The Master of Science in Plant-based Nutrition at Loma Linda University's (LLU) School of Public Health (SPH) is an innovative program designed to meet the growing demand for expertise in plant-based nutrition. As the first of its kind, it builds on LLU's rich legacy in vegetarian nutrition.
This MS program provides students with advanced training in nutritional science, emphasizing plant-based nutrition through both coursework and non-course activities. Our evidence-based curriculum focuses on the role of plant-based dietary practices in human health and the environment. We offer a variety of courses that explore the impact of plant-based diets on disease prevention, health promotion, and longevity.
The program requires a minimum of 48 units and culminates in a research project with either a publishable manuscript or a written report. As a non-thesis MS program, it also includes a written comprehensive examination.
Connect with Dr. Michael Paalani, Program Director, at mpaalani@llu.edu.
This program prepares students for diverse careers in nutrition, including:
The program met all my expectations and has prepared me for my next career journey. The professors are very knowledgeable and are great mentors for students, even virtually. The master’s program was equally challenging and rewarding. Since this program is online, I was able to learn from home while working part-time in a community pharmacy. This program is ideal for anyone in healthcare who wants to expand their career in the plant-based nutrition sector.
By the end of the program, the graduate should be able to:
Comprehensive examination
The MS Nutrition program requires that students complete a culminating research activity (NUTR 694- Research) carried out under the supervision of the program faculty. The deliverable will be either a publishable peer-reviewed manuscript, or a written project report. Students will also present their work in an oral presentation to their program faculty.
Pioneers and leaders in vegetarian nutrition research at LLUH. Our researchers have contributed to growing the science in this field from the early days of establishing the adequacy of vegetarian diets to ongoing research on the role of plant-based diets, plant foods, and plant nutrients for health promotion and disease prevention, to more recently growing the research in the area of sustainability and planetary health.
Currently, the faculty in the nutrition program at LLUSPH are recognized as leaders in scientific inquiry and research related to vegetarian and plant-based nutrition.
Individuals who hold a baccalaureate degree in science, or registered dietitians, physicians and other health professionals who desire to apply evidenced base for plant-based diets in their practice, those who want to pursue a PhD in nutrition, working professionals that need a graduate degree in nutrition that is online, health educators who want to communicate the health benefits of plant-based eating for health promotion, students motivated to promote sustainable diets, and those interested in lifestyle nutrition.
Faculty specializing in plant-based nutrition research have conducted several clinical trials and nutritional epidemiological and nutrition education studies that have resulted in numerous journal and textbook publications and presentations at scientific conferences.
This is a large study spread across the United States, with LLU being one of the five research sites. Other collaborating research sites include the University of California at Los Angeles, Tufts University, Pennsylvania State University, and Wake Forest University. This study is an intervention with or without avocado for six months.
The HAT study is a research project aimed at answering whether eating one avocado daily for six months impacts the amount and distribution of fat in the body.
AHS) is a series of long-term medical research projects of Loma Linda University to measure the link between lifestyle, diet, disease, and mortality among Seventh-day Adventists.
Seventh-day Adventists have a lower risk than other Americans of certain diseases. Many researchers hypothesize that this is due to the dietary and lifestyle habits ascribed to by Adventists. It provides a unique opportunity to answer scientific questions about how diet and other health habits affect the risk of developing certain chronic diseases.
With 96,000 Adventist participants in the U.S. and Canada, AHS-2 is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies of diet and cancer in the world.
The first large study to test if walnuts play a part in healthy aging, particularly with regard to cognition, eye health, inflammation, risk factors for heart disease, and nutritional status.
The purpose of this study is to test the health benefits of powdered food made from fermented soybeans. The primary goal of this study is to determine whether this powdered fermented soy food can lower the risk factors for heart disease and other conditions.
| Quarter | SOPHAS: All Applicants | Secondary: All Applicants |
| Spring 2025 | February 1, 2025 | February 15, 2025 |
| Fall 2025 | August 1, 2025 | August 15, 2025 |
Get details on the standard cost of attendance on the LLU website.
Program Director
