Impact Articles
LU's M.S. in Nutrition: "The Best Experience I've Had in My Academic Life!"
While a student at the University of Brasilia, Mateus Cambui Milhomens, a native of Brazil, seized the opportunity to study abroad. As a nutrition major, he was able to temporarily relocate to the U.S. to study diet and nutrition at Baylor University in 2014, where he met his partner. When his study abroad time ended, Milhomens returned home to Brazil, completed his undergraduate studies, and graduated with a B.S. in Human Nutrition in 2016.
Missing the ties he made in the U.S., Milhomens returned to Texas, got married, and landed a job with the Harris County WIC program shortly after. Working as a nutritionist and site supervisor only confirmed to Milhomens that he had chosen the right career; his next goal was to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. Knowing this required the completion of an accredited supervised practice program, typically a Dietetic Internship, Milhomens set his sights on applying to the highly competitive Texas Dietetic DI.
To improve being matched to this particular DI, and aware that increasingly more dietitians are obtaining M.S. degrees, Milhomens began to consider graduate nutrition programs. He first heard about LU’s M.S. in Nutrition program from family who lived in Beaumont. Learning the M.S. was 100% online with a focus on community nutrition only cemented his decision to apply to LU’s program. Milhomens graduated with his M.S. in Nutrition from LU in May 2021 and was notified in June 2021 that he was one of six applicants selected across the state to be a dietetic intern with the Texas WIC DI class for the 2021-22 year.
Milhomens credits his graduate work at Lamar University in preparing him for this next journey. “I was able to use the electronic portfolio I developed in the Nutrition Capstone course in my application to the Texas WIC DI, and in my interview, I was told they had never seen such a professional, digital portfolio,” said Milhomens. He wants others to know, “If you are looking for a graduate nutrition degree, know the projects in the courses are excellent and the professors are absolutely fantastic – they gave me the tools, time, and guidance I needed to succeed. I did not expect the professors to be as approachable in an online environment, but I felt as connected as if I was in an actual classroom.”
Written by Dr. Amy Shows
M.S. in Hospitality Leadership Courses Begin Fall 2022
The Department of Nutrition, Hospitality & Human Services is excited to announce a new degree option for students. The M.S. in Hospitality Leadership is set to start in Aug. 2022. This graduate degree is 100% online making the option of seeking a career in this rewarding field more attainable than ever. Dr. Eunjin Kwon, assistant professor of hospitality administration, will serve as the Program Coordinator. Kwon and Dr. Molly Dahm, professor of hospitality administration, have built an engaging and flexible curriculum. The course of study is 36-hours; however, students can potentially earn up to 6 hours for work experience. In this case, the degree can be completed in 30 hours. Additionally, students will have the option to complete the 4+1 (Bachelors plus Masters) program.
The program will offer courses including Hospitality Law, Service Management, Seminar in Marketing Topics, Contemporary Issues in Hospitality & Tourism and Ethics and Diversity in Hospitality & Tourism. Embedded in the curriculum are 9 credit hours of Hospitality Research. The M.S. in Hospitality Leadership culminates with the Hospitality Leadership Capstone course where students have the opportunity to integrate content knowledge and skills gained throughout the program. This concluding experience is designed to expand the students’ capacity to solve a real-life problem by synthesizing current literature to answer their own research questions.
Kwon explains, “Postbaccalaureate, as well as postgraduate students with degrees in hospitality or related fields may be especially interested in the program. In addition, professionals currently working in the hospitality industry who are seeking to further knowledge and skills that can improve leadership are encouraged to apply. Finally, the program is ideal for international students who wish to seek a degree from the United States without leaving their home country.”
The program will have three start dates, and students can begin the program at any of these start dates and expect to complete the program in 15 months if pursuing the degree on a full-time basis. Contact Dr. Eunjin Kwon at ekwon@lamar.edu for more information about the online M.S. in Hospitality Leadership.
Written by Dr. Amy Shows