Program Overview
The Master of Dietetics and Nutrition (MDN) is a clinical master’s degree that provides didactic education and supervised experiential learning to meet the competency-based education approach under the Future Education Model to prepare students to practice as entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN). The MDN program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The program is administered in collaboration with the Department of Human Sciences in the College of Education and Human Ecology and the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (HRS) in the College of Medicine.
Application Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited North American college or university or a comparable degree from a recognized foreign college or university must be earned before the start of the program.
Prerequisites
Completion of prerequisite courses or acceptable approved equivalents with a grade of C- or higher by the program’s start. Ohio State course numbers are shown below:
- College Algebra or higher: MATH 1148
- Introduction to Statistics: STATS 1350.01 or 1450.01
- Introduction to Psychology: PSYCH 1100
- Introduction to Nutrition: HUMNUTR 2210, 2310, or 2410
- Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism: HUMNUTR 4609 or MEDDIET 3100
- Biochemistry/Organic Chemistry: BioPharm 3311 and 3312
- Fundamentals of Food: HUMNUTR 2314 (may be completed during the program)
- Food Services Systems: CSHHSPMG 3720 (may be completed during the program)
- Human Anatomy: ANATOMY 2300 or 3300
- Human Physiology: EEOB 2520 or PHYSIO 3200
- General Chemistry 1 & 2: Chemistry 1210 and 1220
- Medical Terminology: HTHRHSC 2500
- Biology: Biology 1110 or 1113
- Microbiology: Microbiology 4000.01
- Lifecycle Nutrition: HUMNUTR 3506 (Optional, Recommended)
Students who intend to transfer credit to Ohio State for prerequisite coursework may view how credit is accepted on Transferology.com. To request an assessment of existing or planned courses for equivalency by the HRS Graduate Program Office, please send questions and the course syllabi to HRSGraduateStudentServices@osumc.edu.
GPA
Academic achievement is demonstrated by the cumulative grade-point average and the grades earned in the program prerequisites. The GPA will be computed using all grades earned from all institutions attended, and only applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) at the time of application will be evaluated for possible admission.
Online Application
The DICAS application is available online and must be completed and submitted with all required supplemental documents if applicable. Application FAQ can be found here.
Letters of Recommendation
Applicants must submit three (3) letters of recommendation as part of the DICAS application process. You are encouraged to include references who you feel will speak to your strengths in an academic setting and the likelihood of your success in a graduate program. Choose people who have knowledge of your strengths and goals. This may include professors, clinical instructors or employers. Areas of discussion can include but are not limited to, personal and professional development and follow through, work ethic, interpersonal skills, maturity and attitude toward learning and critical thinking.
Personal Statement
A personal statement should include relevant educational and professional career goals and an indication of future aspirations. The personal statement is reviewed for quality of writing and appropriate matching between the applicant’s stated career goals and the purpose and philosophy of the program.
Interview
A personal interview will be offered to competitive applicants. Applicant experiences and communication will be evaluated then. The program will give individual consideration in the admission assessment to courses taken and applicant experiences.
TOEFL
International Students Only: A minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based test (or 79 on the internet version) will be required of applicants whose native language is not English. An alternative English proficiency test, International English Language Testing System (IELTS), will also be accepted with seven or higher scores.
Important Dates and Deadlines
August 5th, 2024: DICAS Application Opens
December 1st, 2024: Final deadline to submit the DICAS application
March 1st, 2025: Deadline for program to send admission decisions to applicants
March 15th, 2025: Deadline for applicants to accept/decline their offer of admission
August 26th, 2025: Classes begin
The curriculum includes all didactic knowledge, practice skills, and the graduate degree required to sit for the national registration examination to become an RDN, the credential required to obtain a license to practice dietetics in Ohio. The following plan demonstrates how students complete the MDN in four semesters, and one summer term. The professional curriculum is completed in sequence, and there is no provision for part-time or evening-only enrollment. The program includes supervised experiential learning in acute care, outpatient settings, wellness facilities, and community and industry agencies. Many experiences will be tailored to student interests. Completing the program will require completing didactic coursework, supervised experiential learning, and the capstone project. To be eligible for graduation, students must meet a minimum of fifty-nine credit hours.
Year 1
Autumn
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6000 Medical Nutrition Therapy I (3 credits)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6001 Communications I (1 credit)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6050 Medical Nutrition Therapy Lab I (2 credits)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6300 Nutritional Education & Counseling I (3 credits)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6400 Nutritional Assessment (3 credits)
CONSUMER SCIENCE: Hospitality Management 3720 Food Service Management (3 credits) Note: If not taken as a prerequisite course
HUMAN NUTRITION 2314 Fundamentals of Food (3 credits) Note: If not taken as a prerequisite course
12-18 credits total
Spring
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6002 Communications II (1 credit)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6100 Medical Nutrition Therapy II (3 credits)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6150 Medical Nutrition Therapy Lab II (2 credits)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6350 Nutritional Education & Counseling II (2 credits)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6500 Community (3 credits)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6889 Food Service (1 credit)
12 credits total
Summer
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6189 Supervised Practice I (4 credits)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6200 Medical Nutrition Therapy III (3 credits)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6250 Medical Nutrition Therapy Lab III (1 credit)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6900 Research (3 credits)
11 credits total
Year 2
Autumn
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6289 Supervised Practice II (6 credits)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6800 Leadership & Entrepreneurship (3 credits)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6950 Evidence Based Practice (3 credits)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 7990 Capstone (1 credit)
ELECTIVE (3 credits) Note: One elective course is required. The elective course can be taken in either autumn or spring in year two.
13-16 credits total
Spring
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 6389 Supervised Practice III (6 credits)
MASTER OF DIETETICS & NUTRITION 7990 Capstone (2 credits)
ELECTIVE (3 credits) Note: One elective course is required. The elective course can be taken in either autumn or spring in year two.
8-11 credits total
Ohio State academic programs are designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure and certification and state licensing board contact information for online programs and Professional Licensure & Certificate Disclosures for On-campus Programs.
Questions?
Contact the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at 614-292-1706 or HRSGraduateStudentServices@osumc.edu
Degree requirements and course offerings are subject to changes.
Last updated on: July 1, 2024