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Nutrition & Dietetics (MS)
Take your passion for health and nutrition to the next level with our Master’s in Nutrition & Dietetics! This program blends classroom learning with hands-on experience, giving you 1,045 hours of supervised experiential learning to prepare for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) exam and a successful career in the field.
Through real-world practice and expert guidance, you’ll develop the skills needed to make a lasting impact on individuals and communities. Get ready to turn your knowledge into action and become a leader in nutrition and dietetics!
Experiential Learning
Experiential learning is embedded in all required courses, which means you get authentic hands-on experiences every semester. You will also complete separate practicum courses (food service, community, and clinical) in which you are completing 200-300 hours of hands-on entry-level experience. Students have completed practicums with Carle Hospitals and Clinics, Peoria Public Schools, PeoriaGrown, OSF RiverPlex, Illinois CancerCare, Rivian, Women Infants and Children (WIC), and Aramark.
Career Opportunities
- Clinical dietitians work in hospitals, cancer centers, long-term care facilities, and more in specialties including diabetes, cancer, pediatrics, eating disorders, and kidney disease.
- Community dietitians promote healthy eating and work for nonprofits, government agencies, clinics, and worksite wellness programs.
- Sports dietitians work with athletes to improve and maximize performance at colleges and universities, professional sports teams, and food and beverage companies.
- Foodservice dietitians provide nutritional care through foodservice operations in school systems, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and more.
- Private practice dietitians conduct one-on-one counseling to help individuals achieve nutrition and dietary goals. Their specialties include eating disorders, weight inclusive care, and more.
Graduate Program Details
The mission of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics Program is to prepare competent, entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists who advocate for equitable and sustainable nutritional health among families and communities.
- Graduates are prepared for careers as registered dietitian nutritionists.
- Full time option: At least 80% of students complete program/degree requirements within three years (150% of the program length).
- Part time option: At least 80% of students enrolled part-time complete program/degree requirements within six years (150% of the program length).
- At least 90% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
- The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.**
- At least 80% of program graduates report that they have completed at least one continuing education activity post-graduation.
- At least 80% of employers who respond to a survey will rate program graduates ≥3 on a 5-point scale as satisfied with graduate preparation for entry-level practice
- Graduates are prepared to advocate for equitable and sustainable nutritional health among families and communities.
- At least 90% of program graduates report that they tailor nutritional care/education/recommendations to meet the needs of families and communities.
- At least 90% of program graduates report that they implement long-term/sustainable nutritional solutions for families and communities.
- At least 80% of employers report that program graduates advocate for equitable food and nutrition care for families and communities.
- At least 80% of employers report graduates utilize cultural competency skills in making food and nutrition recommendations.
*Data is available upon request.
** Current three-year average pass rate is 96% for the dietetic internship/master of science program. Data will be available for the master of science in nutrition and dietetics program in 2023-2024.
Students will complete 1045 hours of supervised experiential learning. The program works with several community, foodservice, and clinical sites to provide opportunities for students to complete these hours. Although not required, students may find their own supervised experiential learning sites in conjunction with the program director. All sites must be approved by the program director in order to establish an affiliation agreement and preceptor training.
Criteria to be met for SEL include availability of a qualified preceptor at the site; preceptor is willing to supervise the SEL; ability of the preceptor/organization to provide appropriate experiences to meet the required competencies; a fully-executed affiliation agreement in place prior to the start of any SEL.
Students must successfully complete all coursework and supervised experiential learning requirements including documentation of attainment of competencies through evaluations and assignments.
Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA, per Graduate Education policy.
During the program’s supervised experiential learning courses, a student must meet the competencies as determined for that experience. The student will be given formal evaluations throughout the program. Students may be given additional time to complete supervised experiences, pending approval of the program director and preceptors/faculty. Students must complete all supervised learning experiences no later than (12 months) following the scheduled time for completion of the program.
Students must successfully complete a comprehensive case study assessment.
Students must have no outstanding financial or other program obligations prior to graduation from the program.
Upon successful completion of the program, each student will receive a Verification Statement. This is the form used by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) to verify that all academic and supervised practice requirements are met. The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requires it for eligibility for the Registration Examination for Dietitians. The program director will notify CDR when students have completed all requirements for eligibility for the Registration Examination. Upon notification from CDR, it will be the graduate’s responsibility to make arrangements to take the exam.
Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian. In addition, students need a verification statement to be eligible for the exam. Successful completion of this program provides both the master’s degree and verification statement ensuring graduates have completed a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised experiential learning and met the competencies required. After fulfilling the requirements for becoming a registered dietitian, some states may require further licensure. This program meets the requirements for , as well as several others. For information on state licensure requirements, please visit the Commission on Dietetic Registration at https://.
Accreditation Status
The Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics program at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 61606-6995, 312-899-0040,