Master of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics

The MS Nutrition & Dietetics offers two options: Coordinated Program, and Nutrition Education

Credit for Prior Learning is available in both options:

Earn up to 9 credits by Credit for Prior Learning.  If you have learning experience and training that may align with any of our courses, have a chat with your advisor, because we may be able to grant you course credit for that learning/training.  

CPL appears on your transcript just like any course; you earn a grade of "CR" (credit).

For more information about how CPL works, check out the CPL website.

Coordinated Program

If you want to be eligible for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential, then the Coordinated Program is for you!

The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) now requires you to have an earned master's degree along with your verification statement that documents you completed an ACEND-accredited dietetics curriculum. Our new accreditation status as a Coordinated Program means students coming from a non-dietetics background can still pursue the MS Nutrition & Dietetics: CP and be eligible for the RDN credential. 

The Coordinated Program plan of study consists of:

We accept a new class of CP students each fall, with an early start option to take one class the summer before. Applications are due no later than March 1 each year; students interested in a Graduate Assistantship have a February 1 deadline to submit all application materials. For more information about available graduate assistantships, contact Dr. Casey Strawser.

Admission decisions are made no later than March 15th each year.

 

Nutrition Education

The MSND:NE is an excellent option for individuals from other related disciplines who want to broaden their career options by adding a firm foundation in Nutrition, or current RDNs seeking an accessible pathway to complete their master鈥檚 degree.

The Nutrition Education plan of study:

Current RDNS: If you are a credentialed RD/RDN with at least 4 years experience in the field, you qualify to earn 9 credits through Credit for Prior Learning (CPL).

Currently practicing RDNs will earn 6 credits in Nutrition Therapy and 3 credits in an elective area of their choice. Required documentation: A copy of your RD/RDN credential (registration and/or licensure), and a narrative describing how your prior learning meets the student learning outcomes of the selected elective course. Cost:  $1200 total for 9 credits of graduate course work. After CPL credits, students must complete 24 credits of course work, which can be completed in as little as 2 full-time semesters.

For more information about the Nutrition Education program, contact Dr. Casey Strawser.

 

Accreditation information:

EIU鈥檚 Coordinated Program is currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (800) 877-1600, ext. 5400,


We are no longer admitting students to the graduate Coordinated Program. If you are interested in pursuing the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential, please refer to the ACEND directory for a complete list of nationwide accredited graduate degree programs.

 

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about licensure per state