MS Clinical Nutrition Graduate Program

Goal 1: Program graduates will be competent to pursue entry-level dietitian nutritionist and/or careers in dietetics and nutrition related areas.

Objectives:

1. At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 2.25 years (150% of the program length). (Program Completion Objective)
2. Of graduates who seek employment, at least eighty percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation. (Graduate Employment Objective)
3. At least ninety percent of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion. (Registration Exam Objective)
4. The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of the first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%. (Registration Exam Objective)
5. Eighty percent of the employers will give a score of 4.0 or above on a 5-point scale for the competency of the GP program graduate for entry-level practice. (Employer Satisfaction Objective)

Goal 2: Program graduates will be competent in the practice of nutrition/dietetics research.

1. At least 80 percent of graduates will rate 5 or above on a 1–7-point scale on feeling confident to plan, develop, implement, and disseminate an original nutrition/dietetics-related research project. (Program Specific Objective.)

Information on Program Outcomes Data will be available upon request. For information please contact Nutrition Program Director, Dr. Meera Penumetcha at penumetcha@ucmo.edu

The current route to become a registered dietitian nutritionist includes a path of higher education as well as a dietetic internship from an ACEND-accredited program and passing the national registration examination. Shown below are the various pathways students can take depending on their educational background and timeframe.

 

 

 

 

For more information, see https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/students-and-advancing-education/information-for-students.

To continue practice as a Registered Dietitian:

1. Gain licensure in your state of practice, if applicable.
2. Maintain continuing education.

*Beginning in 2024, a minimum of a master's degree will be an eligibility requirement in order to take the CDR  exam. UCM’s Clinical Nutrition Graduate Program will provide the required nutrition and dietetics coursework and supervised experiential learning to meet ACEND's competency requirements to be eligible to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). A verification statement will be issued to individuals who successfully complete the FEM/GP so that students are eligible to take the CDR exam.

Option 1 – Nutrition Minor (open to all majors)

Nutrition Minor (32 hours)

The minor in Nutrition will give students the necessary prerequisites needed for the MS Clinical Nutrition Graduate Program and addresses the change in The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) entry-level eligibility requirements for dietitians.

Minor Requirements 32 Semester Hours

ACCT 1101 – Found. of Financial Reporting (3)
BIOL 2510 – Basic Genetics (3)*
BIOL 3401 – Human Anatomy (3)*
BIOL 3402 – Human Physiology (5)
BIOL 3611 – Microbiology (4)*
CHEM 1604 – Elem. Organic and Biochem (4)*
D&N 3340 – Nutrition (3)*
D&N 4010 - Advanced Nutrition (3)
FOOD 2320 – Sanitation and Safety (1)
FOOD 2322 – Food Preparation (3)*

NOTE:

*This course has a prerequisite not listed in the program (most are CHEM 1104 or 1131).

Option 2 for Kinesiology Majors (Exercise Science, Pre AT, Pre OT, Pre PT)

Kinesiology Major w/ Nutrition Minor (Exercise Science, Pre-AT, Pre-OT, Pre-PT) = 21 hours

ACCT 1101 – Foundations of Financial Reporting (3)
BIOL 2510 – Basic Genetics (3)*
BIOL 3611 – Microbiology (4)*
CHEM 1604 – Elementary Organic and Biochemistry (4)*
D&N 4010 - Advanced Nutrition (3)
FOOD 2320 – Sanitation and Safety (1)
FOOD 2322 – Food Preparation (3)*

Option 3 for Kinesiology Majors (Corporate Fitness)

Kinesiology Major w/ Nutrition Minor (Corporate Fitness) = 18 hours

BIOL 2510 – Basic Genetics (3)*
BIOL 3611 – Microbiology (4)*
CHEM 1604 – Elementary Organic and Biochemistry (4)*
D&N 4010 - Advanced Nutrition (3)
FOOD 2320 – Sanitation and Safety (1)
FOOD 2322 – Food Preparation (3)*

Option 4 for Health Studies Majors

Health Studies Major w/ Nutrition Minor = 21 hours

ACCT 1101 – Foundations of Financial Reporting (3)
BIOL 2510 – Basic Genetics (3)*
BIOL 3611 – Microbiology (4)*
CHEM 1604 – Elementary Organic and Biochemistry (4)*
NUTR 4010 - Advanced Nutrition (3)
FOOD 2320 – Sanitation and Safety (1)
FOOD 2322 – Food Preparation (3)*

Option 5 for Biology Area 6 Pre-Med/Pre-Dental/Pre-Vet Majors

Biology Area 6 Pre-Med / Pre-Dental / Pre-Vet w/ Nutrition Minor = 13 hours

ACCT 1101 – Foundations of Financial Reporting (3)
D&N 3340 – Nutrition (3)*
D&N 4010 - Advanced Nutrition (3)
FOOD 2320 – Sanitation and Safety (1)
FOOD 2322 – Food Preparation (3)*

