Master of Sciences in Nutrition and Dietetics

The UCCS Master of Sciences in Nutrition and Dietetics (MSc) is a two-year graduate program designed to provide students with applied learning experience in preparation for a career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). The program curriculum is built on a competency-based education framework. Students will have access to the Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center, containing expansive classrooms and a teaching kitchen. Our partnership with Common Spirit will connect students with high quality preceptors; small student-to-preceptor ratios will continue a 40-year history of clinical teaching excellence.

Mission

The mission of the Master of Sciences in Nutrition and Dietetics program is to prepare graduates for evidence-based practice as competent, entry-level registered dietitians. 

Goals and Outcome Measures
Goal One - Prepare graduates to be competent, entry-level registered dietitians.

Objectives for Goal One:

• At least 80% of program graduates complete the program requirements within 3 years (150% of the program length).
• At least 90% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
• The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
• Of graduates who seek employment, at least 70% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
• During their first year of employment, a minimum of 80% of the responses from the annual employer survey will indicate that graduates perform at an above average level.
• At least 70% of graduates who respond to the alumni survey will report “agree” or “strongly agree” regarding their knowledge and skill preparation for entry-level practice.

Goal Two - Produce graduates who utilize and apply evidence-based research to professional practice.

     Objectives for Goal Two:

• At least 70% of graduates who respond to the alumni survey will indicate that they apply evidence-based information as they make decisions in professional practice.

Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

Upon completion of all program requirements of the UCCS Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics, students will earn a verification statement resulting in eligibility to take the credentialing exam to become an RDN. Alternative pathways can be explored through the ACEND’s information for students page under “pathways to registration.” Licensure requirements for other states can be found on the Commission on Dietetic Registration state licensure webpage.

Employment Opportunities

Registered dietitians work in a wide variety of employment settings, including health care, business and industry, community/public health, education, research, government agencies and private practice. Many work environments, particularly those in medical and health-care settings, require that an individual be credentialed as an RDN. RDNs work in:

• Hospitals, HMO's or other health-care facilities, educating patients about nutrition and administering medical nutrition therapy as part of the health-care team. They may also manage the foodservice operations in these settings, as well as in schools, day-care centers and correctional facilities, over-seeing everything from food purchasing and preparation to managing staff.
• Sports nutrition and corporate wellness programs, educating clients about the connection between food, fitness and health.
• Food and nutrition-related business and industries, working in communications, consumer affairs, public relations, marketing, product development or consulting with chefs in restaurants and culinary schools.
• Private practice, working under contract with health-care or food companies, or in their own business. RDs may provide services to foodservice or restaurant managers, food vendors and distributors or athletes, nursing home residents or company employees.
• Community and public health settings, teaching, monitoring and advising the public and helping improve their quality of life through healthy eating habits.
• Universities and medical centers, teaching physician’s assistants, nurses, dietetics students, dentists and others the sophisticated science of foods and nutrition.
• Research areas in food and pharmaceutical companies, universities and hospitals directing or conducting experiments to answer critical nutrition questions and find alternative foods or nutrition recommendations for the public.

See ACEND for more details.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Undergraduate GPA of 2.8 or above
• Applicants must submit:
  • 3 letters of reference
  • Official transcripts from all institutions where undergraduate credit was earned
  • Personal statement addressing professional goals  
  • Resume or CV
  • Application fee $60.00

Streamlined Admission for UCCS graduating Seniors and Alumni requires:

• Must be about to graduate or graduated from UCCS in the last 4 years
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above, OR, Human Physiology and Nutrition program specific GPA of 3.0 or above.
• Applicants must submit:
  • 2 letters of reference (one from a current program faculty member)
  • Official transcripts from all institutions where postsecondary credit was earned
  • Personal statement addressing professional goals  
  • Resume or CV
  • Application fee $60.00

English Proficiency Requirements

All English as Second Language (ESL) applicants are required to meet a minimum standard of English proficiency for admission. This requirement can be met if:

• You have received or will receive a post-secondary degree in the United States.
• You have received or will receive a post-secondary degree where English is the language (medium) of instruction.
• You take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or an International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Duolingo, or another approved English proficiency test and receive a score that is equal to or higher than your program’s requirements.  Tests must have been taken in the last two years.
• You successfully complete an English language training program approved by UCCS.
• For more information please visit: https://graduateschool.uccs.edu/english-proficiency-requirements

• International Students

  International applicants to apply beginning January 1, 2023, for a Fall Semester 2023 start. Apply here. 

Application

The application priority deadline is on the third Sunday in January of each year. Priority applicants will be evaluated and notified of admission status by the third Monday in February. Rolling acceptance of applications will occur through May 1st based on availability. Applications may be submitted at any time annually between September 1st through May 1st. If the maximum applicant pool of 12 students is reached, the website will be updated to indicate if applications are still being accepted to be added onto a waitlist.

Note: UCCS does not use DICAS at this time.

