Master of Clinical Nutrition

The urban growth of the Kingdom, the rapid change in the pattern of life, and the urbanization associated with lack of physical activity and changing dietary habits led to the emergence of chronic diseases and changes in the pattern of nutrition for children. The decreasing rate of breastfeeding and its switch to artificial feeding cause improper health implications for the Saudi society. Clinical Nutrition plays a key role in prevention and treatment of many diseases of this age. Hence, it is important to develop an academic program aimed to qualify graduates with high potential for leadership, training and research in the field of clinical nutrition to be familiar with academic and practical foundations to become an effective element in the provision of dietary care services of high quality, whether for the individual or society in the state of health or disease and have a capacity of leadership in relevant health organizations. Consequently, it is imperative for the Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences to prepare a postgraduate program (MS) in the field of Clinical Nutrition. The program is established in the second semester 1408 -1409 H. A group of citizens of dear homeland joined the program, and after graduation, they have demonstrated high efficiency in their field.

Program objectives:

By the end of the Master's program the student will be able to:

1. Contribute in the training of personnel in the departments of Clinical Nutrition.
2. Provide dietary counseling in collaboration with the medical team.
3. Provide advice to managers and decision makers in the health field, whether relevant health organizations or ministries.
4. Plan and participate in field studies to identify nutritional problems in the community.
5. Participate in the teaching of clinical nutrition in related educational institutions.
6. Conduct research in the field of clinical nutrition with application of the results to improve services in this area.
7. Keep pace with international developments in the field of Clinical Nutrition and specialized scientific research that serve the community.
8. Plan clinical Nutrition programs, develop policy and its control measures necessary for implementation and follow-up.
9. Assess and monitor nutritional programs and their strategies.

 The system of the study:

1. To give the student a master's degree, he must complete 40 credit hours study successfully and submit a thesis about one of the relevant research topics by the end of two academic years and not more than four years for full-time student and five years for part-time student after receiving the approval of his work.
2. The student must register 9 credit hours and not more than 12 credit hours per each semester, 5 hours and 9 hours for part- time student.
3. The student may register for 15 credit hours per semester with the approval of department council if he has special circumstances.
4. The supervisors for the thesis are from staff members  of Department of Clinical Nutrition. The main supervisor may be a staff member at King Saud University from other faculty if the topic of the thesis  is relevant provided that the assistant supervisor must be from the Clinical Nutrition Department.

Procedures and conditions for joining the program:

1. The score: Not less than very good.
2. Major specialty: Bachelor degree in nutrition from a recognized university.
3. Finishing the (internship-concession) period.
4. Pass the written exam for admission.
5. Pass the personal interview.
6. The acceptance for registration is competitive, so the best candidates will be selected as seats available.

Degree conferred by the program: Master of Clinical Nutrition.

Graduation requirements: In order to give the student a master's degree must complete 40 credit hours study successfully and discuss the thesis with acceptance for publication.