Nutrition and Dietetics, M.S.
Minimum Totals for Graduation: 31 - 37 hours
The M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics is designed to provide advanced training in nutritional sciences for new and experienced professionals. Its objectives are to enhance the graduate’s knowledge base and expertise in the continually advancing field of nutrition and clinical dietetics and to provide graduates with the quantitative and methodological knowledge necessary to better interpret the scientific literature and nutritional research.
Options A through C of the M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics Program course work can be completed entirely online. The program utilizes web-based technology to provide course content. Option D is completed through online coursework and an on-campus internship.
This degree program has three options:
- Option I - Plan A Thesis Option;
- Option II - Plan B Internship Option;
- Option III - Plan C Course Work Option.
Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards
Admission Requirement Snapshot
GPA: 3.0 (in the last 60 hours undergrad course work)
Entrance Exam: N/A
Internat’l Application Deadline: July 1 (Fall), Oct. 1 (Spring)
See Admission Requirement Details Below
- An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) in the last 60 semester hours of course work.
- Successful completion of the requirements for dietetic registration by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics or fulfillment of the minimum academic requirements of the Didactic Program in Dietetics approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’s Commission on Accreditation/Approval for Dietetics Education or successful completion of at least: two courses in nutrition, one being at the advanced level; and one course in each of the following: anatomy/physiology; biochemistry; microbiology; and organic chemistry.
- An essay (2-3 pages, double-spaced) including a discussion of the applicant’s goals and how completion of the program will facilitate his or her achievement of those goals. A portion of this essay should focus upon the unique qualifications the student will bring to the degree program. In addition, the essay must include the student’s choice of options (I, II, III, or IV, see program course listing). Also the student will provide a generalized description of the subject matter of the thesis (Plan A) if Option I is chosen or for Options II, III, or IV, a description of the significant scholarship (e.g. project, extensive paper) the student intends to perform to meet the requirements. This essay replaces the written statement requested as part of the application to the College of Graduate Studies. This essay replaces the written statement requested as part of the application to the College of Graduate Studies.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation from former professors or professionals in the field of nutrition and dietetics or other health-related professional.
- Evidence of successful completion of an undergraduate statistics course is strongly recommended.
- Per University policy, conditional admission may be considered for applicants with backgrounds or grade point average deficiencies. Courses taken to make up admission deficiencies may not be counted toward graduate degree requirements. Regular admission status should be requested upon completion of all deficiencies.
- Up to 15 semester hours of graduate credit may be transferred in from another institution with approval of advisor.
- Up to a total of 15 credit hours can be applied to the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics Program through Credit by Examination or transfer of course credits from another accredited institution pending approval of coursework. No 700 level coursework may be taken until the Credit by Examination is completed.
- FNS 799 capstone coursework must be completed as the final course in the student’s program and may not be taken if there is outstanding coursework, or in the same semester as other courses.
Program Requirements
Select one of the following plans:
Option I - Plan A: Thesis Option (31 hours)
| FNS 661 | Macronutrients | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 662 | Micronutrients | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 670 | Seminar: Nutrition | 1-3(Spec) |
| FNS 672 | Advanced Clinical Nutrition | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 673 | Advanced Nutritional Assessment | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 677 | Nutritional Epidemiology | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 678 | Research Methods and Biostatistics | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 798 | Thesis in Nutrition and Dietetics | 1-6(Spec) |
The Plan A also includes:
- E-portfolio
- Six (6) hours of electives selected with the approval of the student’s advisor.
- An oral examination on the thesis topic.
Note: FNS 670 and FNS 798 are variable credit courses. Students on this option are required to take 1 credit hour of FNS 670 and 6 credit hours of FNS 798.
Option II - Plan B: Internship Option (37 hours)
| FNS 661 | Macronutrients | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 662 | Micronutrients | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 670 | Seminar: Nutrition | 1-3(Spec) |
| FNS 672 | Advanced Clinical Nutrition | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 673 | Advanced Nutritional Assessment | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 674 | Dietetic Internship: Clinical Experience | 5(Spec) |
| FNS 675 | Dietetic Internship: Foodservice Administration Experience | 5(Spec) |
| FNS 676 | Dietetic Internship: Summary Experience | 2(Spec) |
| FNS 677 | Nutritional Epidemiology | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 678 | Research Methods and Biostatistics | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 799 | Capstone in Nutrition and Dietetics | 3(3-0) |
The Plan B also includes:
- E-portfolio.
- Three (3) hours of electives selected with the approval of the student’s advisor.
- An oral examination over course work completed as part of FNS 799 course requirements.
Note: FNS 799 must be taken in a student’s final semester, as the only course in that semester. All students must take FNS 678 Research Methods in Nutrition prior to enrollment in FNS 799. Permission to be hand-registered is required. Please see FNS 799/CBE policy.
Note: FNS 670 is a variable credit courses. Students on this option are required to take 1 credit hour of FNS 670.
In some cases, twelve credits may be earned through examination to substitute for the dietetic internship experience. Students must be eligible and must pass the examination to earn the twelve credits.
Contact the advisor for the policy on Credit by Examination for Dietetic Internship Experience.
Option III - Plan C: Course Work Option (33 hours)
The Plan C also includes:
| FNS 661 | Macronutrients | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 662 | Micronutrients | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 670 | Seminar: Nutrition | 1-3(Spec) |
| FNS 672 | Advanced Clinical Nutrition | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 673 | Advanced Nutritional Assessment | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 677 | Nutritional Epidemiology | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 678 | Research Methods and Biostatistics | 3(3-0) |
| FNS 799 | Capstone in Nutrition and Dietetics | 3(3-0) |
- E-portfolio.
- Nine (9) additional hours of electives selected with the approval of the student’s academic advisor.
- An oral examination over all course work, completed as part of FNS 799 course requirements.
Note: FNS 799 must be taken in a student’s final semester, as the only course in that semester. All students must take FNS 678 Research Methods in Nutrition prior to enrollment in FNS 799. Permission to be hand-registered is required. Please see FNS 799/CBE policy.
Note: FNS 670 is a variable credit course. Students in this program MUST enroll in FNS 670 three times (1 hour each) under different subject themes.
Total: 31-37 semester hours