The Nutrition graduate program leads to a Master of Science degree and provides students with practical experiences at supervised practice sites and training that fulfill ACEND requirements to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. The degree requires 39 credit hours (CH) with or without a thesis. Of these, 33 CH must come from Nutrition offerings and the remaining 6 CH may come from related areas outside the department. Individuals who successfully complete the program will be issued a DI Verification Statement and will be eligible to sit for the Registration Examination for Registered Dietitians.
Throughout the program, students are expected to have a working computer, access to high-speed internet, and the ability to utilize AsULearn (the university’s learning management system), Google Suite, Microsoft Office 365, and Zoom (the university’s web conferencing service).
MS / DI Course Requirements (Non-Thesis and Thesis: 39 CH)
- First Year Coursework
- NUT 5000 Research Methods in Nutrition and Foods (3)
- NUT 5120 Professional Development (3)
- NUT 5205 Maternal and Child Nutrition (3)
- NUT 5210 Nutrition for the Older Adult (3)
- NUT 5220 Advanced Concepts in Nutrition and Assessment (3)
- NUT 5300 Effective Rural Practice for Health Professionals (3)
- Summer Session
- NUT 5901 Research Project (3) - Non-thesis option
- NUT 5999 Thesis (2) - Thesis option only
- Second Year Courswork
- NUT 5250 Dietetic Practice I (3)
- NUT 5255 Dietetic Practice II (3)
- NUT 5900 Internship (12)
- Suggested Electives (3)
- HPC 5110 Multicultural Counseling (3)
- HPC 5220 Counseling Theory and Techniques (3)
- HPC 5272 Individual and Family Development (3)
- PA 5260 Organization Theory and Behavior (3)
- NUT 5500 Medical Terminology (3)
- ES 5555 Advanced Nutritional Aspects of Exercise and Sports
- PA 5270 Not-for-Profit Organizations
- SOC 5420 Health Care and Aging
PHN / DI Course Requirements (Non-Thesis and Thesis: 39 CH)
- First Year Coursework
- NUT 5100 Introduction to Community and Public Health (3)
- NUT 5200 Life Cycle Nutrition for Public Health Nutrition Professionals (3)
- NUT 5000 Research Methods in Nutrition (3)
- NUT 5300 Effective Rural Practice for Health Professionals (3)
- HCM 5240 Health and Disease (3)
- NUT 5150 Public Health Nutrition Education (3)
- NUT 5350 Public Health Nutrition Leadership and Practice (3)
- NUT 5220 Advanced Concepts in Nutrition and Assessment (3)
- Second Year, Supervised Practice
- NUT 5250/5255 Dietetics Practice I and II (6)
- NUT 5450 Capstone Proposal (1)
- NUT 5475 Capstone Project (2)
- NUT 5900 Dietetic Internship (3)
View the Course Schedule to determine the semester when these courses are offered.
Upon successful completion of the following requirements, students will earn a DI Verification Statement:
- Completion of all requirements to earn a MS in Nutrition with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Grade of "satisfactory" in both semesters of NUT 5900: Internship. Earning an ‘S’ in NUT5900 includes the completion of all supervised practice contact hours
- Grade of "satisfactory" in NUT 5250 and 5255: Dietetic Practice I and II. Earning an ‘S’ in NUT 5250 + 5255 includes the completion of all dietetic internship CRDNs
- Completed Professional Behavior Review Evaluations, earning a ‘3’ or higher in all areas
- Completed Rotation Site / Preceptor Evaluation for each rotation site
- Successful completion of a Registration Examination Prep Course
- Satisfactory performance (a minimum of an 80% score) on the Nutrition Comprehensive Exam, which is a practice registration exam administered at the end of the second semester of the DI
- Completion and presentation of graduate research project or thesis at two faculty-selected venues
As a graduate student of Appalachian State University, the Graduate Bulletin & Course Catalog offers guidance on all university policies and procedures and outlines the student support services available to assist each student in completing academic goals.
Appalachian State University is committed to equality of educational opportunity. The University does not discriminate in access to its educational programs and activities, or with respect to hiring or the terms and conditions of employment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, gender identity and expression, political affiliation, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.