About the Program

Download the M.S. in Dietetics Flyer

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree program in Dietetics is a Combined Master of Science and Dietetic Internship (MS/DI) program.  The program is designed to prepare graduates to become competent entry-level dietitians and provide preparation for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam while earning a Master’s Degree. Fourteen students are accepted into the program each year.

The MS/DI program is a 15-month program that requires completion of four sequential semesters (summer, fall, spring, summer) upon which students will receive their verification statement and master’s degree, allowing eligibility to sit for the national registration exam. Students complete 36 hours of graduate credit, including a minimum of 1200 hours of practicum coursework in clinical, administrative, and community supervised practice experiences. While in the MS/DI program, a minimum of 40 hours per week is spent in practicum and didactic coursework. Additional time is required to complete assignments and projects.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences jointly sponsors the program with the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. Affiliations with a number of hospitals, school food services, and clinics in the central Arkansas area provide experiences supplementing and complementing experiences received at the primary training sites.

Successful completion of program requirements qualifies graduates to apply for the national registration examination through The Commission on Dietetic Registration. Upon successful completion of the examination, the graduates become Registered Dietitians (RD) and eligible for state licensure. Successful completion of the MS/DI program does not itself ensure registration or licensure. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the applicable registration and licensure requirements.

The following requirements are necessary for consideration for admission to the program: 1) bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, 2) successful completion of an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics academic program, 3) based on a 4.0 scale, a cumulative GPA ≥ 2.85. As admission to the MS/DI program is competitive, preference will be given to applicants with an overall GPA ≥3.0, math/science GPA ≥2.5, and those who have work or volunteer experience in a healthcare setting.

The program is currently granted accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).