Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance

Colorado State University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Montana State University, North Dakota State University, Oklahoma State University, South Dakota State University, University of Kansas Medical Center, University of Nebraska

Dietetics

Program - Admission Requirements - Master's Degree - Course Schedule - Faculty - Contacts
Benefits - Learning Outcomes - Careers
General Program Information: Cost, Admissions, Financial Assistance, Grade Translation
Computer System Recommendations, Frequently Asked Questions

The Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA) is a consortium of eleven universities offering fully online graduate programs. Each university brings a unique strength to the multi-institution academic programs. In a multi-institution degree program, you apply, and are admitted at one university; enroll in all your courses at that university; and, graduate or receive a certificate from that university. However, your online courses are taught by the best faculty in the discipline from several universities.

This online 36-credit hour Master of Science degree in Dietetics prepares Registered Dietitians to practice dietetics at an advanced level and/or to pursue doctoral study. The program seeks to develop research skills, stimulate independent thought, and provide up-to-date knowledge in foods, nutrition, and foodservice/ business management. This program prepares individuals to integrate and apply the principles from the biomedical sciences, human behavior, and management to design and lead effective food and nutrition programs in a variety of settings. This online program will be a degree tailored for credentialed, practicing dietetics professionals who seek to enhance their knowledge in a specific area of dietetics practice or retool for new career opportunities in dietetics practice.

Students must meet the following criteria to be admitted to the online Master’s program:

• Must hold the credential of Registered Dietitian (RD) or be RD-eligible, (meaning the student has met both the academic and supervised practice requirements of the American Dietetic Association and is ready to sit for the national credentialing exam to become a Registered Dietitian).
• Must meet the Master’s program entrance requirements of the admitting university. Typically this requires a minimum of at least a 3.0 undergraduate grade point average (or 3.0 on the last 60 hours of coursework in the undergraduate degree).
• The GRE or GMAT may be required by some participating institutions.

Core Courses, 15 credits
A basic statistics course, 3 credits
A research methods course, 3 credits
A current issues/trends course, 3 credits

Choice of:

Advanced nutrition: Nutrigenomics, Nutrigenetics & Advanced Lipid Metabolism in Human Nutrition, 3 credits
AND
Micronutrients in Human Nutrition, 3 credits

OR

Accounting Concepts & Analysis, 3 credits
AND
Entrepreneurship, 3 credits

Electives, 15 credits
Nutrition and Physical Activity in Aging, 3 credits
Maternal and Child Nutrition, 3 credits
Nutrition and Human Performance, 3 credits
Nutritional Counseling & Education Methods, 3 credits
Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy, 3 credits
Nutrition Education in the Community, 3 credits
Obesity Across the Lifespan, 3 credits
Pediatric Clinical Nutrition, 3 credits
Phytochemicals, 3 credits
Functional Foods, 3 credits
Nutrition in Wellness, 3 credits
International Nutrition and World Hunger, 3 credits
Healthcare Administration, 3 credits
Managerial Finance I, 3 credits
Operations Management and Analysis, 3 credits
Marketing Concepts and Research, 3 credits
Behavioral Management Theory, 3 credits
Grant Writing for the Professional, 3 credits
Food Production Management, 3 credits
Foundations of Leadership, 3 credits
Leadership Practicum, 3 credits
Nutrition: A Focus on Life Stages, 3 credits
Metabolic Roles of Nutrients (Micronutrients)

Thesis / Non-Thesis, 6 credits
Students may select to compete a thesis under the direction of their major professor and committee OR they may take 6 additional credit hours from program electives and sit for a comprehensive written examination followed by an oral examination with their committee.

The student's thesis problem is preferably a topic related to his/her dietetics practice, results of which may add to the body of knowledge and support evidence-based dietetics practice.

Degree Completion

For the Master’s degree, students will be required to complete thirty-six credit hours including a
thesis (if required by their “home” institution), and complete the following requirements:
• All core courses
• An additional 15 credits selected from the list of electives
• A thesis or six additional credit hours, depending on the options at the admitting university
• The student’s schedule of courses must be approved by his/her faculty advisor and
graduate committee.

For further information please refer to the contact information on the partner institution's web sites.

• You will receive a graduate degree from a top tier university, taught by nationally recognized experts in the field of dietetics.
• A variety of perspectives and cutting edge material in dietetics will be explored, through your interaction with a diverse faculty from several different institutions.
• Networking opportunities will emerge from your electronic learning community.
• A convenient online format lets you fit courses into your work and home schedules.
• The cost savings from relocating or paying out-of-state tuition can go directly toward your education.
• You will be prepared to integrate and apply the principles from the biomedical sciences, human behavior, and management to design and lead effective food and nutrition programs in a variety of settings.

Upon successful completion of the Dietetics program the student will be able to:

1. apply cutting-edge information in food, nutrition, food service management, and wellness
   to enhance dietetics practice
2. think independently and critically to evaluate and apply new research concepts and
   theories to advance the profession of dietetics
3. understand public policy and current systems of health care delivery with particular
   reference to the role of the dietitian
4. advance the profession of dietetics by contributing to evidence-based practice.

Dietetics is one of the most dynamic and versatile of the health-related professions. Food, and the nutrition derived from it, is at the heart of dietetics practice. Registered dietitians work in myriad ways to meet the food and nutrition needs of individuals, organizations, and society as a whole.   

Registered Dietitians earn their RD credential by:

1. completing the minimum of a baccalaureate degree through an accredited dietetic education program. The curriculum encompasses specific "foundation knowledge and skills" identified by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association.  
2. completing a minimum of 900 hours of supervised practice experience in an accredited Coordinated Program in Dietetics or an accredited post-baccalaureate dietetic internship.
3. successfully passing the national Registration Examination for Dietitians of the Commission on Dietetic Registration.  

Registered dietitians may be found working in the public health arena, in the foodservice industry, as entrepreneurs in private practice, as lifestyle and wellness consultants to business and industry, etc. The list of possible work settings for RDs could go on and on. The expertise of the Registered Dietitian as a food and nutrition expert serves as the foundation for building a career with endless possibilities.  

Visit the website of the American Dietetic Association for further information about the profession of dietetics at: http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/career.html  

To learn more about the breadth of the profession of dietetics, you may peruse the listing and descriptions of the 29 Dietetics Practice Groups (DPGs) within the American Dietetic Association by visiting: http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/career_481_ENU_HTML.htm .