MASTER OF SCIENCE IN APPLIED HUMAN NUTRITION

    Overview

    The goal is to train global professionals with well-developed competencies in community nutrition and interventions, outreach, dietetics practice, good writing and computer skills, public health, food and nutrition policy formulations.

    Expected learning outcomes

    At the end of this course, the learner should be able to:

    1. Demonstrate appropriate leadership and entrepreneurial skills in applied human nutrition.
    2. Assess community nutritional problems from a multi-disciplinary point of view.
    3. Apply information technology in generating realistic and feasible intervention measures.
    4. Implement investigations in the field of applied nutrition and disseminate findings to the relevant stakeholders.
    5. Develop nutrition policy documents that positively impact Human Nutrition actors.

    Course duration and structure

    1. The programme shall take two (2) academic years of four (4) semesters.
    2. An academic year shall constitute 2 semesters.
    3. The Master of Science in Applied Human Nutrition shall be offered by course work, end of semester assessment and thesis. Course work shall not exceed one year.
    4. A total of twelve (12) course units shall be undertaken and passed by all students.
    5. A course unit shall be defined as 45 instructional hours comprising of lectures, tutorials, assignments and practical.
    6. The student shall carry out supervised research culminating into a Master’s Thesis.
    7. A student may be allowed to defer their studies for a period not exceeding one year, as per University policy.

    SCHEDULE OF INTAKE

    Students’applications are processed on rolling bass with admission into classes take  place either in September for 1st semester or January for second semester.

    Minimum admission requirements

    1. The common regulations governing admission into the Masters’ Degree programmeat the University of Nairobi shall apply.
    2. Holders of at least upper second class honours BSc. degree or equivalent in natural and biological sciences, engineering and health sciences or any other related discipline from the University of Nairobi or any other institution recognized by the Senate of the University of Nairobi.
    3. Holders of lower-second class honours degree or equivalent in any discipline from the University of Nairobi or any other university recognized by the University of Nairobi senate with additional relevant training or evidence of research or work experience.
    4. Holders of the pass in BSc degree in any of the degree programmes specified in b) above with working experience of at leastthree years.
    5. Holders of postgraduate diploma from the University of Nairobi or any other institution recognized by the senate of the University of Nairobi. Such candidates must satisfy the minimum requirements for admission to a Bachelor’s degree.
    6. An applicant from a non-English speaking country or a country presenting students with low English proficiency will in addition be required to have a proficiency certificate in the English language.

     

    Credit Transfer and Exemptions

    1. A candidate may be exempted from some course units and credit transferred from university or any other equivalent institution recognized by the senate of the University of Nairobi, subject to the following conditions:
    2. Credit transfer shall only apply for course units.
    3. Must have passed similar course unit at Masters Level.
    4. A candidate may be allowed to transfer up to a maximum of one-third of taught units.
    5. Request for credit transfer should be made in writing on admission through the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture to the Academic Registrar and must be accompanied by officially endorsed supporting documents, transcripts and institution/ university catalogue for the relevant course.
    6. Application for transfer of credit shall be processed only after payment of prescribed fees.

    CAREER PROSPECTS/OPPORTUNITIES

    • Academic institutions
    • Research institutions
    • Hospitals
    • Consultancy firms-self or established
    • Non-Governmental Organizations
    • Food industries
    • Food service industry
    • Food processing industry
    • World Health Organization
    • Food and Agriculture Organization
    • Government parastatals
    • Personal therapeutic food firm

     

    Attachment Opportunities

    Students can be attached but not limited to the following:

    • Hospitals e.g.Kenyatta National Hospital,MoiTeaching  and Referal Hospital, Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital,Kijabe Hospital and many other level 4 hospitals
    • Non-Governmental Organizations
    • Food industries
    • World Health Organization
    • Government parastatals

