Professional Studies in Dietetics Specialization
Master of Science (M.S.) in Nutrition and Health Sciences
The Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Sciences-Professional Studies in Dietetics (PSD) specialization is a professional master's degree program with a competency-based curriculum, offered through the Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences.
The program provides a total of 45 semester credit hours of didactic and supervised experiential learning during a 16-month period (three semesters, one winter term, and one summer term) and prepares graduates for entry-level positions in the dietetic profession by providing didactic and supervised experiential learning in management, community nutrition, and medical nutrition therapy. The program culminates in a graduate degree and a verification statement leading to the ability to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration credentialing exam for registered dietitian nutritionists.
In addition to becoming employed as a registered dietitian nutritionist, graduates are eligible for active membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and will be eligible to obtain the Licensed Medical Nutrition Therapist credential in the state of Nebraska and licensure or certification in all states regulating the practice of dietetics.
This program requires students to live within or in proximity to the city of Lincoln, Nebraska as a majority of the program occurs in person. A portion of the didactic courses and minimal supervised experiential learning practicums occur through distance education. Arrangements for preceptors and supervised experiential learning sites are established and maintained by the program.
The policy and procedure related to awarding credit for prior learning experiences and additional accreditation-required program policies and procedures can be viewed online. To access the Professional Studies in Dietetics Specialization Program Policies and Procedures online, visit: https://cehs.unl.edu/nhs/professional-studies-dietetics-specialization/.
Accreditation Status
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Sciences-Professional Studies in Dietetics Specialization is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
(312) 899-0040, Ext. 5400
www.eatrightPRO.org/ACEND
Mission Statement
The mission of the Professional Studies in Dietetics Specialization is to produce a competent graduate with an integrated theoretical and experiential learning education who can utilize critical thinking and analytical skills to practice successfully as a registered dietitian nutritionist. The program will culminate in a master’s degree and will assist in meeting the need for dietitian nutritionists in both rural and urban areas in Nebraska and outside its borders.
Program Goals and Objectives
Goal 1: Graduates will be competent and ready for practice as a registered dietitian nutritionist.
- At least 80% of program graduates complete program requirements within 2 years (150% of planned program length).
- At least 100% 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 the first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
- A minimum of 90% of employers of program graduates who respond to the survey will rate graduates prepared for entry level practice.
Goal 2: Graduates will contribute to meeting the need for registered dietitian nutritionists in both rural and urban areas of Nebraska and to the number of registered dietitian nutritionists with graduate degrees in the state.
- Of graduates who seek employment, at least 100% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
- Over a five-year period, 70% or more of the program graduates will start their professional career employed in rural or urban areas of Nebraska.
Program outcomes data are available upon request by contacting the program director:
Requirements and Process for Becoming a Registered Dietitian via Completion of a Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Attain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college and meet the prerequisites and admission requirements for the graduate program in nutrition and dietetics for which you are applying.
- Attain a graduate degree and verification statement from an ACEND-accredited graduate program in nutrition and dietetics.
- Obtain a passing score on the Commission on Dietetic Registration examination for the registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) credential.
- Follow state laws that regulate the practice of dietetics. Graduates of the Professional Studies in Dietetics Specialization will be eligible to obtain the Licensed Medical Nutrition Therapist credential in the State of Nebraska. For additional information related to state requirements for Licensure/Certification, visit the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Office of The Executive Vice Chancellor licensure website: executivevc.unl.edu/licensure.
Statement from ACEND:
"While state interpretation 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. More information about state licensure and certification can be found at this link: cdrnet.org/LicensureMap.
Program Calendar and Schedule
Program Calendar
The majority of program experiences will occur during the University of Nebraska-Lincoln academic calendar for each semester, winter term, and summer term (three-week pre-session, first five-week session, and second five-week session). Students may be required to complete didactic coursework or supervised experiential learning outside of the academic calendar to allow for optimal timing of program components. The next cohort will begin on August 25, 2025, and will end with graduation on December 18, 2026. Academic calendar details can be found online by visiting: registrar.unl.edu/academic-calendar/.
Program Courses and Supervised Experiential Learning
The Professional Studies in Dietetics Specialization is a 16-month program (3 academic semesters, 1 winter term, and 1 summer term) culminating in a master's degree in Nutrition and Health Sciences. Students will complete 45 semester credit hours and approximately 1,362 supervised experiential learning hours. A total of 16 credits of the didactic portion of the program are delivered through distance education, including asynchronous, synchronous, and hybrid formats. Minimal distance education occurs in the supervised experiential learning portion of the program.