Estimated Cost of Attendance for Academic Year 2023-24
Tuition/Fees *Per credit hour rates do not include mandatory, technology, program, or course fees. Additional course/program fee per credit hour may be applicable.	Graduate Online Tuition	$413.50 per credit hour for both Missouri and Out of State Residents
Housing	n/a for courses offered online during the first two semesters but during SEL (last 3 semesters), housing in the Kansas City area will be necessary
Textbooks	Varies depending on course load	$600-$1000 per semester
Liability Insurance	Prior to NUTR 6000	Covered by University
Background Check	Required for SEL Sites	$38.50 + $2.00 admin. fee
TB Test	Some facilities require a TB test verification before a student enters the facility	$10
Drug Testing	Required for SEL Sites	$42 + $2 admin. fee
Uniform	Dependent on SEL Sites	Varies
Travel	n/a for online courses and dependent on SEL Sites and regional or national meetings	Varies
RD Exam Study Guide	Available resource	No charge
Subscriptions Neehrperfect       NutriCalc	Electronic Health Records for MNT, Advanced MNT Nutrition Education and Counseling Courses   Software for Dietary Analysis Projects	$60-$120       $20
Memberships	Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Students are strongly encouraged to join AND early in their curriculum. Student membership includes free access to educational and training materials, reduced registration fees for professional meetings, and the monthly professional journal. Student membership is required for scholarships sponsored by AND and its affiliates. MO Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MOAND)   Kansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Association	$50 per year for student membership (6 year maximum allowed)               (Included in AND Membership)     $15 per year
UCM Graduation Fee		$50

*Program costs are variable and subject to change.

Admittance to the MS Clinical Nutrition Graduate Program requires completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or comparable degree from a recognized foreign institution prior to the start of the program.

GPA – A minimum 3.0 point cumulative undergraduate GPA on a 4-point scale is required across all coursework taken at all accredited institutions.

*Prerequisites – Completion of the following prerequisite courses with a grade of B or higher is required prior to beginning the professional program. Program prerequisites include either completion of a U.S. Dietetics Program or transcripts showing the completion of all of the prerequisite courses listed below.

ACCT 1101 – Foundations of Financial Reporting (3 credits)
BIOL 2510 Basic Genetics (3 credits) or BIOL 3511 Genetics w/lab (4 credits)
BIOL 3611 Microbiology with lab (4-5 credits)
BIOL 3401 Human Anatomy with lab (3 credits)
BIOL 3402 Human Physiology with lab (5 credits)
CHEM 1104 General Chemistry with lab (4 credits)
CHEM 1604 Organic and Biochemistry with lab (4 credits)
D&N 3340 Nutrition
D&N 4010 Advanced Nutrition (3 credits)
FOOD 2322 Food Preparation with lab (3-4 credits)
FOOD 2320 Sanitation and Safety (1 credit)

*Program prerequisites may be completed at any accredited institution. For questions on articulations and/or transfer equivalencies, please contact our Program Director, Dr. Meera Penumetcha at penumetcha@ucmo.edu.

Supervised practice experiences or experiential learning completed prior to the start of the program will not be considered as replacements of the program’s required applied experiences.

Link to UCM’s academic calendar: https://www.ucmo.edu/calendar/

Timeline for FEM/GP

Semester 1- Fall	Total Credits 12
	NUTR 5010	Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism (3)
	NUTR 5011	Food Systems/Management (3)
	NUTR 5012	Medical Nutrition Therapy I (3)
	NUTR 5013	Practical Applications in  Nutrition Research  (3)
*Must earn cumulative GPA of 3.00 on first semester courses to advance in Program
Semester 2-Spring	Total Credits 13
	NUTR 5014	Advanced Community Nutrition (3)
	NUTR 5015	Macronutrients (3)
	NUTR 5016	Micronutrients (3)
	NUTR 5017	Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy (3)
	NUTR 6013	Capstone Project (1)
Semester 3-Summer	Total Credits  10-11
	NUTR 5018	Nutrition Education and Counseling (3)
	NUTR 5019	Nutrition Across the Life Span (3)
	NUTR 6010 OR NUTR 6011 OR NUTR 6012	Supervised Experiential Learning - Clinical (4), Community (3), or Food Service Management (3)
	NUTR 6013	Capstone Project (1)
Semester 4-Fall	Total Credits 7-8
	NUTR 6010 OR NUTR 6011 OR NUTR 6012	Supervised Experiential Learning - Clinical (4), Community (3), or Food Service Management (3)
	NUTR 6013	Capstone Project (1)
	Total hours 43 (30 didactic, 10 experiential, 3 capstone)

Applicants must submit the online application with a  $30 application fee by the application to be considered for admission to the program in the fall semester.

International Students Only. In addition to the above items, all international applicants must submit an acceptable, official (reported directly from ETS) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score. TOEFL scores must be submitted by Educational Testing Services (ETS) directly to the University of Central Missouri’s Testing Services Office (660-543-4919). The ETS code for UCM is 6090. 

In addition to the online application, the following materials must be submitted by the deadline: 

Submission of a current resume which details paid and volunteer experiences.