    Notable Alumni 

    Prof. Ruth Oniang'o

       Year I     Year II     Totals 
    TOTAL UNITS - 17UNITS  Semester 1   Semester 2   Semester 1   Semester 2   
    TUITION         192,000.00      192,000.00     192,000.00          192,000.00    768,000.00
    EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)             7,000.00          5,000.00          5,000.00                            -        17,000.00
    ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)             7,000.00                       -            7,000.00                            -        14,000.00
    THESIS EXAMINATION                           -                         -                         -               30,000.00      30,000.00
    REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)             2,250.00          2,250.00          2,250.00               2,250.00        9,000.00
    ID CARD ( PER YEAR)             1,000.00                       -            1,000.00                            -          2,000.00
    CAUTION - (ONCE)             5,000.00                       -                         -                              -          5,000.00
    MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)             6,500.00                       -            6,500.00                            -        13,000.00
    LIBRARY (PER YEAR)             5,000.00                       -               500.00                            -          5,500.00
    ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)             2,000.00                       -            2,000.00                            -          4,000.00
    STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)             1,000.00                       -            1,000.00                            -          2,000.00
    Grand Totals 228,750.00 199,250.00 217,250.00 224,250.00 869,500.00
    Philosophy, Rationale

    Philosophy 

    The University of Nairobi has been offering the Master of Science in Food Science and Technology since 1984. This programme has become competitive as evidenced by the increased intake of students. The candidates of this course are mainly drawn from learning institutions, the food industry, regulatory authorities and Non-Governmental Organizations that serve the general public. The MSc. Food Science and Technology curriculum was developed in collaboration with various stakeholders and focuses on both the theoretical, practical and preventive aspects of Food Science and Technology throughout the food chain from primary production to consumption.

    The M.Sc. Programme lays a good foundation for the world of work, research, and advanced learning across diverse fields. It imparts practical knowledge and skills in food science and technology.  It aims to produce highly trained professionals with the ability to effectively innovate, generate and promote technologies and strategies; by offering services that reduce and mitigate against malnutrition, food and nutrition insecurity thereby creating a positive impact on human nutrition, health and labour productivity as envisaged in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Kenya’s Vision 2030.The programme is aligned with the UNESCO Standards Classification of Education and Training of 2013. Add information on how we align to SDGs.

    This programme is grounded in the belief that the department should provide quality education and training in food science and technology, among other fields. The department strongly believes in the importance of creation, preservation, integration, transmission and utilization of food science and technology knowledge and skills. The training of Food Science and Technology professionals is informed by the sustained evidence in support of the important and multidimensional role that food science and technology plays in human growth and development; productivity, and wellbeing. Globally, the field has gained greater eminence with the surge in lifestyle-related (non-communicable) diseases as well as increased demand and rationale, for preventive approaches in public health. Training professionals in Food Science and Technology makes a vital human resource development contribution in the reduction of food losses, addition of value to primary food products, efficient utilization of resources in food processing and preservation, sustainable waste management in food processing factories, employment creation, income generation and hunger eradication.

    Rationale

    In order to provide more impetus for the industrialization of food processing, more than just training manpower for the existing job market is required. There is a need for training manpower able to create job opportunities via self-employment and venture into manufacturing opportunities.

    The current M.Sc. degree program in Food Science and Technology has been developed to address the need for producing trained manpower that is more inclined towards self-employment than job employment with emphasis being given to the current trend in the adoption of the technological innovations involving biotechnology as well as information and communication technology in manufacturing and marketing processes in the agricultural and food, medical and pharmaceutical-related enterprises. The food and nutrition sectorsare dynamic, with several changes taking place in recent years, most notably the Kenya government’s emphasis on the Big Four Agenda that includes growth in the manufacturing sector and improvement of food and nutrition security.

    Application Information

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    Mode of Delivery

    Face-to-face mode

    The programme will adopt a face-to-face mode of delivery based on various techniques that include didactic lectures, practical, seminars, case-based learning and tutorials.

    Open and distance learning

    1. Use of various media that are largely home or office-based
    2. Mediated technical learning materials including audio-visual, e-learning materials, will be employed.

    Blended learning

    Blended learning will be adopted through e-Learning and minimal face to face learning.

     

    Contacts of support persons

    Chairman, Dr. G.O Abong, - ooko.george@uonbi.ac.ke

    Evelyne Ishuga – ishuga@uonbi.ac.ke

    Joan Waluvengo – joant@uonbi.ac.ke