YEAR 1 FALL SEMESTER | Semester Credit Hours | |
| NUTR 952 | Applied Medical Nutrition Therapy I | 3 |
| NUTR 956 | Community Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 859 | Nutrition: A Focus on Life Stages | 3 |
| NUTR 893 | Oral Science Communication Strategies | 1 |
| NUTR 875 | Applied Dietetic Practice and Concepts (Food Service Modules) | 1 |
| NUTR 975 | Supervised Experiential Practicum (Food Service Management Practicum) | 1 |
| 12 | ||
| YEAR 1 WINTER TERM | Semester Credit Hours | |
| NUTR 875 | Applied Dietetic Practice and Concepts (Counseling Modules) | 1 |
| 1 | ||
| YEAR 1 SPRING SEMESTER | Semester Credit Hours | |
| NUTR 805 | Research Methods | 3 |
| NUTR 955 | Applied Medical Nutrition Therapy II | 3 |
| NUTR 976 | Organization and Management in Community Nutrition and Health Promotion | 3 |
| NUTR 975 | Supervised Experiential Practicum (Extension, Community Nutrition [WIC]) | 3 |
| 12 | ||
| YEAR 1 SUMMER TERM | Semester Credit Hours | |
| EDPS 859 | Statistical Methods | 3 |
| NUTR 975 | Supervised Experiential Practicum (Community, Clinical, Outpatient) | 5 |
| 8 | ||
| YEAR 2 FALL SEMESTER | Semester Credit Hours | |
| NUTR 860 | Health Behavior Theories and Approaches | 3 |
| NUTR 975 | Supervised Experiential Practicum (UNL Extension Research, Community, Clinical, Outpatient) | 9 |
| 12 | ||
Program Hours
| Semester Credit Hours | 45 |
| Alternate Supervised Experiential Learning Hours | 330 |
| Practice Site Supervised Experiential Learning Hours | 1032 |
| Total Supervised Experiential Learning Hours | 1362 |
Application to this program
Program Admission Requirements
The following criteria must be met for admission to the program:
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university or college in the United States or the attainment of an academic level equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Grade of C- or higher in the following required prerequisite courses:
- General Chemistry with lab
- Organic Chemistry with lab
- General Biology with lab
- Microbiology or Food Safety and Sanitation
- Human Physiology or 2 semesters of a combined Anatomy-Physiology course
- Biochemistry
- General or Introduction to Psychology
- Introduction to Nutrition
- Food Science with lab or Food Preparation with lab
- Advanced Nutrition/Nutrient Metabolism (300 or 400 level)
- Two courses of Medical Nutrition Therapy
Not all prerequisite courses need to be completed at the time of application. However, completion of all prerequisites with a grade of C- or higher will be required before program initiation.
To request a review of existing or planned courses to determine equivalency, email the course(s) in question and a copy of the relevant syllabi to:
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), taken within the last two years, is required of all applicants for whom English is not their native language. Official scores from ETS for the TOEFL must be received for your application to be reviewed. A score of at least 550 (pBT) or 79 (iBT) is required. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln institution code is 6877.
- Meet recency of education requirements, if applicable.
GRE is not required.
Recency of Education Requirements
Additional courses in nutrition and the sciences are required to update a degree which was completed five or more years prior to the current application deadline. Before registering and completing the coursework, contact the program director to confirm the courses used to meet recency of education requirements are acceptable.
- 5 to 10 years since degree was completed (Grades must be B- or higher)
- 3 semester hours of medical nutrition therapy or clinical nutrition
- 3 semester hours of human physiology
- More than 10 years since degree was completed (Grades must be B- or higher)
- 3 semester hours of medical nutrition therapy or clinical nutrition
- 3 semester hours of physiology
- 3 semester hours of advanced nutrition
Application Requirements
The following documents are needed for a complete application: (Additional information about application components can be found online at: graduate.unl.edu/academics/programs/NUHS-MS.)
- Application to Graduate School (online at unl.edu/gradstudies/admissions/steps).
- Personal statement (limit of 1000 words) addressing the following:
- Why do you want to enter the dietetics profession?
- What experiences have you had that have helped prepare you for your career?
- What are your short-term and long-term goals?
- What are your strengths and areas needing improvement?
- Any other information you consider important for the selection decision.
- Resumé which provides adequate details related to work, volunteer, and leadership experiences.
- Unofficial (scanned) transcripts from each institution where courses were taken.
- Completion of required prerequisite form provided on the application website. For each required prerequisite course, provide the course number/title, number of credit hours, and grade received if already completed. If the prerequisite course has not been completed, indicate that course is currently in progress or identify when it will be completed.
- 3 recommendation letters: 2 letters must be from a collegiate academic reference and 1 must be from a supervisor at a current or former place of employment.
