Nutrition and Dietetics (MS)

Careers in Nutrition and Dietetics are rapidly growing as the demand for experts in health and wellness continues to rise. Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are at the forefront, helping individuals and communities prevent and manage diseases, promote healthy lifestyles, and optimize performance. With opportunities in diverse settings such as hospitals, sports organizations, public health, food industries, and private practice, the field offers a broad range of career paths. The D'Youville Nutrition and Dietetics program equips graduates with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience to excel in these roles and meet the increasing demand for qualified nutrition professionals.

Recognizing the role of the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) as the nutrition expert and the key role that nutrition plays in health and well-being, the Coordinated Program strives to serve the community by providing students with the knowledge, skills and experience to meet the challenges of the diverse and changing fields of dietetics. Our intent is to prepare entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists who will become leaders in their fields and fulfill prominent and varied professional roles.

The Coordinated Program supports the principles of academic excellence, service to others, and lifelong learning by fostering the student's professional and personal growth within a broad range of educational and practical experience.

Program Goal 1

Prepare graduates who are competent for entry-level practice as registered dietitian nutritionists and obtain employment in a variety of nutrition and dietetics-related positions.

ACEND Required Objectives:

• Program Completion
  • At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 6 years
• Graduate Employment 
  • Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation. 
• Graduate Performance on Registration Exam
  • At least 80% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
  • The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
• Employer satisfaction with graduates
  • At least 80% of employers who respond to the employer survey agree or strongly agree that program graduates are prepared for entry-level practice.  

Program Goal 2

Prepare graduates who demonstrate a commitment to professional growth, lifelong learning and service to the profession and community.

Program Objectives:

• At least 80% of graduates who respond to the graduate survey rate their overall preparation for professional practice in a variety of practice areas and settings as good, very good or excellent.
  • At least 50% of the respondents to the alumni survey will indicate participation in a professional organization (e.g., Academy national, state, or district membership, dietetic practice group membership, elected or appointed office at the district, state, or national levels) 
  • At least 20% of respondents to the alumni survey will report participating in at least one community service activity (such as board/committee membership, volunteering, program presentation).
  • At least 30% of respondents to the alumni survey will report they have at least initiated additional professional training or credentials, such as enrolling in an education program, obtaining a certification, or receiving State certification or licensure

Outcome data are available on request.

As part of the ACEND-accredited Coordinated Program in Nutrition and Dietetics, students are required to complete a variety of supervised practice rotations. Our program combines classroom learning with over 1,000 hours of supervised practice, allowing you to apply your knowledge in real-world settings. You will gain experience in areas such as medical nutrition therapy, food service management, and community nutrition, preparing you for a wide range of careers. The majority of supervised practice placements are coordinated by the program, eliminating the need for students to find their own practice sites or preceptors. These placements span diverse settings, from healthcare facilities to community organizations, giving you the opportunity to work with various populations and settings.

While the program coordinates the majority of placements for core rotations, students are responsible for independently identifying a site and qualified preceptor for one specialty rotation. This specialty rotation is designed to provide in-depth experience in a professional area of interest, such as sports nutrition, pediatric nutrition, integrative and functional nutrition, nutrition research, or another approved specialty practice area.  The program director works closely with students to: 

• assist in identifying areas of interest
  • provide potential sites and preceptors
  • offer guidance to ensure that the selected site and preceptor meet ACEND accreditation standards
  • ensure that the site and preceptor will provide meaningful, educationally sound experiences.

The student is responsible to contact the preceptor and organize the rotation.  If a student is unable to secure a site and/or preceptor to complete the specialty rotation, the program director will assign the student to a specialty rotation to ensure timely graduation.

As part of the program, you will also engage in interprofessional simulations alongside students from seven other healthcare disciplines. These simulations strengthen your teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills, preparing you for effective collaboration in multidisciplinary healthcare teams.

In addition to hands-on supervised practice, you’ll have the chance to dive deeper into specialized coursework, including advanced topics like pediatrics, critical care, and nutrition entrepreneurship. This comprehensive approach equips you with the skills to pursue diverse career paths in the nutrition and dietetics field. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians (RD/RDN) and become a certified registered dietitian nutritionist.

The program follows the university’s academic calendar for supervised practice and coursework. 

Participating in the coordinated program will require moderate additional costs. See a full list on the Fees page.

The program is affiliated with more than 50 supervised practice sites, including teaching and community hospitals, extended care facilities, schools, corporate organizations, nutrition businesses, and community agencies. We continually add new sites within driving distance of D'Youville.

D'Youville University's Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Program is accredited by The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®).  ACEND® is the accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as registered dietitian nutritionists.

ACEND® can be contacted by:

• Email: ACEND@eatright.org
  • Phone: 800/877-1600, ext. 5400
  • Mail: 120 South Riverside Plaza
    Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995

ACEND® serves and protects students and the public by assuring the quality and continued improvement of nutrition and dietetics education programs. ACEND® is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education a Title IV gatekeeper. 

Successful completion of the D’Youville Nutrition and Dietetics program qualifies individuals to take the registration exam for registered dietitians. This program is designed to meet the educational and practical requirements set forth by state regulatory bodies, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to pursue their professional credentials. In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements go to the Commission Dietetic Registration website. 

After completing all academic coursework and supervised practice hours you will be awarded an MS degree in Nutrition and Dietetics.  Students who matriculated into the Coordinated Program in Nutrition and Dietetics as BS/MS students will be awarded both an BS and MS degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. All graduates will be eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) national credentialing examination to become a RDN. In New York State, graduates who obtain the RDN credential are eligible to apply to receive the Certified Dietitian/Nutritionist (CDN) credential. Each graduate receives a verification statement, which documents completion of all academic, supervised practice, and degree requirements for the coordinated program and D’Youville.