Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

Drexel University’s Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics is a full-time, in-person graduate program that prepares students to become registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) through a rigorous blend of didactic coursework and supervised experiential learning. This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) under the Future Education Model and is designed to meet the evolving needs of the nutrition and dietetics profession.

Program Highlights

• ACEND-Accredited Future Education Model: Drexel is a demonstration site for ACEND’s innovative graduate education model, integrating classroom learning with real-world experience.
• No Separate Internship Required: Supervised experiential learning is embedded within the program, eliminating the need for a post-graduate dietetic internship.
• Hands-On Clinical Experience: Starting in the third quarter, students complete 24–32 hours/week of supervised experiential learning at top facilities in the Philadelphia metropolitan area or approved external sites.
• Elective Concentration Options: In the final term, students specialize in areas such as sports nutrition, adult clinical nutrition, pediatric clinical nutrition and community-based nutrition education.
• Capstone or Thesis Track: Students may choose between a research thesis or a capstone project to complete their degree.

What You'll Learn

The curriculum builds foundational knowledge in:

• Nutrition science, biochemistry, physiology and biology
• Medical nutrition therapy and chronic disease management
• Counseling, psychology and communication skills
• Public health nutrition and community engagement
• Research methods and evidence-based practice

Students develop competencies in:

• Clinical assessment and treatment planning
• Health documentation and ethical practice
• Cultural humility and health equity
• Leadership and interprofessional collaboration

Program Structure

• Format: Full-time, in-person
• Credits: 63 quarter credits
• Duration: 7 consecutive academic quarters
• Start Term: Fall
• Location: Philadelphia, PA

What Is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)?

RDNs are credentialed nutrition experts who work in diverse settings to promote health and manage disease. Career paths include:

• Clinical Dietitians: hospitals, physician offices
• Sports Dietitians: athletic teams, fitness centers
• Community Dietitians: public health and education
• Wellness Dietitians: corporate and lifestyle programs
• Management Dietitians: foodservice operations
• Consultants & Educators: private practice, academia

Accreditation

This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Learn more about ACEND

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Advance your career in nutrition and dietetics with Drexel University. Join a program that blends academic excellence with real-world experience.

COMPLIANCE

The College of Nursing and Health Professions has a compliance process that may be required for every student. Some of these steps may take significant time to complete. Please plan accordingly.

Visit the Compliance pages for more information.

Admission Requirements

Applying to the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics program requires special planning. Students are admitted in the fall term. The first consideration before submitting an application is whether all prerequisites have been met. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible so that transcripts can be reviewed and prerequisites determined

If you are interested in learning more information on the MS in Nutrition and Dietetics, please follow the link to register for an upcoming Virtual Information Session: https://drexel.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eP9AJywkQJ8ihqS

Degree:
A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in the United States or an equivalent international institution. Must have a GPA of 3.0 or above.

Transcripts:

• Official transcripts must be sent directly to Drexel from all the colleges/universities that you have attended.
• Transcripts must be submitted in a sealed envelope with the college/university seal over the flap to Drexel University, Applications Processing, PO Box 34789, Philadelphia, PA 19101, or submitted through a secure electronic transcript delivery service to enroll@drexel.edu. Please note that transcripts are required regardless of number of credits taken or if the credits were transferred to another school. An admission decision may be delayed if you do not send transcripts from all colleges/universities attended. Transcripts must show course-by-course grades and conferral of degree. If your school does not notate degree conferral on the official transcript, you must provide copies of any graduate or degree certificates.
• If your school issues only one transcript for life, you are required to have a course-by-course evaluation completed by an approved transcript evaluation agency
• Use our Transcript Lookup Tool to assist you in contacting your previous institutions

• 2 semesters English composition and/or writing-intensive courses
• 1 semester general biology with lab to include cell and genetics
• 2 semesters general chemistry, including an introduction to organic chemistry, with lab, OR 1 semester general/inorganic chemistry with lab AND 1 semester organic chemistry with lab
• 1 semester biochemistry
• 1 semester human physiology or 2 semesters anatomy and physiology
• 1 semester general psychology
• 1 semester statistics
• 1 semester introductory nutrition

Prerequisite Questions

References:
Two letters of recommendation

• Request recommendations with your application or through the Discover Drexel portal after you submit your application.
• Please include at least one academic reference.
• If a recommender prefers to submit an original, hard copy letter, please remind them that it must include an ink signature and be submitted in a sealed envelope.

Personal Statement/ Essay:
Approximately 500 words explaining your reasons for pursuing a degree from Drexel, your short- and long-term career plans and how your background, experience, interest, and/or values—when combined with a Drexel degree—will enable you to pursue these goals successfully.

Interview:
Admissions interview is not required.

CV/Resume:
Required.

International Students

International applicants, as well as immigrants to the United States and U.S. permanent residents whose native language is not English and who have not received a bachelor's degree or higher in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom, must show proficiency in English speaking as well as listening, writing and reading. American citizens born on U.S. military bases abroad may be waived from the TOEFL requirement after providing documentation of this status. Otherwise, applicants must meet one of the following requirements: 

If you take the TOEFLiBT exam, you must have: a minimum combined score for listening, writing, and reading sections of 79 plus a speaking section score of 26 or higher.

Tuition and Fee Rates:

Please visit the Tuition and Fee Rates page on Drexel Central. Please visit the Financial Aid Options page to learn about options to help finance your degree program.

