UT Austin's Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences Program Launches New Community Nutrition Course

The University of Texas at Austin is excited to announce the launch of a new course in the online Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences (MSNS) program titled Community Nutrition which is designed to deepen learners' understanding of nutrition’s role within community settings. This marks a significant milestone for the online MSNS program as it is the first new course introduced since the program’s establishment in 2017.

Professor Diane Papillion, who brings over 15 years of experience as a registered dietitian and public health professional, will be leading the course. Discussing its inception, she explained, “There has been a strong demand for more coursework in health promotion and disease prevention, particularly within the MSNS program. Students have expressed great interest in learning how nutrition can be applied in community settings to create meaningful health outcomes.”

The course is structured to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of community nutrition from a health professional’s perspective. Key learning objectives include understanding the community nutrition landscape, learning how to develop and implement effective nutrition programs, and applying professional skill sets in diverse community settings. Professor Papillion emphasized the significance of these programs, stating, “Community nutrition programs have been essential public health tools for decades because they work. For example, children who participate in the National School Lunch Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) consistently show better health outcomes throughout their lifetime. This course will help students understand why these programs are so impactful.”

Dr. Lauri Lashinger highlighted the online MSNS program’s flexibility, explaining, “This course was designed to provide high-quality, applicable knowledge in a fully online format. Whether someone is a healthcare professional or an individual looking to transition into the field of nutrition, the asynchronous structure allows them to engage with the material at a time that best fits their schedule.”

Community Nutrition will focus primarily on U.S. based programs and case studies. Learners will explore the historical context of community nutrition, preparation and implementation of programs, and methods for evaluating public health nutrition interventions. The course is entirely online and includes an interactive community-based project, enabling learners to apply their knowledge in real-world settings.

This course is open to all learners enrolled in the MSNS program, especially those in the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention concentration. For more information about the program, concentration areas and enrollment details, please visit the online MSNS program website.