M.S. in Nutrition & Dietetics

Overview

Tarleton State University’s Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics is a graduate program designed under the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Graduate Program Standards. The program embeds supervised experiential learning into coursework rather than requiring it as a separate component, as is common in coordinated or standalone dietetic internship programs.

Students who complete the program and meet all required competencies are eligible to take the national registration examination to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

Admission requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution. Tarleton State undergraduate students who meet program requirements may be admitted directly into the graduate program. Applicants from other institutions must apply through the Dietetic Inclusive Centralized Application Service (DICAS).

Program Benefits

  • Prepares students to take the national Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) exam upon graduation.
  • Complete the program in as few as 17 months while fulfilling the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
  • Gain hands-on experience through simulations and supervised learning opportunities.
  • Benefit from a curriculum designed to support transfer students and those with bachelor's degrees in non-nutrition fields.
  • Personalize supervised experiential learning rotations based on your career goals and interests.

Courses

***still pending SACSCOC and ACEND approval - courses have not been added to catalog.

More About the Program

Complete your degree in as few as 17 months.

The 34-semester-credit-hour program includes 1,000 hours of supervised experiential learning required by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Students complete clinical, community and foodservice rotations over four semesters while taking a manageable course load of 7 to 10 semester credit hours each term. Rotation schedules are based on preceptor availability and student preferences.

Learning Outcomes

Competency-based curriculum:

Build the knowledge and skills needed for a career as a registered dietitian through a curriculum aligned with required competencies and performance indicators. Coursework and supervised experiential learning focus on nutrition science and biochemistry, food safety and sanitation, food systems management, community and public health nutrition, clinical nutrition assessment and intervention, leadership, professional communication, research methods and evidence-based practice.

Career Outcomes

  • Clinical nutrition in hospitals, outpatient clinics and long-term care facilities.
  • Foodservice management in health care systems and institutional settings.
  • Community and public health nutrition through schools, public health departments, community organizations and fitness facilities.

Certification and Licensure Preparation

Graduates will gain the knowledge and skills needed to meet Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) competency requirements and professional standards. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the national Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs).

Learn about Certification and Licensure

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics Graduate Program at Tarleton State University must meet the following requirements.

1. Educational Background

Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree in nutrition or a related field and provide a verification statement from an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics; or
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited U.S. university and provide:
    • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
    • A degree-bearing transcript or letter of intent to graduate.

2. Course Prerequisites

All applicants must complete the following prerequisites:

  • An introductory nutrition course equivalent to NUTR, BIOL or HECO 1322.
  • A medical terminology course.
  • Current ServSafe certification.
  • The following science courses with a grade of C or higher:
    • Six to eight credit hours of chemistry.
    • Six to eight credit hours of anatomy and physiology.
    • One semester, or three to four credit hours, of microbiology.

Applicants who have not completed the required science courses, earned a grade below C or would benefit from a refresher may meet the science admission requirements by completing the following Tarleton State University courses concurrently:

  • NUTR 2452: Scientific Principles of Clinical Nutrition.
  • NUTR 2322: Intermediate Human Nutrition.

Introduction to Nutrition is a prerequisite for NUTR 2322.

3. Additional Application Materials

Applicants must submit a PowerPoint presentation that highlights their academic background, explains their motivation for pursuing graduate study in nutrition and dietetics, and demonstrates their readiness for rigorous scientific coursework through examples of previous courses, projects or related experiences. The applicant must be clearly visible and audible throughout the presentation. The presentation should be 10 to 15 minutes long.

Frequently Asked Questions