consists of 10 courses (30 credit hours), which includes 9 hours of core coursework, 18 hours of concentration courses in nutrition and kinesiology, and 3 hours of electives. There is no clinical requirement.
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) can receive up to 3 hours graduate credit in the M.S. in Nutrition program. Proof of current RDN registration must be provided to the M.S. in Nutrition program director after acceptance into the program to receive credit. The 3 credit hours in lieu of coursework credit hours can be earned from one of the following courses:
- NUTR 5309 – The Energy Nutrients
- NUTR 5332 – Vitamins & Minerals
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Interpret and evaluate current nutrition research literature.
- Demonstrate effective written communication utilizing professional, reflective, and research-based skills.
- Design a proposal for a hypothetical community nutrition intervention applying evidence-based guidelines, scientific literature, and systematic reviews.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Calculate and interpret parametric statistics to include those of central tendency, variability, correlation, regression, t-test, ANOVA, power, and effect size.
- Calculate and interpret nonparametric statistics to include chi-square and correlation.
- Demonstrate an understanding of which statistical procedures are appropriate with different data types.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Finalize and submit, in writing and verbally, a proposal for carrying out a hypothetical community nutrition intervention.
- Create a resume utilizing a professional profile approach.
- Formulate intentional life-long learning activities as a part of a career development plan aimed at refining professional expertise.
Sports Nutrition Concentration: Required Kinesiology Courses (9 hours)
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Evaluate scenarios of various athletes/athletic events and correctly interpret which metabolic system is primarily used and which muscle fiber type is primarily responsible for the activity.
- Identify components of the cardiopulmonary system and describe key concepts of cardiopulmonary regulation at rest and exercise.
- Distinguish between acute and chronic adaptations to exercise with relation to neuromuscular and cardiopulmonary adaptations.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyze epidemiological trends related to overweight and obesity status.
- Recognize evidence-based intervention, monitoring, and evaluation strategies for weight management.
- Identify strategies utilized in weight management within community settings.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyze the etiological factors involved in the development of eating disorders in diverse populations.
- Appraise instruments used in screening and establishing the prevalence of eating disorders.
- Investigate the occurrence of eating disorders among specific populations including athletes.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Formulate strength & conditioning protocols based on existing knowledge of the physiology of muscle structure and function.
- Elaborate on various anaerobic and aerobic training protocols and the specific aspects of strength & conditioning in various athletic populations to design protocols using the principle of specificity of training.
- Demonstrate comprehension of research articles within a given area of strength and conditioning.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate mastery of the difference between the physiological need for micronutrients and the impact micronutrient supplementation has on athletic performance.
- Integrate hydration strategies into an athlete’s exercise prescription based on the environmental conditions and physiology of the athlete.
- Elaborate on various strategies for protein supplementation for increased muscle protein synthesis and to aid recovery for specific classes of athletes.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyze energy and nutrient needs in the continuum of sports nutrition from general fitness to the elite athlete.
- Evaluate sport nutrition recommendations including the use of ergogenic aids.
- Apply practical sports nutrition knowledge to individual athletes in their specific sport/activity.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Explain how the body processes carbohydrate, fat, protein, and alcohol.
- Interpret how the body utilizes the energy nutrients under different conditions.
- Explain the health effects of the energy nutrients.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Describe how principles of motivational interviewing skills influence the stages and processes of health behavior change.
- Explain how communication and cultural competence are key to the nutrition professional.
- Implement skills necessary to plan, apply, and evaluate learning in working with clients.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Assess Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and explain its categories, principles, and scope.
- Distinguish the differences in the principles and clinical assessment techniques between conventional medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and the treatment options used in TCM.
- Evaluate the scientifically supported complementary/integrative nutrition therapy options and other commercial products on their safety and effectiveness in managing a health/disease condition such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, cancer, or diabetes.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Interpret the impact that worldview, religion, and health have on dietary practices.
- Describe how principles of cultural competence can be used to integrate healthy food choices into various cultural food patterns.
- Explain how cultural food patterns contribute to diseases of under- and over-nutrition.
