Dietetics (MS)

CIP Code

51.3101.00

The MS in Dietetics will consist of the required didactic coursework and supervised experiential learning within a 2-year Master’s program. The MS in Dietetics will serve students interested in becoming Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). This program will allow students to focus on knowledge and skills for an entry-level RDN at a Master’s level. The program will include coursework that meets the future education model’s standards and competencies that are set forth by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The coursework will use competencies, performance indicators, and practice illustrations to demonstrate assessment of critical thinking, interprofessional collaboration, communication, evidence-based research, ethics, leadership, and dietetics knowledge. 

Admission Criteria

The following admission documents will need to be submitted to be considered for acceptance into the MS in Dietetics program:

1. Students must meet at least 1 of the Following Criteria and provide official transcripts:

  • Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences (BSNS from UTRGV or graduate from a US Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) program)
  • Bachelor of Science degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university; international students must provide TOEFL or IELTS scores and international transcript evaluation records.

2. The following pre-requisites (or equivalents) will need to be complete

  • Anatomy and Physiology (6 hours)
  • General Chemistry (8 hours)
  • Organic chemistry (4)
  • Advance Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (3)
  • Microbiology (4)
  • Statistics (3)
  • Introduction to Clinical Nutrition (3)
  • Food Preparation (4)

3. A formal application

4. Two letters of recommendation

5. A grade of B or better in all pre-requisites.

6. Letter of personal intent

All applicants who submit the formal application and supporting documents will be reviewed.  Candidates for admission will be required to participate in an interview. Sixteen students will be admitted into the program per year.

Progression

For a degree-seeking master student to remain in good academic standing, the student must maintain a 3.0 grade point average during the program. A student who receives a grade of “C” or lower in 9 semester hours of credit attempted toward the master’s degree, regardless of the student’s classification, whether or not in repeated courses, is ineligible for any graduate degree and will not be permitted to re-enroll. A master student whose overall GPA falls below 3.0, in a given semester, is automatically placed on academic probation the following semester. Within the following 9 semester credit hours, the overall GPA must return to 3.0 for master students or the student will be suspended for a minimum of one semester. A student who receives an “F” in any course is automatically dismissed from the graduate program.

Graduation Requirement

Students will earn a Master of Science in Dietetics degree upon successful completion of the 47-credit hour program and Graduate College requirements. Degree certification will begin upon submission of grades from your last courses and normally takes 6-8 weeks. 

Verification Statement Requirements & Procedures

In addition to earning the MS degree, students who satisfactorily complete all program requirements receive an ACEND Verification Statement from the Program Director signifying the completion of the academic qualifications required by ACEND to be eligible to register for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Registration Exam for Dietitians.

Verification Statement

In order to receive a verification statement, students enrolled in the MS in Dietetics program must:

  • Achieve and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above, with no grade lower than a B in all MS in Dietetics courses.
  • Complete a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised experiential learning.
  • Meet all the competencies in the Future Education Model standards

The Verification Statement is a very important document and should be kept with the graduate’s permanent records. Graduates who need additional copies of the form should contact the Program Director. Students not awarded the ACEND verification statement will NOT be eligible to take the CDR examination to become a registered dietitian.

Program Requirements

Required Courses - 47 Hours

DIET 6200Ethics and Leadership in Dietetics

2

DIET 6301Food Systems Management

3

DIET 6311Scientific Analysis in Nutrition Practice

3

DIET 6321Advanced Human Nutrition

3

DIET 6331Medical Nutrition Therapy in Disease I

3

DIET 6332Medical Nutrition Therapy in Disease II

3

DIET 6344Culturally Sensitive Counseling in Dietetics

3

DIET 6351Medical Nutrition Therapy in Diabetes

3

DIET 6360Global and Public Health Nutrition

3

DIET 6370Critical Care and Nutrition Support

3

DIET 6380Dietetic Capstone

3

DIET 6511Supervised Experiential Learning I

5

DIET 6521Supervised Experiential Learning II

5

DIET 6531Supervised Experiential Learning III

5

Total Credit Hours: 47