Nutrition and Dietetics (M.S.)

Location(s): Brookings Main Campus

Two students looking at food models

Program Coordinator/Contact

Megan Northrup, Director for Accelerated Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics
School of Health and Human Sciences
Wagner Hall 405, Box 2275A
605-688-6619

Program Information

The School of Health and Human Sciences offers an accelerated bachelor’s (B.S.) to master’s (M.S.) program with an internship. This program prepares students to sit for the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). The program is competency-based and incorporates coursework and 1,000+ hours of supervised experiential learning. The accelerated program provides a B.S. degree in Nutrition and Dietetics; refer to the undergraduate catalog for the progression and curriculum requirements for the B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics. Completion of the three-year Nutrition and Dietetics Master’s of Science (NDMS) professional program awards an M.S. degree in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Students typically apply during the second semester of their sophomore year. Students accepted into the program must meet all prerequisites prior to the fall start date. Students who are accepted into the accelerated pathway will begin their NDMS coursework in the fall of their junior year.

The NDMS program seeks to develop research skills, stimulate independent thought, and provide up-to-date knowledge in nutrition and dietetics. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) work in a variety of settings, including healthcare organizations, private practice, foodservice operations including schools, wellness programs, Cooperative Extension, and national and international food production corporations.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure

Accreditation

South Dakota State University’s NDMS program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend. ACEND is the accrediting agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. ACEND can be contacted by phone or mail. Phone: 800/877-1600, ext. 5400 Mail: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995

Certification

Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to take the national registration examination from the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) to receive the RDN credential.

Licensure

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND’s considered opinion that the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND-accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state’s licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license. For more information about state licensure requirements and certification, visit CDR’s State Licensure webpage: https://www.cdrnet.org/licensuremap. South Dakota (SD) is among 46 states that have enacted legislation regulating the practice of dietetics. State licensure and state certification are separate from the registration exam by CDR. The SD codified law, and administrative rules regarding dietetics and nutrition and the state licensure process are found on the SD Legislature Legislative Research Council website: https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2059940. The SD Licensed Nutritionist process and application information is available on the SD Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners site: http://www.sdbmoe.gov/.

Course Delivery Format

The curriculum is divided into a 2-year undergraduate/prerequisites phase and a 3-year professional program phase. The 2-year undergraduate/prerequisites courses provide a solid knowledge base of chemistry, biology, and nutritional science.

The three year professional program (NDMS) incorporates a solid foundation of nutritional science courses, as well as food service management and community health. During the second year of the professional program, students are enrolled in dual-listed courses that provide credits towards their undergraduate and graduate degrees. Students earn a B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics after successful completion of the first two years of the professional program and a M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics after completion of year three in the professional program.

The application of medical nutrition therapy and community nutrition are emphasized throughout years 2 and 3 of the professional program. In the final year (year 3 of professional program), graduate students apply knowledge from previous coursework and implement the nutrition care process during on-site internship at hospitals, nursing homes, food service management operations, WIC, community nutrition sites, and sports nutrition.

The program offers 50-99% of the coursework and supervised experiential learning (SEL) through distance education.

NDMS Progression Requirements

Through didactic coursework and SEL opportunities, the NDMS program will provide opportunities for students to accomplish ACEND Graduate Degree Competencies and Performance Indicators at levels of knows(K), shows(S) and does(D).

Several different types of summative assessments will be utilized, and the student must meet the established threshold for competency completion for each of the assessments. Students must meet competencies to graduate; refer to the NDMS program handbook for more details.

During the accelerated program, students must pass NUTR courses with a ‘C’ or better to advance to the next semester. Graduate students must maintain a 3.0. Refer to the NDMS program handbook and SDSU Graduate School Policy for more details.

