The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University was established in 1980 by bringing together biomedical, social, political, and behavioral scientists to conduct research, educational programs, and community service programs in nutrition. It is the only school of its kind in the United States and one of the few institutions in the world to offer an M.S., M.A. and Ph.D. through innovative, interdisciplinary programs in the field of nutrition.
We are the only institution that offers programs of study in all of the following:
- Agriculture, Food and the Environment
- Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition
- Master of Science/Dietetic Internships
- Food Policy & Applied Nutrition
- Humanitarian Studies
- Nutrition Interventions, Communication, and Behavior Change
- Nutritional Epidemiology
No other institution offers collaborative programs with:
- A graduate school of arts, sciences and engineering-Tufts Graduate School of Arts, Science, and Engineering
- A school of medicine-Tufts School of Medicine
- A school of international law and diplomacy-The Fletcher School
Online + On Campus
The Friedman School offers the only blended learning masters degree in nutrition in the United States. Beginning in fall 2013, students will have the option of attending the Friedman School without disrupting career and family obligations through the Master of Nutrition Science and Policy degree program which combines online instruction with residencies on our Boston campus.
We're unique — and we're different. But what is at the core of this uniqueness? What is the driving force behind the research, the education, the scholarship? It is the mission of the school, which is carried out by its internationally distinguished faculty and research staff together with their colleagues — our graduate students. That mission is three-fold:
- The creation of new knowledge,
- The application and dissemination of evidence-based information and
- The education and training of future leaders in the field.
To fulfill this mission, our goals are:
- Influence practice both in the United States and throughout the world. This includes policies and programs related to:
- Food production
- Humanitarian assistance
- Food consumption
- Nutritional status
- Fitness and health
- Clinical practice
- Population behaviors
- Establishment of research priorities
- Attract and retain productive scientists, scholars and practitioners from a wide range of disciplines. These individuals — through their research, teaching, scholarship, and service — create the impact that can influence practice so the nutritional status of populations throughout the world is improved.
- Attract the most promising and committed students and support them in their study and research efforts. Our student colleagues are the future.
Friedman's National Research Council Rankings
In a recent study of research doctorate programs by the National Research Council (NRC), Tufts University's Friedman School was ranked at or near the top of all nutrition doctoral programs.
"Praise from this study reflects the continual emphasis on excellent in teaching that our faculty strives to achieve. I am delighted that this recognition reflects their dedication," commented former Friedman School Dean Eileen Kennedy. Among many factors, Friedman ranked especially high in research, publications and citations.
Using data collected in 2006 from over 4,000 U.S. research doctoral programs, the 2010 NRC study evaluated over 5000 programs covering 62 subject areas at 212 participating universities. The study did not attempt to establish exact rankings but rather to place the programs in a range.
As Patrick Webb, said of the survey, "It is rewarding to note that across most metrics, Friedman nutrition doctorates are ranked among the best in the entire country. These are difficult things to measure with any precision, and one can quibble about methodology, but the broad message from this study is that advanced training, and the biological and policy-relevant research at the Friedman School are rated very highly by the NRC."
The National Academies results with exhaustive data along with explanation of the methodologies are available at their web site: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/Resdoc/index.htm