The Professional Practice Concentration is approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®). Cohorts are accepted in the summer term only. Preferred application is March 1.
The demand is great for wellness and preventive services, which include nutrition, in almost all areas of health care practice. The Master of Science (M.S.) in Nutrition Professional Practice Concentration prepares students who wish to enter the field of nutrition and dietetics practice as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
The professional practice concentration (MS-RDN) is the only track by which students may become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Under the graduate nutrition program, students from varied backgrounds work together to emphasize collaborative interprofessional practice. Additional required coursework is provided to meet both professional competencies and experiential learning requirements of the ACEND Graduate Degree Programs (GP).
The MS-RDN program admits students once a year in summer (May start). As a residential program, students are engaged through a hybrid format offering a mixture of online courses and regular onsite meetings. Experiential learning is arranged locally within the local tri-county areas to maximize the faculty oversight and involvement in meeting the GP program standards. This curriculum also qualifies candidates to meet the guidelines for licensure in the State of Florida upon successful completion.
For More Information, please contact:
Program Director Stephanie N. Petrosky, D.C.N., M.H.A., RDN, LDN, FAND
spetrosky@nova.edu
(954) 262-1597
The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) is the accrediting agency for educational programs to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Accreditation is necessary to assure that the education and training received by students meet quality assurance standards and to ensure that students from an accredited program have been taught the same foundational knowledge requirements. See the ACEND website for more details on this process.
Also, many states regulate the practice of nutrition and dietetics profession. It is important that you know the requirements and implications of your future practice.
The professional practice of nutrition and dietetics applies the science of food and nutrition to the health and well-being of individuals and groups. Dietitians are the health professionals who translate the science and art of nutrition and food into the practice of caring for the health and well-being of people. A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) is a food and nutrition expert who has met minimum academic and professional requirements, and who have passed the Registration Examination for Dietitians, which is administered by The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
Please note that as of January 1, 2024, candidates seeking to take the certification examination for registered dietitians must have at least a master's degree along with the professional training and other program elements to qualify. Read more here.
The mission of the professional practice concentration (RDN) is to provide innovative education and training to effectively prepare competent, entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists who collaboratively lead nutrition practice to enhance human health and quality of life in the communities they serve.
Goal 1: Prepare practitioners who can deliver quality nutritional care that is based on academic standards for entry-level dietitians and current research.
Objectives:
Goal 2: Prepare graduates who champion service to the community and profession through active roles in leadership and interprofessional practice.
Objectives:Program outcomes are available upon request.
Nova Southeastern University's Master of Science in Nutrition, Professional Practice Concentration is granted full accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) as a Future Graduate Program through December 31, 2029. Graduates of this designated track will be eligible candidates for the Commission on Dietetic Registration .
Interested parties may learn more by contacting the program director at spetrosky@nova.edu .
Contact information for ACEND:
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
Phone: 800-877-1600 X 5400
Email: ACEND@eatright.org
URL: www.eatright.org/acend
Winter (14 credits)
NUT 5100 World Culture, Food and Nutrition
NUT 5170 Management of Food and Nutrition Systems
NUT 6200 Evidence-based Research Outcomes in Nutrition
NUT 8001 Nutrition Practicum I - Community and Population Health
Summer (11 credits)
NUT 6105 Wellness and Healthy WeightNUT 5075 Advanced Practice Principles of Functional Nutrition
NUT 6800 Special Project II
NUT 8002 Nutrition Practicum II - Leadership/Business/Management
Winter (13 credits)
PLEASE NOTE: This program will accept applications on a rolling basis throughout the year and only admits a limited amount of candidates for a summer cohort each year (May start date).
The MS-RDN Professional Practice Concentration follows the admission criteria of the Master of Science in Nutrition degree program with the following additions (*Unique to this concentration) :
Prerequisite Courses (Semester credits with grade of C or better):
Admission Requirements:
March 1 is the preferred application deadline each year for one summer cohort. When completing the application form online, candidates must specifically indicate the Professional Practice Concentration from the optional drop-down choices.
All applicants who meet the minimum criteria will be considered; however, not all applicants will be selected to interview. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow for adequate time to process the application review and to receive supplemental materials.
Upon receipt of the completed application and required materials, the Committee on Admissions will review the applicant's file and make recommendations to the program director. All final decisions are made by the dean of the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine.
All qualified applicants will be evaluated against the admissions requirements. Due to the nature of this professional practice pathway, not all applicants will receive an invitation to interview.
Candidates who have completed all pre-requisite coursework and present a well-rounded application demonstrating a commitment to the profession of dietetics and nutrition will be given preference in the selection process. When writing a personal statement, it is best to address this in the comments provided. Other areas of strength will be the applicant's academic performance, community service, leadership attributes, additional letters of support and resume.
Candidates offered admission are required to complete an Intent to Enroll form and submit a $200 seat deposit by the stated deadline to confirm the acceptance or the seat is forfeited.
Accepted candidates who are completing the final requirements may receive a provisional admission offer contingent upon successful completion of pending items, including conferral of a degree. Accepted students must submit all original transcripts and documents to the Office of Admissions to be fully admitted. Financial aid funds cannot be distributed until this obligation is fulfilled. Delays in this step may also affect a candidate's ability to successfully enter the program.
Accepted candidates are admitted into a cohort that begins in the summer term (early May start date) and must attend a program orientation.
Estimated Program Costs for 2-Year Program
Admissions Application Fee: $50
Tuition: $ 23,000/year
Books and Supplies: $ 1800/year
Student Services Fees: $ 1500/year
Registration and Other Administrative Fees: $ 265/year
Health Insurance: $ 2300/year or waiver accepted
Background Testing/Immunizations: $200
Uniforms/White Coat: $ 200
ServSafe Training: $125
Professional Memberships: $58
Conference Registrations: $150
Graduation Regalia: $150
Travel: variable depending on course assignments
Housing: variable depending on location and accommodations
The M.S. in Nutrition degree program and all concentrations within the degree have been granted financial aid funding status to qualified students. Please consult the NSU Office of Financial Aid website or speak with a representative if you have any questions.
Generally, to qualify for federal, state, and institutional financial assistance, students must meet the following requirements:
Distance Education
The M.S. in Nutrition Professional Practice Concentration (MS-RDN) uses online technologies and learning management systems to deliver course content. However, the experiential learning portions of this concentration require onsite availability throughout the entire program. Therefore, a distance learning option is not offered. Students must be located near campus for regularly scheduled program activities and may travel up to two hours for supervised training.
Assessment of Prior Learning or Coursework
The MS-RDN program has adopted NSU’s policy for course transfers and assessment of prior learning. Only didactic courses can be considered for transfer credit. Applicants may submit documentation for evaluation prior to admission and work with the program director to evaluate portfolios. Details can be found at: https://www.nova.edu/tes/graduate/index.html.
Supervised Learning Experiences
Supervised practice experiences are coordinated through the program with educational affiliations arranged by Nova Southeastern University on behalf of the nutrition program. Students may work with the program director to engage in unique learning experiences as appropriate to fulfill the experiential learning requirements and explore personalized practice options under a qualified preceptor. Students are not required to arrange their own preceptor or learning sites.
State Licensing Requirements
The MS-RDN program provides a national level of certification once graduates pass the credentialing examination for registered dietitians. Applicants are responsible for determining any additional requirements for licensure in the state where they seek to be licensed. Students should refer directly to the state licensing bodies or visit professional websites such as the Commission on Dietetic Registration for licensure requirements across the United States. Florida candidates with an active RDN number can apply directly to the Florida Department of Health.
Graduation and Program Completion Requirements for RDN