Faculty of Health Sciences
Introduction
Human Nutrition as a subject has continued to occupy an important position in the world due to the prevailing food and nutrition problems affecting populations in both the developing and developed countries. Problems of food and nutrition continue to deter the development of many people especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, due to inadequate diets, reduced incomes resulting from lack of jobs and high population rates. Other aspects, which affect people in most rural areas include lack of clean water, inadequate health services and unhealthy environments. Therefore, there is need to train people at M.Sc. level in order to increase manpower with advanced knowledge in Nutrition Sciences. Kenya can produce adequate manpower in Nutritional Sciences, who can assist people improve their food and nutrition knowledge and help them overcome the health and nutritional problems through training in foods, nutrition and health issues.
Objectives
The course aims at giving students an advanced understanding of Nutritional Sciences at a master?s level. The course is designed to prepare students for teaching and research positions in colleges and universities. Students are also prepared for research, consulting and administrative positions in private and public sectors, including hospitals and the community that require advanced training. It will be achieved through lectures, practicals/tutorials and training in research.
Admission And Course Requirements
The common regulations for the Master?s degree in the university as specified in the Egerton University statutes shall apply.
Candidates for M.Sc. degree in Nutritional Sciences are required to have an Upper Second Class Honours degree or equivalent in Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics or related programme from Egerton University or any other institution recognized by Egerton University Senate.
Duration of Study
The Master of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences shall, in accordance with the rules and regulations for the Master?s degree programme of Egerton University, extend for a period of not less than eighteen (18) months and not more than thirty-six (36) months for full-time students, or not more than forty-eight (48) for part-time students.
Course Structure
During the period of the study, each candidate shall be expected to undertake course work, examinations, do research and write a thesis. The course work and thesis shall constitute at least 30 and 15 credit factors respectively subject to the recommendations of the Department of Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics to the Senate through the Board of Postgraduate Studies of Egerton University. The programme offers the following three areas of specialization, from which the candidate shall choose one: -
(1) Foods
(2) Human Nutrition
(3) Dietetics
Examinations
The common rules and regulations for Master?s degree programmes shall apply.
The overall assessment of a candidate shall be continuous assessment tests and end of semester examinations, which will account for 40% and 60% respectively.
Courses which are purely practical in nature or seminars shall be assessed entirely by continuous assessment. The letter grade for marks contained will be as follows;
70% and above - A Excellent
60 to 69% - B Good
50 to 59% - C Fair
49% and below - F Fail