Preferred Program Prerequisites

Please read the below information for guidance on program prerequisites:

Required to Apply 

• Introductory Nutrition Course (see below for more detail)   
• Math – Algebra or Higher 
• Biology 
• Anatomy and Physiology with Labs
• General Chemistry with Lab

Conditional Admittance (must complete in the first year if not already completed)

1. Organic Chemistry with Lab 
2. Biochemistry 

Preferred Not Required (these courses will help strengthen your application but are not required)
a.    General Psychology 
b.    Microbiology 
c.    Statistics
d.    Pathophysiology

Additional Guidance 

We do not have a policy or requirement for prerequisites to have been taken within a specific timeframe. For example, some programs may require coursework to have been completed within five years. We will evaluate each application holistically. If have been away from school for a significant period of time (i.e. more than five years) you might consider retaking courses listed under the required section, especially an introductory nutrition course. 

An introductory nutrition course is quite common in Health Science programs across US higher education institutions. These courses are typically titled “Nutrition Across the Lifespan” or “Human Metabolism”. The course should cover basic nutrition principles of macro and micronutrients including basic human metabolism. For example, here at UCCS we offer HPNU 2050 Nutrition for Health Professionals. 

Course description: “An introductory level course for students preparing for health science careers. Emphasis will be on the variety of biological and environmental factors which influence nutritional needs and nutritional status. The role of nutrients in energy metabolism and physiology will also be covered. The course will also focus on the educational role of the health service provider. Each student will do a detailed analysis of their own diet.”

• Program Coursework
• UCCS Graduate Program Policies
• Nutrition and Dietetics Graduate Student Handbook 
• Program Faculty 
  • Steve Ferguson, PhD, RDN
  • Margaret Harris, PhD, MS, HC
  • Andrea Hutchins, PhD, RDN, FAND
  • Nanna Meyer, PhD, RDN, CSSD
  • Sean Svette, MSc RDN

Table of Estimated Costs

SEAN SVETTE
Instructor | Program Coordinator
dietetic@uccs.edu | 719-255-4478

The UCCS Master of Sciences in Nutrition and Dietetics (MSc) is a two-year graduate program designed to provide students with applied learning experience in preparation for a career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). The program curriculum is built on a competency-based education framework. Students will have access to the Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center, containing expansive classrooms and a teaching kitchen. Our partnership with Centura Health will connect students with high quality preceptors; small student-to-preceptor ratios will continue a 40-year history of clinical teaching excellence.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences’ Master of Sciences in Nutrition and Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190 Chicago, IL 60606-6995 (312) 899-0040 ext 5400 ACEND Website

Program outcomes data are available upon request beginning fall of 2024

Q: What will my class and supervised learning schedule look like? 
A:  Each semester will typically have two days of in-person coursework and simulation labs held at the William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center. The other three days per week will be hosted by a network of preceptors both on and off campus for supervised practice hours. Students will be required to complete approximately 250hrs of supervised practice hours over the course of each semester or 6hrs per day, three days a week during a regular semester. The types of supervised practice experiences will correspond to the coursework being taught during the semester. For example, in the program’s first semester you will take Food Systems Management. This will include didactic instruction in addition to being placed in foodservice operations on campus and in the community (i.e. UCCS Dining and Hospitality Services or Colorado Springs District 11 Nutrition Services) 

Q: After becoming an RDN what areas can I specialize in?
A: The Commission on Dietetic Registration offers Board Certification as a Specialist in Pediatric, Renal, Gerontological,  Pediatric Critical Care, and Oncology Nutrition, as well as Sports Dietetics and Obesity and Weight Management.  Board Certification is granted in recognition of an applicant's documented practice experience and successful completion of an examination in the specialty area.

Q: What is the difference between competency-based education and traditional education programs?  
A: In a competency-based education model, students are able to gain a variety of experiences learning at school, online, and in their community. The competency-based pathways accommodate student interests and learning styles. In a traditional setting, students advance at the educator’s pace regardless of mastery. In a competency-based model,  students customize the pace and learning goals for themselves and their career objectives. In a competency-based model, grades reflect the mastery of course competencies and students have demonstrated mastery multiple times.

Q: Is it possible to receive credit for prior work experience (aka assessment of prior learning)? 
A: The program does not offer an assessment of prior learning. 

Q:  What if UCCS doesn’t have what I need?
A:  Your best resource is the online ACEND Program Directory for a complete list of all accredited nutrition programs.

Q: Does the program provide support in helping me find a career in my field?
A:  We provide a wide variety of support through career fairs, networking events, and the T. Rowe Price Career and Innovation Center. The Career and Innovation Center provides resume writing workshops, professional development resources, strategies, and tips for navigating the job market, resources for the job search process, career advising, and access to job and internship postings with our community partners. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Information for Students site is also a good starting point for students wanting to become registered dietitian nutritionists. 

Q: Can you provide me with information about the international application requirements for your program?
A: As an international student, there are a few additional application requirements when applying to our programs.   Please visit our website for transcript and English proficiency requirements details.  Visit the UCCS International Admissions website for additional international admissions information. 

Q: Are there scholarships available for graduate students?
A: In 2018, we awarded $1.2 million in financial aid grants to approximately 300 graduate students. Plus, $816,000 in merit-based scholarships were distributed to 150 graduate students. Learn more about the many scholarships, financial resources, and career support services offered at UCCS.