Program Description

Established in 1972, the Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP) at the University of Missouri is among the oldest accredited coordinated programs in the United States. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and is approved for accreditation through 2026.

The CP equips students with the skills and knowledge to become Registered Dietitian/Nutritionists (RDN). RDNs specialize in applied nutrition and can be found in various practice settings, including hospitals, schools, industry, private practice, and public health clinics. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians (RD Exam).

Program’s Mission, Goals and Objectives

The mission of Mizzou’s Accelerated Master’s Coordinated Program in Dietetics is to prepare graduates for successful careers as registered dietitian who will serve their clients in diverse practice settings in Missouri, the nation, and the world. The learning environment is structured to promote an appreciation of life-long learning, the transference of knowledge, and service to the community and the profession.

Goal 1: Program graduates will be well-prepared for careers as entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists.

Objectives to meet Goal 1:

1. Program Completion
   • At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 3 years (150% of the planned program length).
2. Graduate Performance on Registration Exam
   • At least 80% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing registration exam within 12 months of program completion.
   • 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%.
3. Graduate Employment
   • Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80% percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
   • 80% of employers who respond to a survey will agree or strongly agree that the program graduates are competent entry-level practitioners.

Goal 2: Program graduates will demonstrate the ability to utilize current evidence-based research and apply the findings in professional practice to improve the health of Missourians and the nation.

Objectives to meet Goal 2:

1. 100% of NEP 8975 students will receive a rating from their preceptors of “meeting expectations” or better on their ability to use evidence-based findings to make decisions in professional practice.
2. At least 80% of employers who respond to the employer survey will rate program graduates as “meeting expectations” or better on their ability to use evidence-based research findings to make decisions to improve the health of the population they serve in Missouri and/or the nation.

Outcomes data are available upon request by contacting the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology.

Requirements and Process to Become an RDN

The University of Missouri’s program prepares graduates to become registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN).

Completion of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics at the University of Missouri results in both bachelor’s and master’s degrees over a 5-year period:

• Three years of prerequisites. This is considered the pre-dietetics sequence.
• Two years in the Coordinated Program in Dietetics.

Coursework includes traditional and distance education at the University of Missouri, Columbia campus. Supervised practice experiences can be completed in Columbia or the surrounding areas. All didactic and supervised practice experiences meet the requirements set by ACEND. Successful completion of the program meets the exam requirements set by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information on becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website.

The two years of the CP is a continuous program, meaning that students who maintain academic and professional requirements will transition seamlessly to the graduate curriculum. No GRE is required. The graduate curriculum is non-thesis.

This program is not a stand-alone master’s program. It is not designed for individuals who already have their RDN. Students in this program complete two years in the CP, regardless of whether they have a previous bachelor’s or master’s degree.

Applications to the CP open each fall and are due each spring. The specific application requirements, which include completing prerequisite courses, maintaining a 3.0 GPA, and submitting application materials (e.g., resume, cover letter, shadowing verifications), are listed in the program handbook, which is posted each year on the program’s website. Failure to meet the criteria will result in forfeiture of their spot. Accepted students must also complete compliance requirements prior to starting the program.

A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) has completed education and training established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). To be eligible to become an RDN, one must complete required coursework and supervised practice from an ACEND-accredited dietetics program and pass the Registration Examination for Dietitians (RD Exam). Beginning 2024, candidates must have a master’s degree to be eligible to take the RD Exam. Students who complete the Coordinated Program in Dietetics at Mizzou will meet the eligibility requirements to take the RD Exam.

State licensure/certification

Federal regulations require the Coordinated Program in Dietetics to disclose whether its degree programs meet U.S. states’ educational requirements for licensure [34 CFR 668.43 (a)(5)(v)].

The University of Missouri Office of eLearning’s State Authorization office maintains information by jurisdiction for students and prospective students on the respective institutions’ state authorization web pages.

The Mizzou Accelerated Master’s Coordinated Program in Dietetics is designed to lead to professional certification through the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). While there is a national certification exam offered by CDR, board certification does not confer state licensure. Specific licensure requirements vary from state to state, and among territories.

The Coordinated Program in Dietetics has not determined whether the program curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure in states outside of Missouri. Current and potential students are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the state licensing board.

Estimated Costs

Tuition and Fees

Students are responsible for their own funding for their education. University tuition and fees are listed at cashiers.missouri.edu.

Financial Aid

Contact the University’s financial aid office for information on scholarships, grants, loans, and other types of monetary support. financialaid.missouri.edu

Additional Costs

Students are required to purchase materials necessary for success at Mizzou to support their learning and supervised practice experiences. Students are expected to keep materials and resources as they are often necessary for the remainder of the program and/or professional practice. Estimated costs are listed below, but costs and materials may vary.

