MS
Nutritional Science and Dietetics
Application Deadline
Contact Information
Admission Requirements
Additional Requirements
- Completion of IELTS or TOEFL if non-English speaking
- Correct completion of BYU Graduate Studies application, including letters of recommendation (Note: letters of recommendation are not required for the Dietetics track)
Program Requirements
The MS program in Nutritional Science and Dietetics offers two tracks. The nutritional science track is designed to prepare graduate students for doctoral programs and professional school (medicine, podiatry, physician's assistant, dental). Graduates are also employed in government, industry, community, and not for profit organizations. Graduates who are registered dietitians are prepared to work in hospitals, dietetics management, or community nutrition.
The dietetics track is designed to meet the supervised practice and course requirements to qualify graduates to take the Registration Examinations for Dietitian and Nutritionists (RDN exam). The dietetics master's track is currently available only to students who completed the BYU didactic program in dietetics (DPD). Upon graduation and completion of the RDN exam graduates work in multiple areas including hospitals, wellness, large food service operations, business and industry, community health programs, management, and entrepreneurial or private practice.
Click here for more information about the Dietetics Specialization.
Research opportunities include focus on vitamin or mineral metabolism, muscle energy metabolism, bone metabolism, energy metabolism, nutrition education, medical nutrition therapy, management in dietetics, and international or community nutrition.
Requirements for Nutrition Science MS Specialization.
Requirements for the Dietetics MS Specialization:
Requirement 1 Core Dietetic Courses:
Complete the following courses (14 credits)
NDFS 620R Supervised Practice Experience, (4 credits)
NDFS 621 Clinical Practice in Dietetics, (2 credits)
NDFS 622 Food Systems Management, (2 credits)
NDFS 636 Managing a Dietetics Career, (1 credit)
NDFS 637 Advanced Management in Dietetics, (2 credits)
NDFS 638 Advanced Clinical Nutrition, (2 credits)
NDFS 691R Graduate Seminar, (minimum 1 credit, maximum of 2 credits count toward 32 credits)
Requirement 2 Core Statistics Course:
Complete one of the following courses (3 credits)
STATS 511 Statistical Methods for Research 1 (3 credits)
CPSE/IP&T 651 Statistic 1: Foundations (3 credits)
HLTH 604 Principles of Biostatistics (3 credits)
Requirement 3 Project:
Complete 6 credit hours
NDFS 698R (6 credits)
Requirement 4 Electives:
Complete 9 credits from the following NDFS courses or other project related university courses
NDFS 435 Nutritional Biochemistry (4 credits)
NDFS 601 Advanced Human Nutrition 1 (3 credits)
NDFS 602 Advanced Human Nutrition 2 (3 credits)
NDFS 631R Special Topics (v)
NDFS 631R Gerontology (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Diabetes (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Diet and Cardiovascular disease (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Eating Disorders (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Current Controversies (2 credits)
NDFS 631R International Nutrition (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Minerals (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Vitamins (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Protein (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Sports Nutrition (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Bone Health (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Diet and Cancer (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Maternal/Child Nutrition & Health (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Nutrition Education (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Advanced Topics Human Obesity (2 credits)
Course from other departments related to project (credits vary)
The dietetics track is designed to meet the supervised practice and course requirements to qualify graduates to take the Registration Examinations for Dietitian and Nutritionists (RDN exam). The dietetics master's track is currently available only to students who completed the BYU didactic program in dietetics (DPD). Upon graduation and completion of the RDN exam graduates work in multiple areas including hospitals, wellness, large food service operations, business and industry, community health programs, management, and entrepreneurial or private practice.
Click here for more information about the Dietetics Specialization.
Research opportunities include focus on vitamin or mineral metabolism, muscle energy metabolism, bone metabolism, energy metabolism, nutrition education, medical nutrition therapy, management in dietetics, and international or community nutrition.
Requirements for Nutrition Science MS Specialization.
- Credit hours (30): minimum 24 course work hours plus 6 thesis hours (NDFS 699R)
- Prerequisites: Recommended courses for students interested in the MS in Nutritional Science program: NDFS 424, 435; Chem 481
- Required courses: NDFS 501, 502, 691R, 699R; Stat 511
- Minor (optional): selected with approval of faculty advisor
- Examinations: oral examination on course work; and thesis defense
- Thesis: standard university format or journal publication format.
