Tulane University, Nutrition

The MPH program in nutrition and food security emphasizes the social and environmental determinants of nutrition and food security problems and how to solve them through nutritional assessment of populations, community nutrition actions, health promotion programs, and food and nutrition policies.

The overall purpose of the program is to train future public health professionals to manage or participate in programs and shape policies that improve the nutritional health and food security of populations. The program addresses problems and solutions across a full spectrum of contexts.

This includes humanitarian crises that are found in low-income countries, problems of sustainable development in low- and middle-income countries, and dual burden problems (under- and over-nutrition) common to middle and high-income countries.

Program Competencies

Students will acquire the core public health competencies through successful completion of the school core courses. The knowledge and skills gained by students in this concentration will vary by student because of the self-direction inherent in this program.

It is expected, however, that students will be well-versed in planning and evaluating community programs, have the knowledge and skills required for community-based work, and obtain hands-on experience by completing a nutrition-based practicum.

Upon completion of the program, the graduate should also obtain the following competencies:

• Identify the major types of food and nutrition related health problems in domestic and international settings and the factors that cause them
• Apply various methods for the assessment of nutritional status and food security of populations, including anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, dietary, and ecological methods
• Design, develop, monitor, and evaluate programs and policies in nutrition and food security
• Analyze nutrition and food security data using statistical software, and interpret and communicate the results of these analyses
• Describe major policies that affect food, nutrition, and health and the processes by which these policies are made
• Demonstrate proficiency in a nutrition and food security specialty area