Students pursuing a MS in Nutritional Science may meet the requirements to become a Registered Dietitian by following either the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) or the Coordinated Dietetic Program (CDP).
The Coordinated Dietetic Program (CDP) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association. Students complete supervised practice (internship equivalent) during the CDP and are fully eligible to take the registration exam to become a Registered Dietitian upon completion of this program. Applications to the CDP are available each January and are due each March 1 for Fall entry.
Requirements for the Degree (45 units) (additional requirements for either the DPD or CDP options)
A total of 45 units is required, with at least 23 in 500-level courses.
Required 400-level courses (0-20 units)
All of the following courses are required. Students who took these courses as an undergraduate must select (with the approval of their adviser) additional 400 or 500-level courses that contribute to their professional and scholarly objectives. Students may not enroll in 500-level courses in nutritional science before completing all of the 400-level courses listed below.
NTRS 410 |
Experimental Foods(4) |
NTRS 415AB |
Medical Nutrition Therapy (4,4) |
NTR 417AB |
Advanced Nutrition I, II (4, 4) |
NTRS 417L |
Nutritional Assessment Laboratory (1) |
NTRS 419ABC and NTRS 419S may not be included in a student's course of study for the master's degree in nutritional science.
Required 500-level courses (8-9 units)
NTRS 511* |
Research Concepts and Methodolgy in Nutritional Science (4) or |
KIN 504* |
Research Design in Kinesiology (5) |
NTRS 513 |
Advanced Problems and Topics in Nutritional Science (4) |
*An upper division statistics course, approved by adviser, must be completed prior to taking NTRS 511 or KIN 504
Select two or more of the following (8-16 units):
NTRS 521 |
Advanced Topics in Eating Behaviors (4) |
NTRS 523 |
Advanced Topics in Dietetics Management (4) |
NTRS 525 |
Advanced Topics in Food Science and Technology (4) |
NTRS 527 |
Nutritional Epidemiology (4) |
Electives (0-29 units)
NTRS 519 |
Seminars: Special Topics in Food and Nutritional Science (4) |
NTRS 595 |
Fieldwork in Nutritional Science (2-4) |
NTRS 597 |
Graduate Research (4) |
Other courses that contribute to the student's professional and scholarly objectives, selected with approval of adviser. No more than 12 units may be counted in disciplines other than nutritional science.
Comprehensive Examination, Thesis or Project (0, 6 units)
NTRS 596 |
Comprehensive Examination (0) or |
NTRS 599 |
Thesis or Project (6) |
Students planning to take the comprehensive exam should enroll in NTRS 596 during the quarter in which they complete all other course work listed on their course of study.
Click below for Nutritional Science MS Application Materials
Nutritional Science MS Application Materials
Also, the Frequently Asked Questions will be useful in answering any questions that you might have about our programs