GRE is not required.
The application cycle will close on October 1, 2024 for the August 2025-December 2026 Professional Studies in Dietetics class. A total of 8 students are admitted annually.
Estimated Costs to Student
The following is a list of some of the program expenses incurred during completion of the program. As there are many variables that determine final costs, expenses are at best only an approximation of various expenses encountered while completing the 16-month program.
Tuition and Fees
Semester/Term | Tuition | UNL Fees | Program Fees | Program Cost by Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st FALL SEMESTER | ||||
| Resident | $4380 | $1156 | $65 | $5601 |
| Non-Resident | $6444 | $1156 | $65 | $7665 |
| WINTER TERM | ||||
| Resident | $365 | $39 | $15 | $419 |
| Non-Resident | $640 | $39 | $15 | $694 |
| SPRING SEMESTER | ||||
| Resident | $4380 | $946 | $50 | $5376 |
| Non-Resident | $7675 | $946 | $50 | $8671 |
| SUMMER TERM | ||||
| Resident | $2920 | $551 | $50 | $3521 |
| Non-Resident | $4501 | $551 | $50 | $5102 |
| 2nd FALL SEMESTER | ||||
| Resident | $4380 | $1051 | $50 | $5481 |
| Non-Resident | $7060 | $1051 | $50 | $8161 |
Total Costs for Tuition and Fees
| Tuition | UNL Fees | Program Fees | Grand Total | |
| Resident | $16,425 | $3743 | $230 | $20,398 |
| Non-Resident | $26,320 | $3743 | $230 | $30,293 |
Housing
Students provide their own living arrangements. Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Lincoln, NE is approximately $1000/month.
Transportation
Students must have a car and auto insurance. All transportation to meetings and rotation assignments will be at the student's own expense. Some experiences will be completed in Omaha, and students will be responsible for associated gas costs.
Application Fee to Graduate College
At the time of application to the Graduate College, there is a $50 application fee for all applicants not currently enrolled at UNL. The application fee is $25 for applicants enrolled at UNL.
Approved Scrubs/Professional Dress
Students provide their own approved scrubs (if required). Students are expected to adhere to the appropriate dress code for each facility and to dress in a professional manner.
Food Handler's Permit
Students will be required to have a current food handler's permit at a cost of $20 for food service management-supervised experiential learning.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is required. Students are eligible for the University's Student Health Insurance Plan.
Criminal and Abuse Background Check
While not required for application, final admission to the program is dependent upon completing a criminal and abuse background check. The College of Education and Human Sciences contracts with an outside vendor to conduct criminal and abuse background checks for incoming UNL students. Students are responsible for the cost of this process; the current cost is $33. The results of the checks will be maintained in the student’s file. If the criminal and abuse background checks reveal questionable information, a student may be denied direct patient/client access in facilities. This could result in unsuccessful completion of the program.
Professional Liability Insurance
Liability insurance is required and will be provided by the program with no additional cost to the student.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Student Membership and Nebraska Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (NAND) Annual Conference
Students are required to become student members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The $58 membership fee includes membership in the Nebraska Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Students are required to attend the NAND Annual Conference held each spring. Recently, attendance fees for students have been waived. However, if the attendance fee for students is not waived, students will be expected to cover the cost of attendance.
Technology and Required Textbooks
Students will be required to own a personal computer and have access to the internet to utilize online platforms used for both distance and in-person learning, to include Canvas and Zoom. Textbooks are required for select graduate courses (approximately $350.00). Students will have access to the eNCPT (electronic Nutrition Care Process Terminology) and Nutrition Care Manual, which will be paid by the program.
Application for Graduate Degree Graduation
There is a $25.00 fee associated with applying for graduation.
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) Examination
Upon successful completion of the program, students will pay a cost of $225.00 to sit for the RDN examination.
Financial Aid and Loan Deferment
Financial Aid
Students are full-time students each semester and during the summer. Consequently, students are eligible to apply for financial aid and qualify for loan deferments every semester and during the summer.
Students who need to borrow funds for college expenses should inquire at:
Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
102 Canfield Administration Building
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68588-0411
(402) 472-2030
Financial Support
Fellowships are awarded to all students at the beginning of each year of the program. The fellowship amount varies each year depending on fund availability.
Program Completion Requirements
To earn the master's degree in Nutrition and Health Sciences-Professional Studies in Dietetics Specialization and verification statement, the student must:
- Complete all graduate courses and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.
- Complete all courses with a minimum grade of "C".
- Complete all supervised experiential learning hours, address all performance indicators, and demonstrate the attainment of all accreditation required competencies (as documented by specific assessment methods for each competency) have been secured.
- Perform in a professional and ethical manner.