Nutrition and Dietetics, M.S.
Minimum Totals for Graduation: 31 - 37 hours
Editor's Note: Following external approval, this program has been updated. Contact your advisor for more information.
Wightman 108; 989-774-2613
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 I, II, and III of the M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics Program coursework can be completed entirely online. The program utilizes web-based technology to provide course content. Option IV is completed through Online Asynchronous and Online Synchronous coursework and Supervised Experiential Learning (SEL).
This degree program has the following plans:
- Option I - Plan A :Thesis
- Option II - Plan B: Dietetic Internship
- Option III - Plan B: Coursework
- Option IV - Plan B: Experiential Track - A Pathway to RDN
Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards
Admission Requirement Snapshot
- GPA: 3.0 (in the last 60 hours undergrad coursework)
- Entrance Exam: N/A
- International Application Deadline: July 1 (Fall), Oct. 1 (Spring)
Note: Only Option I, Plan A Thesis or Option III, Plan B Coursework are available to international students.
See Admission Requirement Details Below
Admission
1. A bachelor's degree or above from a U.S. regionally accredited institution.
2. An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) in the last 60 semester hours of coursework.
3. Successful completion of one of the following:
- 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 Commission on Accreditation/Approval for Dietetics Education.
- 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.
- For Option IV - Plan B: Experiential Track: A Pathway to RDN: Completion of the following prerequisites with a minimum grade of B- or better for Nutrition courses and a minimum grade of C or better for Science courses:
a. Anatomy/Physiology
b. Biochemistry
c. Microbiology
d. Organic chemistry
e. Food Science
f. Foodservice Systems Administration
g. Medical Nutrition Therapy at the advanced level
h. Nutrition in the Life Cycle at the advanced level
i. Nutrition Education/Counseling at the advanced level
j. ServSafe Food Manager certification
Notes:
- These courses must be completed prior to submitting an application to CMU via the DICAS system. Science prerequisite courses must have been taken within the past ten years, and nutrition prerequisite courses must have been taken within the past five years. Students completing their science prerequisite courses more than ten years or nutrition prerequisite courses more than five years before the application may require additional coursework at the MSND program director's discretion.
- Evidence of successful completion of an undergraduate statistics course is strongly recommended.
4. An essay/personal statement (two-three pages, double-spaced) detailing the following:
Note: This essay replaces the written statement requested as part of the application to the College of Graduate Studies.
a. Your motivation to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and your short-term and long-term goals;
b. Your experience/exposure to and goals for the professional field of dietetics (ex. shadowing, professional conferences, volunteer and/or paid work) and experiences that have provided leadership management, etc.;
c. Your unique qualifications that you will bring to the degree program;
d. In addition, the essay must include the student’s choice of options.
- For Plan A: Thesis: the student will provide a generalized description of the subject matter of the thesis.
- For Plan B: Dietetic Internship or Plan B: Coursework: a description of the significant scholarship (e.g. project, extensive paper) the student intends to undertake to meet the requirements.
- For Plan B: Experiential Track - A Pathway to RDN at Central Michigan University: Explain why you are a good candidate for this ACEND- accredited pathway and how it aligns with your professional goals.
5. Three (3) letters of recommendation from former professors or professionals in the field of nutrition and dietetics or other health-related disciplines.
6. Current CV or resume, including the following: Paid work experience in the health-related professions (s), including duration in position and hours worked per week; Volunteer or community service experience in the health-related professions (s), including duration in position and hours worked per week; and Honors, awards, etc.
7. For the Plan B: Experiential Track - A Pathway to RDN at Central Michigan University:
a. Interviews will be held virtually. Following an initial evaluation of applications, the selection committee will invite students who meet the criteria and promise for success in the MSND Plan B: Experiential Track – A Pathway to RDN at Central Michigan University.
b. Submission of the Preceptor/Facility Identification form is required.
Notes:
- Per University policy, admission with stipulations 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.
- Prior Learning Assessment: The MSND program follows the Office of Graduate Studies’ Policies for the Prior Learning Assessment Credit. The policy can be found online in the Graduate Bulletin. A Prior Learning committee handles the review of prior learning requests.
Retention
Refer to the Office of Graduate Studies' Policies for Graduate Academic and Retention Standards. The policies can be found at the Graduate Bulletin. Once admitted, the students must maintain a negative drug screen and background check.
Termination
Refer to the Office of Graduate Studies’ Policies for Graduate Academic and Retention Standards. The Policies can be found in the Graduate Bulletin.
The Program Director maintains the right to initiate the termination of a student from the program if not progressing satisfactorily as defined in the student handbook. Students unable to maintain compliance in their supervised experiential learning will not be able to attend scheduled rotations and are subject to dismissal from the program, unless there is a documented exception with the Program Director.
Program Requirements
Select one of the following options:
Option I - Plan A: Thesis Option (31 hours)
| NDS 661 | Macronutrients | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 662 | Micronutrients and Gene Interactions | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 670 | Seminar: Nutrition | 1-3(Spec) |
| NDS 672 | Advanced Clinical Nutrition | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 673 | Advanced Nutritional Assessment | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 677 | Nutritional Epidemiology | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 678 | Research Methods and Biostatistics | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 798 | Thesis in Nutrition and Dietetics | 1-6(Spec) |
NOTE: Equivalent of NDS 678 may be accepted, see your advisor.