Requirements for the Dietetics MS Specialization:
- 32 credit hours (26 credits course work, plus 6 credits project hours)
- Requirement 1 Core Dietetics Courses:
Complete all of the following NDFS 620R (4 credits), 621, 622, 636, 637, 638, 691R (1 credit), (14 credits) - Requirement 2 Core Statistics Courses:
Complete one of the following: STATS 511, CPSE/IP&T 651 or Hlth 604 (3 credits) - Requirement 3 Project:
Complete 6 credits of NDFS 698R - Requirement 4 Electives:
Choose a minimum of 9 credits from NDFS courses or other related courses
Requirement 1 Core Dietetic Courses:
Complete the following courses (14 credits)
NDFS 620R Supervised Practice Experience, (4 credits)
NDFS 621 Clinical Practice in Dietetics, (2 credits)
NDFS 622 Food Systems Management, (2 credits)
NDFS 636 Managing a Dietetics Career, (1 credit)
NDFS 637 Advanced Management in Dietetics, (2 credits)
NDFS 638 Advanced Clinical Nutrition, (2 credits)
NDFS 691R Graduate Seminar, (minimum 1 credit, maximum of 2 credits count toward 32 credits)
Requirement 2 Core Statistics Course:
Complete one of the following courses (3 credits)
STATS 511 Statistical Methods for Research 1 (3 credits)
CPSE/IP&T 651 Statistic 1: Foundations (3 credits)
HLTH 604 Principles of Biostatistics (3 credits)
Requirement 3 Project:
Complete 6 credit hours
NDFS 698R (6 credits)
Requirement 4 Electives:
Complete 9 credits from the following NDFS courses or other project related university courses
NDFS 435 Nutritional Biochemistry (4 credits)
NDFS 601 Advanced Human Nutrition 1 (3 credits)
NDFS 602 Advanced Human Nutrition 2 (3 credits)
NDFS 631R Special Topics (v)
NDFS 631R Gerontology (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Diabetes (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Diet and Cardiovascular disease (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Eating Disorders (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Current Controversies (2 credits)
NDFS 631R International Nutrition (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Minerals (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Vitamins (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Protein (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Sports Nutrition (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Bone Health (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Diet and Cancer (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Maternal/Child Nutrition & Health (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Nutrition Education (2 credits)
NDFS 631R Advanced Topics Human Obesity (2 credits)
Course from other departments related to project (credits vary)
- 1,000 hours supervised practice
- Project: project proposal, implementation of project, final project report 698R (6 credits)
Program Outcomes
Research Design and Methods
Develop and conduct scientific research using appropriate design and ethical principles.
Integrate Science Into Practice
Integrate scientific information and translation of research into nutrition and dietetics practice (CRDN 1.1-1.5)* *2022 ACEND Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Programs
Evaluate Evidence for the Role of Nutrition in Human Health
Critically evaluate, summarize, and present evidence for the role of nutrition in optimizing human health and preventing, managing, or treating chronic diseases.
Demonstrate Professionalism
Demonstrate professional practice through beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviors. (CRDN 2.1-2.13)* *2022 ACEND Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Programs
Develop and Deliver Clinical and Client Services
Develop and deliver appropriate information, products, and services to individuals, groups, and populations. (CRDN 3.1-3.14)* *2022 ACEND Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Programs
Strategically Apply Principles of Management
Strategically apply principles of management and systems in the provision of services to individuals and organizations. (CRDN 4.1-4.10)* *2022 ACEND Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Programs
Exhibit Leadership and Career Management Skills
Exhibit skills, strengths, knowledge, and experience relevant to leadership potential and professional growth for the nutrition and dietetics practitioner. (CRDN 5.1-5.8)* *2022 ACEND Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Programs
Develop and conduct scientific research using appropriate design and ethical principles.
Integrate Science Into Practice
Integrate scientific information and translation of research into nutrition and dietetics practice (CRDN 1.1-1.5)* *2022 ACEND Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Programs
Evaluate Evidence for the Role of Nutrition in Human Health
Critically evaluate, summarize, and present evidence for the role of nutrition in optimizing human health and preventing, managing, or treating chronic diseases.
Demonstrate Professionalism
Demonstrate professional practice through beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviors. (CRDN 2.1-2.13)* *2022 ACEND Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Programs
Develop and Deliver Clinical and Client Services
Develop and deliver appropriate information, products, and services to individuals, groups, and populations. (CRDN 3.1-3.14)* *2022 ACEND Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Programs
Strategically Apply Principles of Management
Strategically apply principles of management and systems in the provision of services to individuals and organizations. (CRDN 4.1-4.10)* *2022 ACEND Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Programs
Exhibit Leadership and Career Management Skills
Exhibit skills, strengths, knowledge, and experience relevant to leadership potential and professional growth for the nutrition and dietetics practitioner. (CRDN 5.1-5.8)* *2022 ACEND Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Programs
Program Stats
Characteristics of Students from Past Academic Year
Total Students
5.0
Male
2.0
Female
3.0
LDS
5.0
BYU Undergraduate
3.0
Five Year Average of Graduated Students
Average Years to Degree
1.89
Graduated Per Year
18.6
GMAT Quantitative Percentile
67.5
Five Year Average of Admitted Students
Applied Per Year
5.6
Admitted Per Year
5.0
Percent Admitted
89.29
Average GPA
3.34
Courses and Faculty