Program Admission

Application Process

All students seeking admission to the NDMS program must apply to the professional program. Applications open the second week of October every year. Applications will not be accepted prior to December 20 to allow applicants to include grades and GPA from the Fall semester. The priority deadline for applications is the third Sunday in January of each year. Priority applicants will be evaluated and notified of admission status by the fourth Monday in February. The applicant’s decision is due March 15. Rolling applications will be accepted through August 1 of each year. Please note a spring or summer semester start is not available for the NDMS.

Selection is competitive and based upon performance in prerequisite coursework, written and oral communication skills, quality of the personal statement and references provided. Any student who anticipates successful completion of prerequisites prior to the fall semester is eligible to apply. A maximum of 20 students are accepted into each cohort.

Program Eligibility includes:

Minimum of a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Minimum cumulative Science GPA of 2.5. Science courses within Science GPA calculation include: CHEM 106 or Higher General Chemistry, CHEM 108 or Higher Biochemistry, BIOL 221 Human Anatomy, BIOL 325 Human Physiology, MICR 231 Microbiology.
All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to full acceptance into the program. Prerequisite courses include: ENGL 101 Composition I (3 credits), ENGL 201 Composition II (3 credits), CMST 101 Foundations of Communication (3 credits), HDFS 210 Lifespan Development (3 credits), Social Sciences (3 credits), Arts & Humanities (6 credits), MATH 114 Mathematics (3 credits), CHEM106/L General Chemistry Survey (4 credits), BIOL 221/L Human Anatomy (4 credits), BIOL 325/L Physiology (4 credits), MICRO 231/L Microbiology (4 credits), NURS 201 Medical Terminology (1 credit), NUTR 315 Human Nutrition (3 credits)
The co-requisite courses must be completed prior to start of the fall semester in the second year of the program. Co-requisite courses include: EHS 119 EHS Seminar (2 credits), Elective (1 credit), HLTH 220 Social Determinants of Health (3 credits), NUTR 111 Food People and the Environment (3 credits), CHEM 108/L Organic Biochemistry (5 credits)
Prospective students who are transfer students from an accredited university other than SDSU must complete a transfer pre-evaluation form for evaluation of transfer credits. This form must be completed prior to the third Sunday in January of each year. The application deadline may be extended based on the number of eligible applications received. Any modified application deadlines after third Sunday in January of each year will be posted on this website.

If the number of unconditionally or conditionally accepted applicants is less than 20 by March 16, then:

Applications will be accepted on a rolling (first come, first serve) basis with a final application deadline by August 1 of each year.
Qualified applicants who meet eligibility and prerequisite course requirements will be conditionally accepted and notified as such by the NDMS Program Director within 2 weeks of emailing in their application.

Available Options for Graduate Degrees

Master of Science

Non-Thesis

39 Credit Hours

Core Requirements

NUTR 523 - Medical Nutrition Therapy I Credits: 3
NUTR 525 - Medical Nutrition Therapy II Credits: 3
NUTR 560 - Nutrigenomics and Molecular Nutrition Credits: 3
NUTR 695 - Practicum (COM) Credits: 1-3 (6 credits required) (repeated 2 times for 3 credits each)
NUTR 708 - Applied Research and Evidence Based Analysis Credits: 3
NUTR 712 - Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy Credits: 3
NUTR 715 - Public Health Nutrition Credits: 3
NUTR 725 - Nutrition and Human Performance Credits: 3
NUTR 794 - Internship (COM) Credits: 1-4 (12 credits required) (repeated 3 times for 4 credits each)

Total Required Credits: 39 (Non-Thesis)

Additional Admission Requirements

GRE: Not required
TOEFL: 79-80 Internet-based
TOEFL Essentials: 8.5
IELTS: 6.5
Duolingo: 110

Accelerated Master’s Program

The accelerated master’s program will be available to eligible SDSU students. Up to 9 credits applied to the undergraduate degree may be used to satisfy graduate credit. Students must follow SDSU Policy 2:22 Use of Graduate Credit for Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

General Requirements

Graduate students should consult with their advisor before registering for graduate coursework. For additional information, refer to the Master’s Degree Requirements .