MSND Frequently Asked Questions

The courses are offered in an arrangement which enables you to complete the program in approximately 2.5 years. Once you have decided on a program option (see classes required), utilize the course schedule to map out how you would like to take your courses. You will then be able to tell exactly how long it will take you to complete the program. (Please remember, however, that the course schedule is subject to change. Also, note that courses may fill early so you would always want to plan to register as soon course registration is open to you.) Courses are not in any sequence, and can be taken in any order. The only exception is the capstone which requires research methods and all core courses to be completed prior.

You do not have to be a Registered Dietitian to enter this program, but the Plan B-internship option is limited to those students who have completed or will be completing an AND (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) approved internship. The program does, however, require the undergraduate prerequisites to be met. Please see prerequisite undergraduate coursework requirements for admission to the program.

Travel to the Mt. Pleasant, Michigan campus is never required to complete this program. We have had students from all over the world complete this program and all requirements were completed from their current location.

International students whose native language is not English must demonstrate their English language competency.

The GRE is not required for admission to the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics program but is encouraged.

On an average, the typical class size is approximately 18, with the exception of the capstone course.

Exams are completed online. Detailed instructions and requirements will be provided by the course professor.

The Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics would be ideal for research purposes in a non-clinical setting, food service management or administration in nutrition services, but would not be suitable for private practice, clinical dietetics work (hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, consulting) or the majority of community/public health work. Most states have legislation requiring that clinical nutrition services or nutrition education services must be provided by a Registered Dietitian who is licensed by the state.

Military students will have their tuition rate adjusted to a reduced rate upon submitting their military picture identification.

Cost of Attendance

Yes. Many of our students opt to take only one course per semester, while others will take two per semester. Three courses in one semester is discouraged. We recommend (but do not require) that NDS 678, Research Methods, is taken alone due to the workload for this course. NDS 799, Capstone in Nutrition and Dietetics, must be taken as the only course in the final semester. You may complete the program at the pace that suits you, keeping in mind that you have a maximum of seven years from completion of the first credits utilized towards the degree to complete all program requirements.

Registered Dietitians who did not earn graduate credit for their internship, or whose graduate-level internship credit will be more than seven years old at the time of graduation from the program, are eligible to earn the 12 hours of internship credit required on the Plan B internship option through passing the CBE. These three examinations, frequently referred to as CBE (credit by examination), are in the areas of 1) clinical, 2) foodservice administration, and 3) a summary examination (education, research, community). The exams are 100 multiple choice questions each. Students may take the exams at any time. The cost for the exams is at a rate of $50 per credit hour or $600 for all 12 credits. This represents a tuition cost savings of over $6,000. The exams are administered online. Credit/No Credit grading is utilized. Students are allowed two attempts to pass each exam. If a passing score is not obtained after two attempts, the student must earn the 12 credits through electives.

Credit By Examination Form

You are able to drop courses after registration closes.  You may be eligible for a refund based on the timing of dropping the course.  

Course Drop and Withdrawal Information

All questions should be directed to Dr. Najat Yahia.  She can be reached via email.

Admission into the program does not guarantee a "seat" in any given course for any given semester. We will attempt to accommodate your needs for course "seats" as best as we can considering enrollment restrictions.​

Deficiencies in GPA may only be remedied by completing additional senior level undergraduate coursework in the areas of the sciences or dietetics sufficient to elevate the GPA to 3.0 or better.

The process may take several months or even years. Please review the "Informational Handout to Complete the Planning Form" found on Blackboard, available upon admission, for additional information.​ Students completing the Plan B or Plan C option may complete their capstone paper over a 16-week semester, instead of working with an individual faculty member.

The Dietetic Internship (DI) and Supervised Experiential Learning (SEL) are both pathways to becoming a Registered Dietitian. However, they differ in their scope and their timing of completion. The DI is a postbaccalaureate program that only provides supervised practice competencies over 28 weeks and the MSND is completed independently of the DI. Students applying to the DI must have a graduate degree and/or be near completion of a graduate degree in order to apply. The Supervised Experiential Learning (SEL) program integrates graduate coursework with supervised experiential learning components so students can actively apply their knowledge of nutrition and dietetics in real-life nutrition practice settings under the guidance of a preceptor. The SEL takes 1.5 years and must be completed as outlined by the semester schedule. Students applying to the SEL will complete their graduate coursework while also completing their supervised practice hours.

Supervised Experiential Learning (SEL) is a learning approach that offers you the opportunity to actively apply your knowledge of nutrition and dietetics in real-life nutrition practice settings under the guidance of professional preceptors at a location of your preference (with approval by the program manager). Completion of SEL hours will help you gain valuable hands-on experience that can be directly connected to the concepts in the graduate courses taken during program completion. SEL sites are the location where a preceptor oversees students engaging in supervised practice. Prior to admission to the program, it is your responsibility to locate SEL sites and preceptors in the geographic location you wish to complete the SEL rotation. Upon application, you must complete the preceptor and facility identification form.

View the preceptor and facility identification form

The Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application Service (DICAS) is a web-based application platform that allows students to apply to supervised practice programs and/or graduate dietetics programs. Students applying to this program must submit an application through the DICAS platform.

Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application Service (DICAS)

Yes, this program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Following completion of the program and all of its requirements, students will meet the eligibility requirements to sit for the registration examination to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN).

For the graduate admissions application, the following must be completed:

• Completed undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 semester hours of coursework.
• Completed requirements for dietetic registration by the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics or fulfillment of the minimum academic requirements of the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) approved by the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics' Commission on Accreditation/Approval for Dietetics Education.
• Completion of at least two courses in nutrition, one being at the advanced level; and one course in each of the following: biochemistry, anatomy/physiology, microbiology, and organic chemistry. These courses must be completed in advance of submitting an application to this program.
• An essay discussing your goals and how completion of the program will facilitate your achievement of those goals and the unique qualifications you will bring to the degree program.
• Three letters of recommendation from former professors or professionals in the field of nutrition and dietetics or other health-related professions.
• Evidence of successful completion of an undergraduate statistics course is strongly recommended.
• The GRE is not required.​
  

Learn more about the admission requirements for the MSND Plan B: Experiential Track

No, there is an additional step to becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Upon completion of all components of this program, you will receive a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (MSND) degree and a verification statement certificate of supervised practice hours completion. You will then meet eligibility requirements to take the registration examination to become an RDN. It is after successfully passing the registration examination that you become an RDN.

Absolutely! We have developed a preceptor handbook that outlines preceptor expectations, semester schedules, rotation performance indicators required by ACEND, and additional detail on competency-based learning. Additionally, once preceptors have agreed to accept students, they will be added to a Microsoft Teams web-based group that will serve as a community platform for preceptors to share questions and experiences.

The program will take 1.5 years, 4 semesters at CMU. Given that the coursework for this program is integrated with supervised experiential learning, students must complete work according to the outlined semester schedule.

No. Completing both graduate coursework and supervised experiential learning are part of this integrated program’s requirements. However, we do have a Dietetic Internship independent of the MSND program. Prospective students holding a master’s degree and wish to become a registered dietitian nutritionist are encouraged to review our Dietetic Internship eligibility requirements to determine if they meet the requirements of the program.

No. Completing both graduate coursework and supervised experiential learning are part of this integrated program’s requirements. If you are already a registered dietitian nutritionist, then this program is not designed to meet your educational needs. However, if you are a registered dietitian nutritionist looking to get a master’s degree, we do offer other options for receiving a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics degree.

Learn more about the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics options