An online advanced degree program for registered dietitians or individuals who are registration-eligible.
The Master’s in Dietetics program through SDState Online will develop your research skills, stimulate independent thought and provide up-to-date knowledge in foods, nutrition and food service/business management. With flexible schedules and plenty of electives, you can design a program that fits your life, career goals and interests.
The M.S. in Dietetics does not prepare one to become a Registered Dietitian. For more information on how to become a Registered Dietitian, please visit
What will you learn in the Online Dietetics Master's Degree?
Tailored for credentialed, practicing professionals who seek to enhance their knowledge in a specific area or retool for new career opportunities, the Master’s in Dietetics program addresses advanced concepts. The online, 36-credit-hour curriculum equips you to integrate and apply dietetics principles in biomedical sciences, human behavior and program management in order to design and lead effective food and nutrition programs.
Course Requirements
This program is for registered dietitians to earn their master's degree (36 credits total). Students applying to the program must have a verification statement from an ACEND accredited didactic program in dietetics or a coordinated dietetics program. The program's core courses consist of 12 credit hours and include NFS 734 Research Methods in Dietetics, NFS 735 Current Trends in Dietetics Practices, NFS 760 Vitamins and Minerals in Human Nutrition and a graduate statistics course, such as STATS 541. Electives make up the remaining 18-24 credit hours, dependent upon the option (see list below), and cover a wide variety of topics to meet the needs of the diverse dietetics profession including clinically oriented nutrition course, community or public health nutrition course, health care administration, management-oriented courses, food science and food service management. The three options for students are:
- Thesis - requires 6 credits of HNS 798 Thesis
- Research Paper - requires 3 credits HNS 788 Research Problems
- Written Comprehensive Exam - requires written comprehensive.
Thesis and research problems students write their thesis or research paper and defend it orally with their supervisory committee. Students who complete a comprehensive written examination also have an oral examination with their supervisory committee.
Please visit the SDSU Online Catalog page for more details on required courses.
Let Your Master's Be Your Guide
Serve
There are many contexts in which you can put your graduate degree to use.
- Industry
- Hospital
- Clinic Long-term care facility
- Government program
- Private practice
- Community nutrition education interventions
- Public health nutrition
- Nonprofit agency
Specialize
Your advanced knowledge equips you to play a greater role on teams to provide more effective individual and group treatment.
- Healthcare administration
- Pediatrics
- Critical care
Educate
There are multiple levels of teaching available to you with a master’s degree.
- University
- Wellness counseling
- Community or corporate health program
Studying online through Great Plains IDEA
The online Master of Science in Dietetics is one of the most innovative in the country, taught through the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GPIDEA), a consortium of universities who have banded together to offer online graduate programs. Our online MS in Dietetics is the largest of the GPIDEA programs with 9 universities participating.
GPIDEA allows institutions working together to provide fully online programs that are greater in reach and significance than any single institution could field alone. The Alliance was founded in 1994 capitalizing on the institutional resources and expertise of major research universities to sponsor in high-demand programs that are delivered through online learning technologies.
The collaborative, multi-institutional online programs expand and diversify your educational opportunities. Courses led by instructors from partner universities and interactions with geographically-dispersed students will broaden your perceptions and knowledge.
Admissions Requirements
- Graduate School Admission Requirements
- SDSU Master's Degree Requirements
- Students must have completed a BS or BA from an Accreditation Counsel for Education of Nutrition and Dietetics accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics and submit the ACEND Verification statement or their RND credential card as verification of eligibility.
- Letter of application stating the following: reasons for attending graduate school; long-term goals outlining career goals; primary area of interest for capstone/research focus; and current professional certifications and credentials.
- Two recommendations letters from professionals knowledgeable in applicants graduate school potential.
GRE: Not required; TOEFL: required score of 550 paper-based, 79-80 Internet-based; IELTS: 6.5; Duolingo: 110
Apply Now through the Online Graduate School Application
Contact Us for More Information About our Online Dietetics Master's Degree
Program Contact
GPIDEA Coordinator
Advance Your Career through the Online Dietetics Master's Degree
Designed to fit you and your needs, enhance your career with the Online Dietetics Master's Degree and equip yourself to be a leader in food and nutrition programming.
If you'd like to receive more information about our program, please contact the Program Coordinator or complete the form at the bottom of the page.
Hear from Our GPIDEA Graduates
A Flexible Program That Fits Around Your Busy Life
Multiple Universities Provide a Unique Experience
Skills Transfer from Class to Work
Networking Leads to PhD.
"I always knew I wanted to obtain a master’s degree to stay competitive in the field of nutrition. The online program offered a wider variety of courses and allowed me to work full time in a location lacking a university. By working full time in the field while attending graduate school, I was able to directly apply what I learned in my online classes—which helped me retain more knowledge and skills."
Whitney Jerman, Online Student
Master's in Dietetics
Interested in Becoming a Registered Dietitian?
Check out our Nutrition and Dietetics Program (B.S.) and our Nutrition and Dietetics Internship.