Dietetics (MS)

Location(s): Manhattan Campus, Manhattan Online

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The Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health (FNDH) offers an online Master of Science degree in Dietetics for registered dietitians (RDs). This program is offered through the Innovative Digital Education Alliance (IDEA). IDEA is a consortium of universities that collaborate to offer online graduate programs. The online Master of Science in Dietetics through the IDEA is offered by the following universities:

Kansas State University
The University of Kansas Medical Center
Iowa State University
Colorado State University
The University of Nebraska, Lincoln
North Dakota State University
Oklahoma State University

Upon request, the student’s graduate committee will evaluate whether graduate practicum credit earned prior to application will count toward the student’s current degree plan. It is the responsibility of the student to provide requested and appropriate documentation to facilitate evaluation.

Admission

Application for admission should include the following information:

The applicant must hold the credential of Registered Dietitian (RD) through the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Individuals who hold credentials offered by the following foreign regulatory boards are also eligible to apply:
- Dietitians of Canada (DC)
- Dutch Association of Dietitians/Ministry of Welfare, Public Health and Culture (NVD)
- Philippine Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
- Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI)
- Health Professions Council (HCPC) United Kingdom

A copy of the applicant’s CDR registration card or other official documentation of registration status must be submitted with the application.

Or, if the applicant does not hold the credential of Registered Dietitian (RD), the applicant must provide their verification statement issued by a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

The applicant must submit official transcripts for all college coursework. A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (or alternately, a GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 hours of coursework in the undergraduate degree) is required for admission to this program.

The applicant must submit three professional recommendations. Individuals writing the references must be able to attest to the applicant’s academic abilities and professional leadership potential.

A completed applicant form detailing interest, skills, and experiences.

Students pursuing the thesis option muyst conduct research compatible with on-going research in FNDH.

Admission Deadlines

Deadline for applications is October 1 for spring semester admission or March 1 for summer or fall semester admission.

Program Description

The Master of Science in Dietetics is a 36 credit hour program.

Required Core Courses (9 Credit Hours)

FNDH 775 - Research in Health Sciences Credits: 3
or *equivalent
FNDH 891 - Environmental Scanning and Analysis of Current Issues in Dietetics Credits: 3
STAT 701 - Fundamental Methods of Biostatistics Credits: 3
or
STAT 703 - Introduction to Statistical Methods for the Sciences Credits: 3
or *equivalent

*Equivalent courses must be approved by the supervisory committee.

Elective Courses (21 credits)

Additional FNDH courses (minimum 21 credits), or equivalent courses approved by the supervisory committee, at the graduate level are required. The major professor and the supervisory committee will work with the student to select courses that will meet the requirements and support the graduate student’s professional development.

Thesis/Non-Thesis (6 Credits)

Students may elect to complete a thesis (6 credit hours of FNDH 899 Research in FNDH) OR they may elect the non-thesis option and take 6 additional credit hours from program electives.

Students completing a thesis will be required to put together a written document under the direction of their major professor and supervisory committee followed by an oral examination with their supervisory committee with an emphasis on the written document. The thesis topic must be compatible with on-going research in FNDH. Students will present a formal seminar of their research findings followed by an oral examination with their supervisory committee.

Non-thesis students may take 6 additional credit hours from program electives, OR pursue 3 additional credits from program electives plus a 3-hour dietetics practice/work-related project (FNDH 780 Problems in Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health) under the direction of their major professor and supervisory committee. The student will complete a written document, present a seminar about the topic followed by an oral examination with their supervisory committee with an emphasis on the written document.

Of the required 36 credit hours for the Master of Science Dietetics degree, at least 18 hours should be at the 700 level and above, including the thesis/research and the report/problems hours required by the thesis and report options.

Students admitted to any graduate program at Kansas State University may also elect to pursue a Graduate Certificate in one of the graduate certificate programs offered. Students must apply for admission to a graduate certificate program. Graduate students working toward advanced degrees may use any or all of the certificate courses in a program of study with the approval of the student’s supervisory committee.