The Plan A Thesis option 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: NDS 670 and NDS 798 are variable credit courses. Students on this option are required to take 1 credit hour of NDS 670 and 6 credit hours of NDS 798.
Option II - Plan B: Dietetic Internship Option (37 hours)
The Plan B Dietetic Internship is not accredited by ACEND. However, this plan allows students to apply their dietetic internship (DI) credits toward their master's degree requirements through Competency-Based Examination (CBE) credits. It is designed for individuals who have earned a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) verification statement and wish to integrate DI credits into their graduate studies, as well as for those who already hold the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential and seek to advance their knowledge through a master's degree.
Students pursuing the Plan B Dietetic Internship option of the M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics must apply to the CMU Dietetic Internship (CMU DI) program through the DICAS system to complete NDS 674, NDS 675, and NDS 676. Note: The CMU DI is a separate program accredited by ACEND.
| NDS 661 | Macronutrients | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 662 | Micronutrients and Gene Interactions | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 670 | Seminar: Nutrition | 1-3(Spec) |
| NDS 672 | Advanced Clinical Nutrition | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 673 | Advanced Nutritional Assessment | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 674 | Dietetic Internship: Clinical Experience | 5(Spec) |
| NDS 675 | Dietetic Internship: Foodservice Administration Experience | 5(Spec) |
| NDS 676 | Dietetic Internship: Summary Experience | 2(Spec) |
| NDS 677 | Nutritional Epidemiology | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 678 | Research Methods and Biostatistics | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 799 | Capstone in Nutrition and Dietetics | 3(3-0) |
NOTE: Equivalent of NDS 678 may be accepted, see your advisor.
The Plan B Dietetic Internship option also includes:
- E-portfolio.
- Three (3) hours of electives selected with the approval of the student's advisor.
-
An oral examination over coursework completed as part of NDS 799 course requirements.
Notes:
- All students must take NDS 678 or equivalent prior to enrollment in NDS 799. Permission to enroll in NDS 799 must be requested through the Course Search and Registration system.
- NDS 799 must be taken in a student's final semester, as the only course in that semester before applying to an accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) Program.
- The DI courses, NDS 674, NDS 675 and NDS 676 are scheduled after completion of NDS 799.
- Note: NDS 670 is a variable credit course. Students on this option are required to take 1 credit hour of NDS 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 B: Coursework Option (33 hours)
| NDS 661 | Macronutrients | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 662 | Micronutrients and Gene Interactions | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 670 | Seminar: Nutrition | 1-3(Spec) |
| NDS 672 | Advanced Clinical Nutrition | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 673 | Advanced Nutritional Assessment | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 677 | Nutritional Epidemiology | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 678 | Research Methods and Biostatistics | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 799 | Capstone in Nutrition and Dietetics | 3(3-0) |
NOTE: Equivalent of NDS 678 may be accepted, see your advisor.
The Plan B: Coursework Option also includes:
- E-portfolio.
- Nine (9) additional hours of electives selected with the approval of the student’s advisor.
- An oral examination over all coursework, completed as part of NDS 799 course requirements.
Notes:
- All students must take NDS 678 or equivalent prior to enrollment in NDS 799.
- Permission to enroll in NDS 799 must be requested through the Course Search and Registration system.
- NDS 799 must be taken in a student's final semester, as the only course in that semester.
- NDS 670 is a variable credit courses. Students on this option are required to take 3 credit hour of NDS 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 IV - Plan B: Experiential Track A Pathway to RDN (37 hours)
This is the only MSND plan that is ACEND accredited. Students pursuing Plan B - Experiential Track - A Pathway to RDN must apply to CMU via the DICAS system. This plan is not an option available to international students.
| NDS 661 | Macronutrients | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 662 | Micronutrients and Gene Interactions | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 664 | Advanced Nutrition - Pharmacology | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 672 | Advanced Clinical Nutrition | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 673 | Advanced Nutritional Assessment | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 677 | Nutritional Epidemiology | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 678 | Research Methods and Biostatistics | 3(3-0) |
| NDS 680 | Supervised Experiential Learning: Clinical Experience | 6(Spec) |
| NDS 681 | Supervised Experiential Learning: Foodservice Administration Experience | 3(Spec) |
| NDS 682 | Supervised Experiential Learning: Community Experience | 3(Spec) |
| NDS 697 | Special Topics in Dietetics | 1-15(Spec) |
| NDS 799 | Capstone in Nutrition and Dietetics | 3(3-0) |
NOTE: Equivalent of NDS 678 may be accepted, see your advisor.
The Plan B: Experiential Track: A Pathway to RDN also includes:
- E-portfolio
- An oral examination over all coursework, completed as part of NDS 799 course requirements.
Notes:
- All students must take NDS 678 or equivalent prior to enrollment in ND 799.
- Permission to enroll in NDS 799 must be requested through the Course Search and Registration system.
- NDS 799 must be taken in a student's final semester, hours as the only course in that semester.
Total: 31-37 semester hours
CMU Dietetic Internship (CMUDI)
Note: For information on the Central Michigan University Dietetic Internship (CMUDI), a 28-week program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), please follow this link:
https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/herbert-h-grace-a-dow-college-of-health-professions/departments/school-rehabilitation-medical-sciences/nutrition-and-dietetics/cmu-dietetic-internship