Dietetics (MS)
Overview
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 Requirements
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.
Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.
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
Total Credit Hours: 47