Master of Advanced Study in Maternal and Child Nutrition
Advance your career. Deepen your expertise. Improve the health of mothers, infants, and children.
A flexible, part-time graduate program designed for working professionals pursuing careers in maternal, infant, and child health.
Take a Quick Look at the Program
2 Years
Complete in as little as 6 quarters
36 units
Graduate-level coursework
Part Time
Designed for working professionals
Remote + Live
Live evening classes twice weekly
Admissions Update
Applications for Fall 2026 are closed. | Applications for Fall 2027 will open in October.
Next Information Session: October 7 at 6:30 p.m.
Request an Information Session Link Watch a Past Information Session
Is this program for you?
The MCN program is designed for professionals who want to deepen their expertise in maternal and child nutrition while continuing to work.
Please note: MCN is not an eligible program for international students requiring an F-1 or J-1 visa.
Graduate students seeking careers in health sciences, specifically:
- Administrative positions in public health agencies at local, state and national levels
- Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential
- Lactation consultants (IBCLC)
- Breastfeeding Support Specialist within healthcare organizations
- Maternal nutrition specialists
- Pediatric nutrition specialists
What Makes This Program Stand Out?
Learner-Centered Education
Experience a tailored approach to learning, emphasizing practical skills with a robust scientific foundation.
Work While You Study
Balancing work and advancing your education is achievable with evening courses held twice a week.
Remote Learning
Lectures are live broadcast, giving you the opportunity to participate synchronously from anywhere. Enjoy the benefits of real-time interaction while maintaining flexibility and convenience.
World-Class Faculty
Gain valuable insights and mentorship from faculty members who are internationally known for their groundbreaking research in maternal and child nutrition.
Professional Pathways
- Path to Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) Credential: Fulfills Masters degree prerequisite/Not DPD). Explore MCN Dietetic Internship Partnerships
- Path to International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC): Fulfills the 95-hour lactation specific education requirement. Start Your IBCLC Journey
Career Advancement
Position yourself for a career as a pediatric nutrition specialist, maternal nutrition specialist, or lactation consultant within healthcare organizations or public health agencies.
Curriculum
The program consists of four required core courses (22 units), special topics seminars (4 units), elective (4 units) and a six-unit student capstone for a total of 36 units.
Students may have the option of additional units of clinical lactation internship during the summer between years 1 and 2 of the program.
- Nutrition During Pregnancy
- This course provides students with an understanding of the anatomical, physiological and biochemical changes that occur during pregnancy and early development. Students will learn about nutritional and lifestyle factors associated with fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Nutrition programs and intervention strategies for women with normal and high-risk pregnancies will be evaluated. Students will learn how to assess and identify risk factors that may complicate pregnancy and to plan and participate in collaborative health care interventions.
- Lactation and Infant Nutrition
- This course provides students with an understanding of the physiological and biochemical processes underlying human lactation and growth and development of the infant. Nutritional needs and assessment of both mother and infant under normal and special circumstances will be discussed. Factors associated with infant feeding practices and the consequences of those practices will be discussed.
- Child and Adolescent Nutrition
- This course provides students with an understanding of the relationships among nutrition, growth, and development during childhood and adolescence. Nutritional assessment for normal and high risk groups will be discussed as well as the psychological, social and economic factors that contribute to nutritional status. Students will learn about the nutritional needs of groups such as overweight children and adolescents, athletes and those with eating disorders and will examine and evaluate intervention strategies.
- Applied Research Methods
- The objectives of this course are to provide students with the knowledge and skills to critically review, plan and implement research projects related to maternal and child nutrition. Special aspects of nutrition research will be emphasized, including ethical concerns regarding human studies in cross-cultural settings; study design, sampling and methods for collecting different types of data; as well as management, analysis and reporting of data.
- Special Topic Seminars
- 1. Current Topics in MCN: Principles of Adult Education-Current scientific literature related to Maternal & Child Nutrition in adult education settings. Topics include methods and theories of adult education and critical thinking skills related to research evaluation.
2. Current Topics in MCN: Epidemiology & Evidence-Based Practice-Current scientific literature related to Maternal & Child Nutrition. Topics include epidemiology, evidence-based practice, breastfeeding promotion, and nutritional assessment of populations. - Elective (MCN offers Applied Principles in Lactation Management)
- Applied Principles of Lactation Management (4 units)-Applied concepts in breastfeeding support and human lactation management. Development of breastfeeding care plans that address problems encountered by lactating parents and their infants. Emphasis on evidence-based practice, professional guidelines, and professional standards of practice for lactation consultants.
- Capstone
- Complete a focused capstone project on an MCN topic of your choice during your final quarter.
Program Mission Statement
The educational mission of the Maternal and Child Nutrition Program is to provide excellent learner-centered education to a diverse body of graduate students, cultivating in them the confidence and passion to improve lives and transform the health of the communities in which they will serve as health care professionals. We will strive to cultivate an inclusive environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds feel respected and empowered to develop and implement culturally sensitive maternal and child health programs that provide the best evidence-based care for the diverse populations in the state of California. Learn more about Graduate Inclusion & Belonging.