The Masters in Dietetics is available as a standalone Masters for those with the appropriate undergraduate degree and coursework, or as part of the Accelerated Masters for undergraduate students at MSU. This program can also be paired with Masters in Public Health (MPH) in Dietetics at MSU. The Master's in Dietetics is a Future Education Model Graduate Program which includes 1000 hours of Supervised Practice, allowing graduates to receive a Verification Statement and be eligible to sit for the national registration exam for dietitians. Starting in 2024, a graduate degree and Supervised Practice are required to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. A distance option for the Masters is available for students who wish to complete their program and conduct their Supervised Practice outside of Mankato, Minnesota.
Program Requirements
Common Core
Provides the developing helping professional with an introduction to basic helping skills: attending, listening, responding to content and affect, probing, and providing feedback. The course is experiential in nature and includes small group interaction, videotaping, and role playing simulations.
Prerequisites:
none
This class is the first in a series of two courses which explore the role of Medical Nutrition Therapy in the healthcare system. Utilizing a case-study and experiential learning approach, the course will cover pathophysiology and use of the Nutrition Care Process in normal and malnourished states. Must be accepted into the Professional Program in Dietetics.
Prerequisites:
none
This class is the second in a series of two courses which explore the role of Medical Nutrition Therapy in the healthcare system. Utilizing a case-study and experiential learning approach, the course will cover pathophysiology and use of the Nutrition Care Process in normal and more complex malnourished states.
Prerequisites:
FCS 560
A scheduled, supervised work assignment that includes on-site experiences in a nutrition-related area.
Prerequisites:
none
This class will explore nutrition in the community, including concepts of public health, entrepreneurship, diversity/equity/inclusion, epidemiology and effecting change, both individual behavioral and systemic change. Utilizing a case-study and experiential learning approach, the course will cover community needs assessments, program planning, policy and cultural competence. The course will explicitly cover mental health and the role of nutrition in behavioral health conditions. Must be enrolled in Dietetics graduate program.
Prerequisites:
none
This class is preparation for entry into the career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and through a role-playing and experiential learning approach, the course will explore ethics, professionalism, leadership, standards of practice and credentialing in the profession. Must be enrolled in the Dietetics Graduate Seminar.
Prerequisites:
none
This course will explore the models and application of counseling techniques applicable to the professional role of a Registered Dietitian with a particular emphasis on disordered eating and cultural competence. Must be accepted into the Graduate Program in Dietetics.
Prerequisites:
none
This class is preparation for the national registration examination (CDR Exam) for Registered Dietitians. The course will review primary concepts on the exam and cover test-taking strategies and skills.
Prerequisites:
none
This course will explore foundational concepts of pharmacology such as drug forms and classifications, pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism & excretion), routes of administration and basic dosing calculations. Additionally, the course will cover these same concepts for Vitamins, Minerals and Herb supplements. Special focus will be given to antineoplastic drugs, urinary system drugs, gastrointestinal drugs and endocrine system drugs including diabetic medications. Using a case-study approach, students will explore polypharmacy, physiological changes in pharmacokinetics with aging and common nutraceutical agents. Must be enrolled in Dietetics Graduate program.
Prerequisites:
none
Reviews the basic principles and techniques used in Biostatistics and will incorporate a final project that entails analyzing data, using the SPSS program, to answer hypothesized questions, and make conclusions using the inferential statistical process.
Prerequisites:
none
Research/Methods Course(s)
This class will explore research principles and methods related to food and nutrition, including both conducting research and critically evaluating the peer-reviewed literature. Through an experiential learning approach, the course will introduce the skills needed to develop, propose and complete the student's Alternative Plan Paper (Capstone Project) related to food and nutrition. Must be enrolled in Dietetics graduate program.
Prerequisites:
none
Capstone Course
Choose One - Choose 1 - 10 Credit(s). A minimum of 6 credits total of FCS593: Supervised Experiential Learning and a minimum of 10 credits total of FCS693: Supervised Experiential Learning are required for graduation. Interested students or those intending to further their education should discuss the option of completing an APP or Thesis with the Program Director. Adding an APP or Thesis will add to the total credits for completion.
A scheduled, supervised work assignment that includes on-site experiences in a nutrition-related area (Graduate Level).
Prerequisites:
none
Prerequisites:
none
Prerequisites:
none
Degree Plan
The Degree Plan is a model for completing your degree in a timely manner. Your individual degree plan may change based on a number of variables including transfer courses and the semester/year you start your major. Carefully work with your academic advisors to devise your own unique plan. * Please meet with your advisor on appropriate course selection to meet your educational and degree goals.
First Year
Fall - 6 Credits
This class is the first in a series of two courses which explore the role of Medical Nutrition Therapy in the healthcare system. Utilizing a case-study and experiential learning approach, the course will cover pathophysiology and use of the Nutrition Care Process in normal and malnourished states. Must be accepted into the Professional Program in Dietetics.
