Ready to apply?
Choose the admission path that matches your status: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Non-RDN.
Choose the admission path that matches your status: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Non-RDN.
Already a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)? Apply to this program through a central application system: GradCAS.
If you are not an RDN, apply through Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application Service (DICAS).
Hillary Roberts, Dietetic Graduate Program Director
Kampeter Health Sciences Hall, Room 408
Phone: 417-836-8884
HRoberts@MissouriState.edu
Program accreditation
The Missouri State University Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics Program has been granted Full Accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). ACEND is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as registered dietitian nutritionists or nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered. ACEND serves and protects students and the public by assuring the quality and continued improvement of nutrition and dietetics education programs. Programs meeting those standards are accredited by ACEND.
Program goals
The Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (MSND) program provides knowledge and skills in the dietetics field with an emphasis on population health or health promotion. This program will prepare dietetic professionals to work at various settings: community and government agencies, medical care facilities, and educational institutions. Graduates specialize in nutrition and dietetics of various population health issues, are able to assess population health needs, and design, implement and evaluate programs, systems or environments to aid in improving the health of diverse groups of population.
*Students who fail these checks or procedures will be subject to further review by the Department of Public Health and Sports Medicine.
Requirements for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists
Full admission to the MSND program is competitive; not all that apply will be admitted. Students who are not admitted into the program may apply for the next application deadline.
On a case-by-case basis, Missouri State may accept graduate credit earned at other regionally accredited institutions or well-established international institutions. The Missouri State University Graduate transfer policy allows transfer credit to count for up to 30% of the program of study. Students who are RDNs may transfer hours for DTN 740, 741, 742, and 743. A student requesting transfer credit is responsible for providing an official transcript and copy of course syllabus from the school from which the student received the academic credit. Acceptance of transfer credits occurs through recommendation of the student’s major advisor and approval of the Graduate College. Grades on transfer courses accepted in the degree program are included in the overall graduate grade point average.
Work experience will not be awarded credits required to graduate from the MSND program.
For students admitted to the MSND program who are registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs), and completed their Dietetic Internship practicum courses in a Bachelor of Science and Dietetic Internship coordinated program, or hospital Dietetic Internship program, prior learning assessment may be used to grant course credit for DTN 740, 741, 742, and 743.
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) will be granted once the student submits their Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Professional Development Portfolio (PDP) logs to the Dietetic Internship Program Director. RDNs are required to complete 75-continuing professional education units (CPEUs) every five years to demonstrate currency in the field of nutrition and dietetics. All logs since the time of becoming credentialed must be submitted for review.
After admission into the MSND Program, a student must achieve the following for retention in the program:
Students who fail to meet the retention criteria may:
Course Code | Course Title | Credit hours |
---|---|---|
DTN 740 | Medical Nutrition Therapy I Practicum | 3 hrs |
DTN 741 | Medical Nutrition Therapy II Practicum | 3 hrs |
DTN 742 | Population Health Nutrition Practicum | 3 hrs |
DTN 743 | Foodservice Management Practicum | 2 hrs |
DTN 744 | Practicum in Area of Concentration | 2 hrs |
DTN 750 | Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy | 1 hr |
DTN 752 | Advanced Population Health Nutrition I | 1 hr |
DTN 753 | Advanced Food Service Management | 1 hr |
DTN 755 | Advanced Nutrition Counseling | 1 hr |
DTN 770 | Leadership in Nutrition and Dietetics | 2 hrs |
RCH 700 | Essentials of Statistics | 2 hrs |
RCH 730 OR PBH 760 |
Research Methods for the Health Professions OR Research Methods for the Health Professions |
3 hrs |
DTN 797 OR DTN 799 |
Non-thesis Project OR Thesis |
3 hrs OR 6 hrs |
Course Code | Course Title | Credit hours |
---|---|---|
MGT 701 | Health Services Organization | 3 hrs |
PBH 710 | Clinical Epidemiology | 3 hrs |
PBH 740 OR HLH 760 |
Health Behavior OR Health Promotion Planning |
3 hrs |
PBH 775 | Principles and Skills of Public Health Administration | 3 hrs |
Course Code | Course Title | Credit hours |
---|---|---|
HLH 750 | Programming Approaches in Wellness and Health Promotion | 3 hrs |
PBH 740 OR HLH 760 |
Health Behavior OR Health Promotion Planning |
3 hrs |
Choose 6 hours from the choices below | 6 hrs | |
HLH 682 | Motivational Interviewing for Health Professionals | |
HLH 710 | Introduction to Health Promotion and Wellness Management | |
HLH 752 | Health Risk Identification and Management | |
KIN 650 | Organization and Administration for the Kinesiology Professionals |
Students are not required to complete any elective courses but are welcome to work directly with their advisor and committee to determine if elective courses should be completed to strengthen their plan of study.
Students must demonstrate a culminating assessment of student learning by meeting one of the following:
1. Satisfactory completion of scholarly paper and formal community or professional presentation which are components of DTN 797; or
2. Satisfactory completion of a thesis and oral defense which are components of DTN 799.