Master of Science in Foods & Nutrition MScFN Thesis-based Program
The MScFN thesis-based program offers you the opportunity to strengthen your research skills through advanced course work and thesis development under the guidance of a faculty supervisor.
Faculty and staff within the Brescia School of Food and Nutritional Sciences are passionate about providing an invigorating learning environment, where you become empowered to pursue leadership and research opportunities in your future career. This program will prepare you for a fulfilling career in research with organizations such as private corporations, government agencies, health charities, research management agencies, medical institutions and in academia.
You may also continue in education by enrolling in PhD programs. In addition, the MScFN thesis-based program complements those already working in dietetic practice and wanting to advance their research skills and capacity for leadership roles.
The MScFN thesis-based program is comprised of six terms of continous study. Four courses and three milestones are required to complete the program.
- Term 1: Fall (September to December). Students complete two courses and one milestone, all detailed below. Students also begin working with their faculty research supervisor on their thesis milestone which they will continue to work on until completion in Term 6.
- Term 2: Winter (January to April). Students complete two courses and continue their research. The second milestone - Thesis Proposal - should be completed this term, or during the third term. (See more about milestones under the Continuing Students section below.)
- Term 3: Summer (May to August). Full-time focus on completing research.
- Term 4: Fall (September to December). Full-time focus on completing research.
- Term 5: Winter (January to April). Full-time focus on completing research. Prepare for the thesis exam.
- Term 6: Summer (May to August). Complete research. Finalize preparations to complete the thesis exam.
Learn more about the courses and milestones, and what is expected each term, by reviewing the details below.
Fall Term (Year 1 Students)
This course will introduce principles of epidemiology as applied to nutrition. Students will learn about study design, conduct, analysis, and interpretation of epidemiologic studies related to nutritional status, diet and disease relationships. Emphasis will be placed on population-level dietary and nutritional status assessment, and the influence of methods, study designs, and statistical analysis on the interpretation of, and conclusions from research. Using IBM SPSS Statistics, students will learn how to enter and analyze their own data and will develop a conceptual understanding of multivariate statistics.
FN 9888 - Seminar in Food & Nutritional Sciences
This seminar course will provide students with an opportunity to enhance their research presentation skills by viewing and critically appraising other research talks and by gaining experience presenting secondary research data on selected topics in nutrition.
Academic Integrity Milestone: All incoming graduate students must complete Western University's School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) Academic Integrity Module Milestone. Students will be contacted by Western SGPS directly during the first week of the first term in their program with the details about this milestone.
It is expected on weekdays when classes are not scheduled that students will be available for dedicated research work, and course group work and collaboration.
Winter Term (Year 1 Students)
FN 9111 - Food and Nutritional Policies and Regulations (Elective)
This course is designed to provide advanced study of the Food and Nutritional Policies & Regulations for topical/current issues in nutrition, food science, and technology in health and disease.
FN 9211 - Leadership and Food Management (Elective)
Through a broad range of theories, landmark cases, reflective practice, and social learning in school food and literacy, this course offers students a survey of philosophic foundations in school food and literacy leadership/management in public policy and operations with an emphasis on ethics, values, corporate social responsibility, sustainable governance, and human progress across a variety of Canadian and Ontario school food and literacy dimensions including but not limited to public goods, a good life, strategic management, and transformational leadership.
FN 9444 - Advances in Clinical Nutrition (Elective)
An intensive review and critical evaluation of the current medical nutrition management of diverse disease conditions in different stages of the life cycle.
FN 9666 - Community Nutrition and Program Planning (Elective)
An advanced study of the principles and practice of community nutrition and population health promotion, as well as program planning and evaluation. Emphasis placed on critical analyses of population health strategies from awareness-building, nutrition education, and skill-building to community partnerships, supportive environments, and healthy public policy.
It is expected on weekdays when classes are not scheduled that students will be available for dedicated research work, and course group work and collaboration.
Continuing Students & Milestones
Milestones
Students in the MScFN thesis-based program must complete three non-course requirements called Graduate Student Milestones to graduate.
Term One: All incoming graduate students must complete Western University's School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) Academic Integrity Module Milestone. Without successfully completing this module, students will not progress into their second term. Students will be contacted by SGPS directly during the first week of the first term in their program with the details about this milestone.
Each student in the thesis-based program will work closely with a faculty supervisor to develop a thesis topic, submit an ethics proposal, collect and analyze data, and write the thesis.
Preparation for research will begin during the first term, while the student is also enrolled in classes. Together, the student and supervisor will draft a learning contract that will make explicit the expectations for the terms and progress of the research and development of the thesis.
Progress in research will intensify throughout the second term of the first year, as the focus moves toward thesis project design and planning.
Term Two or Three: The second milestone is achieved as the thesis proposal is established, during the second or third term of the program. This milestone is aptly called the Thesis Proposal.
Terms Three to Six: Students focus entirely on their research and thesis. When the student successfully completes their thesis and thesis exam, they earn the third and final milestone - the Thesis in Foods and Nutrition Milestone, which is usually the final program requirement.
Please review the admission requirements for each program stream carefully to see if you are eligible to apply at Admission Requirements.