Supervised Practice Expenses

For supervised practice (internship hours), additional expenses are incurred by the student. Costs vary. These expenses typically include the following:

• Transportation (including travel to/from assigned supervised practice sites, parking, gas, car insurance, car maintenance, etc.)
• Food and beverage
• Housing
• Lab coats and other dress-specific requirements (discussed in each course)
• Health requirements, drug screen and background checks may be required
• Additional pre-rotation requirements as determined by the site
• Health insurance-proof of health insurance may be required depending upon site.
• Supplies for presentations and other SPE activities

Registration Examination

Admission Requirements

Students seeking to apply to the MUCP may meet the following criteria:

Timing

Students should have either completed or be currently in rolled in the final pre-supervised practice curriculum courses (as outlined in their grad plan) prior to application for admission to the MUCP. This typically occurs during the students’ sixth semester. Academic advisors will guide students on this timeline.

MUCP applications are accepted once per year. Applications typically open in November and close January 31. All required materials must be received by this date for consideration.

Process

Detailed information about the application process will be announced at an open house each fall and will be available on the Graduate School application website. All application materials, aside from those gathered in person, will be submitted on the Graduate School application portal. The steps and the requirements for the application process are as follows:

1. Most must be admitted to the University of Missouri, Columbia prior to submission of their application.
2. Have a minimum 3.0 official GPA per MU records.
3. Complete all program course requirements.
4. Submit all requested materials by the deadline (11:59pm CST on January 31) which include, but are not limited to:
   • Cover letter
   • ResumeOfficial transcripts (from MU System and other institutions)
   • Letters of recommendation
   • Documentation of completed shadowing
   • Writing prompt
5. Reserve a time to complete an in-person:
   • 15-minute interview with MUCP faculty
   • Writing activity
6. Results are sent to applicants via email by March 1.
   • If a student applies to the MUCP and is not accepted, a meeting will be scheduled with MUCP faculty and their academic advisor to discuss options.

For any questions about the application or application process, please contact Darius Miller (darius.miller@missouri.edu) or Jennifer Bean (beanjd@missouri.edu).

Academic Calendar

• Mizzou Academic Calendar

Graduate and Program Completion Requirements

The MUCP is a non-thesis accelerated master’s program that requires completion of 120 undergraduate credit hours and 30 graduate credit hours. The curriculum was designed for students to achieve the knowledge and skills needed for an entry-level RDN as stated by the 2022 ACEND Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Programs. The plans of study for the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology with an emphasis in Nutrition and Foods followed by the Master of Science in Dietetics reflect these standards and have been approved by the MUCP, FNES, and University Curriculum Committee. The student is responsible for ensuring that all prerequisite and program courses for both the BS in NEP and MS in dietetics are successfully completed and reported on their Mizzou official transcript. For specifics on degree requirements and a sample graduation plan, please see the catalog:

• BS in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology with Emphasis in Nutrition and Foods

• MS in Dietetics

Distance Education

The University of Missouri’s Coordinated Program in Dietetics is an in-person program. Some components of the program, including select courses and supervised practice experiences, utilize online platforms.

While the majority of supervised practice sites are located in Columbia, Missouri, some are situated in Kansas City and St. Louis. Students should be prepared for possible travel to these locations. For any distance education components related to supervised practice, students must ensure they have the necessary technology to participate in virtual meetings or complete online assignments as required by their preceptors.

The majority of courses within the Coordinated Program are delivered in a traditional, face-to-face format. However, some courses may be offered online, either synchronously or asynchronously, depending on the curriculum and scheduling needs.

Guidance for technology requirements is not program specific. However, per the university guidelines, students are responsible for access to equipment, software, and Internet connectivity required for course completion. Information about technology requirements can be found on the university website.

Transfer Credits

To ensure that ACEND competencies are met, requests for transfer equivalencies for didactic courses must be approved by the Program Director, MUCP faculty, and/or the Office of Admissions at the University. Students accepted into the MUCP must adhere to pre-program policy requirements and complete all courses (didactic and supervised practice) in the program of study. The MUCP does not grant credit for supervised practice hours based on assessment of prior learning. If a student is unable to complete a course in the program or must take a course out of sequence, these requests will be considered on an individual basis.

A general knowledge base in nutrition, science, behavior change, and food service is required for success in the MUCP. To be eligible for the MUCP or to retain a slot in the MUCP, the student must achieve a final course grade of B- or better in the following prerequisite courses or an equivalent transfer course approved by the MUCP faculty:

• NEP 2340 Human Nutrition I
• NEP 4340, Human Nutrition II
• BIOCHEM 3630 General Biochemistry
• NEP 4360 Nutrition Assessment Lecture
• NEP 3360 Nutrition Assessment Lab
• NEP 3390 Techniques in Teaching and Counseling Lecture
• NEP 3400 Techniques in Teaching and Counseling Lab
• HSP_MGT 3300 Food Product Management
• NEP 3290 Food Service Lab I

Transfer courses for the above list must be approved by MUCP faculty and staff. It is not guaranteed that courses taught outside of Mizzou will cover the same content as the Mizzou courses. In general, students must take a minimum of NEP 3360 Nutritional Assessment SPE, NEP 3290 Food Service I SPE, and NEP 3400 Teaching & Counseling Tech SPE to be appropriately prepared for the MUCP.

Contacts and Advising

Contact cafnradvising@missouri.edu for questions.

Undergraduate students can visit the Advising page for current advisors in the Division of Food, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences. During the master’s year/final year of the program, the dietetics program director serves as the advisor.