A Statement of Goals - A statement should  include the following (approximately 1000 words):   

• Why did you choose UCM?
• What relevant educational, professional and research experiences do you have in the nutrition/dietetics field?
• Why do you want to become a registered dietitian?
• What are your short- and long-term professional/career goals?

Transcripts – Submission of official transcripts from corresponding institution where your bachelor's degree was earned plus any extra from other insitutions where prerequsites have been taken since that time.

Letters of Recommendation - Applicants must submit three (3) letters of recommendation:  two from faculty, one from clinical/research supervisor or employer. Choose people who have knowledge of your strengths and goals.

Finalists will be selected for a Virtual Interview before decision is made on admission.

Maximum number of students admitted to the program will be 15 per cohort.

Students completing the MS Clinical Nutrition Graduate Program will earn a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition Degree. In order to earn this degree, students must successfully complete all required didactic courses, and SEL rotations. The curriculum consists of 43 total required credits (30 didactic, 10 SEL, and 3 capstone) which can be completed in 1 1/2 years. Upon successful completion of the program requirements students will earn a verification statement making them eligible to sit for the CDR exam.

A verification statement will be awarded to all students who successfuly complete the program requirements including required courses and supervised experiential learning hours. Students completing the MS Clinical Nutrition Graduate Program must also meet all ACEND Competencies and Performance Indicators found in the Student Handbook.

University graduation requirements can be found here: https://catalog.ucmo.edu/content.php?catoid=21&navoid=908

UCM offers federal loans and employment aid programs.  Each student’s economic situation is recognized as unique, and every federal financial aid application is examined on an individual basis. It is very important for each applicant to:

1. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on time.
2. Comply with all financial aid instructions, procedures, and requests for information and documents.
3. Enroll at least half-time (four or more graduate credit hours) each semester in courses that are applicable to the degree program.

Contact UCM’s Student Financial Services office with any questions or concerns you may have:

In person: Ward Edwards Building 1100
Telephone: 660-543-8266
Fax: 660-543-8080

Federal financial assistance can be used to help pay direct educational expenses, such as fees, books and supplies, as well as variable living costs, such as off-campus housing, food, transportation, childcare, and other personal costs related to attending UCM. Although the responsibility for meeting educational and living costs lies with the student, financial aid from the following federal program can be awarded to supplement a student’s ability to pay his/her total expenses. Any other assistance received must be included and could impact a student’s eligibility for federal aid.

To be eligible to receive federal and state financial aid, students must have a documented record of attendance in the classes for which they enroll. Registration for classes is not sufficient to prove attendance. A student who receives or otherwise benefits from federal or state financial aid, but has no documented record of attendance in the class(es) for which (s)he is enrolled, is not eligible to have received/benefited from the aid, and will be required to repay all or part of the federal and state assistance credited to his/her UCM account for the semester.  For information on return of federal funds, review the Student Financial Services policy.

Federal Financial Aid Available to Graduate Students:

Student Loans - Low-interest unsubsidized Stafford Loans are the only type of federal aid available to graduate students, and must be repaid, but usually not until after the student graduates, withdraws, or drops to less than half-time enrollment status.

Satisfactory Academic Progress - Federal law requires that each graduate student who wishes to continue receiving federal financial aid maintain satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of his or her master’s program. Satisfactory academic progress is defined as having successfully completed at least two-thirds of the credit hours attempted during their degree program in order to be eligible for financial aid for the subsequent year. In addition, a graduate student must maintain at least a 3.00 cumulative graduate GPA.

Every student accepted into the MS Clinical Nutrition Graduate Program will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Regina Myers McClain Scholarship Fund through the University of Central Missouri Alumni Foundation in the fall of the semester they begin the program.

Students will need access to a computer with camera, a high-speed Internet connection, and updated version of a web browser, and access to common tools and software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email, (provided to UCM students) as well as program specific software listed above under Program Costs. Technical support is provided by our Technology Support Center at tsc@ucmo.edu or 660-543-4357.

UCMs Program Coordinator will work with students on being placed with our Preceptors in various Supervised Experiential Learning settings. We have affiliation agreements with the following sites to date:

Facility	SEL Experience
Western Missouri Medical Center	Clinical
Lee’s Summit Hospital-HCA	Clinical
Golden Valley Memorial Hospital	Clinical
John Knox Village	Clinical
Bothwell Regional Hospital	Clinical
University Health	Clinical
North Kansas City Hospital	Clinical
St. Lukes Hospital	Clinical
UCM-Sodexo Dining	Food Service/Management
Western Missouri Medical Center	Food Service/Management
John Knox Village	Food Service/Management
Lee’s Summit R7 School District	Food Service/Management
Warrensburg R-VI School District	Food Service/Management
Children’s Mercy- Center for Children’s Healthy Lifestyles & Nutrition Initiative	Community
Johnson County Department of Health and Environment	Community

View FEM Student Handbook

Learn more about preceptor information and opportunities.

Learn more here