Prerequisites:
none
A scheduled, supervised work assignment that includes on-site experiences in a nutrition-related area.
Prerequisites:
none
Spring - 6 Credits
This class is the second in a series of two courses which explore the role of Medical Nutrition Therapy in the healthcare system. Utilizing a case-study and experiential learning approach, the course will cover pathophysiology and use of the Nutrition Care Process in normal and more complex malnourished states.
Prerequisites:
FCS 560
A scheduled, supervised work assignment that includes on-site experiences in a nutrition-related area.
Prerequisites:
none
Summer - 7 Credits
This class will explore research principles and methods related to food and nutrition, including both conducting research and critically evaluating the peer-reviewed literature. Through an experiential learning approach, the course will introduce the skills needed to develop, propose and complete the student's Alternative Plan Paper (Capstone Project) related to food and nutrition. Must be enrolled in Dietetics graduate program.
Prerequisites:
none
This course will explore the models and application of counseling techniques applicable to the professional role of a Registered Dietitian with a particular emphasis on disordered eating and cultural competence. Must be accepted into the Graduate Program in Dietetics.
Prerequisites:
none
A scheduled, supervised work assignment that includes on-site experiences in a nutrition-related area (Graduate Level).
Prerequisites:
none
Second Year
Fall - 10 Credits
Provides the developing helping professional with an introduction to basic helping skills: attending, listening, responding to content and affect, probing, and providing feedback. The course is experiential in nature and includes small group interaction, videotaping, and role playing simulations.
Prerequisites:
none
This class will explore nutrition in the community, including concepts of public health, entrepreneurship, diversity/equity/inclusion, epidemiology and effecting change, both individual behavioral and systemic change. Utilizing a case-study and experiential learning approach, the course will cover community needs assessments, program planning, policy and cultural competence. The course will explicitly cover mental health and the role of nutrition in behavioral health conditions. Must be enrolled in Dietetics graduate program.
Prerequisites:
none
This class is preparation for entry into the career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and through a role-playing and experiential learning approach, the course will explore ethics, professionalism, leadership, standards of practice and credentialing in the profession. Must be enrolled in the Dietetics Graduate Seminar.
Prerequisites:
none
A scheduled, supervised work assignment that includes on-site experiences in a nutrition-related area (Graduate Level).
Prerequisites:
none
Spring - 11 Credits
This class is preparation for the national registration examination (CDR Exam) for Registered Dietitians. The course will review primary concepts on the exam and cover test-taking strategies and skills.
Prerequisites:
none
This course will explore foundational concepts of pharmacology such as drug forms and classifications, pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism & excretion), routes of administration and basic dosing calculations. Additionally, the course will cover these same concepts for Vitamins, Minerals and Herb supplements. Special focus will be given to antineoplastic drugs, urinary system drugs, gastrointestinal drugs and endocrine system drugs including diabetic medications. Using a case-study approach, students will explore polypharmacy, physiological changes in pharmacokinetics with aging and common nutraceutical agents. Must be enrolled in Dietetics Graduate program.
Prerequisites:
none
Reviews the basic principles and techniques used in Biostatistics and will incorporate a final project that entails analyzing data, using the SPSS program, to answer hypothesized questions, and make conclusions using the inferential statistical process.
Prerequisites:
none
A scheduled, supervised work assignment that includes on-site experiences in a nutrition-related area (Graduate Level).
Prerequisites:
none
Policies
Please refer to the current Student Handbook on our website for a full set of policies.
Admission Policies
Students may apply to the graduate program in Dietetics while enrolled in the undergraduate Nutrition & Dietetics program at Minnesota State University as part of the continuous Professional Program in Dietetics. Alternatively, students with a DPD from an ACEND accredited program or acceptable pre-requisite courses as part of an undergraduate degree may apply to the graduate program. Admission to the MSU Graduate School is separate from admission to the Professional Program and applicants need to meet minimum requirements for the MSU Graduate School admissions. A minimum GPA of 3.0 or Program Director permission is required for admissions into the M.S. in Dietetics.
Progression Policies
Students follow the requirements of the Graduate School in progression:
A 3.0 grade point average minimum must be maintained for all graduate work being counted toward the fulfillment of a graduate certificate or degree program.
Courses taken at Minnesota State University, Mankato that are assigned a 'C-' or below will not be counted for graduation credit.
Transfer credits assigned a 'B-' or below will not be accepted.
Completion Policies
Students must complete the Graduate portion of the Professional Program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Students completing the Professional Program (Master of Science in Dietetics) must follow MSU graduation policies which can be found here: https://grad.mnsu.edu/graduate-college-policy/
All graduate courses completed at a C or above (no C-).
Degree MS
Major Credits 40
Total Credits 40
Locations Mankato
Career Cluster Health Science
This program satisfies licensure-to-practice standards for Minnesota and may satisfy standards for other states or US territories.
