Advisor: Ping Ouyang
Room: 2506, Kohrman Hall

The M.S. in nutrition and dietetics is designed for current graduate dietetic interns preparing to become registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) as well as individuals who are already an RDN and desiring a master’s degree that complements existing professional skills. RDNs work in a variety of healthcare, community, food service management, industry and research positions where an understanding of nutritional science and the ability to explain it to the public and specific populations are required.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree in addition to supervised practice to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become an RDN. The WMU program enables students to combine supervised practice (also known as a dietetic internship) with 30 graduate credits to earn the Master’s degree within 20 months or less. The dietetic internship portion of the M.S. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and provides hands-on practicum experiences in clinical, food service management and community nutrition. In order to receive a Verification of completion statement attesting that the candidate may take the CDR exam, students must successfully complete both the dietetic internship portion of the program and the 30-credit M.S. degree. It is expected that those finishing this program who have not yet taken the RD credentialing exam will take the exam within 12 months of completion of the M.S degree.

ADMISSIONS

Admission to the program requires one of the following: 

• Prior or current acceptance into the WMU Dietetic Internship Program. The WMU Dietetic Internship Program uses Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) for admissions. Using DICAS, applicants are admitted once per year on or near February 15. Go to Dietetic Internship Application Process https://wmich.edu/familyconsumer/internships/dietetic-application for more information. 
• Those with RDN status will need to demonstrate
  • Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an approved accredited school;
  • Statements verifying completion of a didactic program in dietetics, a coordinated program in dietetics, or a dietetic internship; 
  • A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale of undergraduate work.

And Provide: 

• A current resumé; 
• Three letters of recommendation including at least one academic reference; 
• A two-page essay that provides the following: 
  • Describe experience(s) that influenced your career choice and your desire to return to graduate school. 
  • Explain how having an M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics will advance your career

The Program

The M.S. in nutrition and dietetics comprises 30 semester hours, half of which must be in courses at the 6000-level or higher, and at least one 3-credit hour of FCS 7100 Independent Research. Candidates may substitute FCS 7000 Master’s Thesis (6 graduate credits) in place of FCS 7100. The dietetic internship (FCS 6230 x 2) is required if the student has not entered the program as an RDN. Other coursework is usually drawn from nutritional science, lifespan nutrition, public health/environmental nutrition.