Additional Estimated Costs Over Tuition

• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Student Membership: $58.00
• RD Exam Prep $300-$385
• Medical examination and immunizations: varies
• Child abuse history clearance: $10.00

Fall Quarter Start Application Deadline:

U.S. Applicants:

• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the program is full. Applicants are encouraged to apply by the priority deadline of February 1, 2024 and may be accepted contingent upon completing outstanding prerequisite courses. Once the class is full, qualified applicants will be offered the opportunity to move their application to the next open cohort or to the MS in Human Nutrition Plus Partner Dietetic Internship. No applications for a fall 2024 start will be accepted after September 1, 2024.

International Applicants:       

• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the program is full. Applicants are encouraged to apply by the priority deadline of January 1, 2024 and may be accepted contingent upon completing outstanding prerequisite courses. Once the class is full, qualified applicants will be offered the opportunity to move their application to the next open cohort or to the MS in Human Nutrition Plus Partner Dietetic Internship.  No applications will be accepted after June 13, 2024.

For more information on Admissions, please visit: https://drexel.edu/grad/programs/cnhp/nutrition-and-dietetics/

Curriculum

• Degree Requirements

Accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as registered dietitians (RD). ACEND exists to serve the public by establishing and enforcing Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards that ensure the quality and continued improvement of nutrition/dietetics education programs. ACEND is recognized by the United States Department of Education. This affirms that ACEND meets national standards and is a reliable authority on the quality of nutrition/dietetics education programs.

The Drexel University Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and Graduate Program (GP) are currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. 

For further information, please contact:

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics 
of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190 
Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312.899.0040 ext. 5400 
http://www.eatrightPRO.org/ACEND

ACEND® has created a new page on our website that contains resources for international students, in the Students and Advancing Education section. These resources include:

• International Students Checklist: A step-by-step guide for international students to become eligible to sit for the CDR credentialing exams through ACEND-accredited educational programs.
• Requirements for Those with Foreign Degrees: a general description of ACEND®'s education requirements for individuals with a foreign degree.
• Obtaining Dietetic Credentials with a Foreign Degree: General information about CDR's requirements for obtaining a credential with a foreign degree.
• Foreign Degree Evaluation Agencies: This is a list of non-profit agencies that can be used by international students to assess their degree for U.S. degree equivalency.

Program directors who receive inquiries from international students about applying to their program can reference this page as well. Once an international student provides a foreign degree equivalency report, programs should follow their policies for evaluating international students' transcripts, just as they would from a student educated in the United States. The ACEND® board has created a video training on how evaluate international students' transcripts to assist programs who may need additional guidance.

Please contact ACEND® if there are additional resources that would be helpful for guiding international students.

USDE Requirements for Disclosing Licensure Information to Students

The ACEND Accreditation Standards require programs to publish “Information about the requirements and process to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), including education, supervised experiential learning, passage on the CDR credentialing exam, and state certification/licensure, if applicable; and how the program fits into the process.” It is recommended that programs add the statement that it is ACEND’s considered opinion that the program is designed to and does meet all state dietetics licensure and certification laws as some states may interpret their statutes differently. More information about state licensure and certification is available at this link: State Licensure

Outcomes

Drexel's MS in Nutrition and Dietetics builds on the history and success of Drexel's MS in Human Nutrition. Drexel's MS in Human Nutrition alumni have an exceptionally high pass rate on the entry-level exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. Over the past five years (2017-2021), 96.3% (78/81) of MS in Human Nutrition alumni passed the exam on their first attempt.

GP Mission: Drexel University’s Department of Nutrition Sciences, graduate program in dietetics integrates didactic coursework with experiential learning to provide the knowledge, competencies and professional values needed to prepare students to become entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists. 

Program Goals:

Program Goal #1: To provide quality classroom and experiential learning to prepare graduates to become registered dietitian nutritionists and be employed in the field of dietetics.

• Objective #1: At least 80% of students complete program within 32 months (150% of planned program length).
• Objective #2: Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80 percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
• Objective #3: Graduates of the GP will rate aspects of their concentration supervised experiential learning experiences an average of “4” or better, on a scale of 1=poor to 5 = excellent.
• Objective #4: Employers of graduates of the GP will rate ten aspects of the students’ preparation for employment an average of "4" or better, on a scale of 1=poor to 5 =excellent within 12 months of graduation.

Program Goal #2: To prepare graduates to take and pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration credentialing exam.

• Objective #1: At least 80 percent of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.

• Objective #2: 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%.

Additional program outcomes are available upon request by contacting the program director, Mary Pat DeHaven, MS, RDN at mpd63@drexel.edu.

WHAT IS A FUTURE EDUCATION MODEL GRADUATE PROGRAM?

The Future Education Model Graduate Program standards combine both the knowledge and experiential learning necessary to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in a competency-based education program at the graduate level. Graduates of the program are eligible to register to take the entry-level exam without completing a separate dietetic internship.

More information on the Future Education Model Graduate Program is available on the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics website at: https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/accredited-programs/future-education-model-graduate-program

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A REGISTERED DIETITIAN?

Registered Dietitians are food and nutrition experts employed in a wide variety of settings who find exciting jobs working as:

1. Clinical dietitians—who provide medical nutritional therapy for patients in hospitals, physician offices, and other locations.
2. Sports dietitians—who work with competitive and recreational athletes, and for sports teams.
3. Wellness dietitians—who work in corporate wellness programs.
4. Community dietitians—who counsel individuals and groups on nutritional practices designed to prevent disease and promote good health.
5. Management dietitians—who oversee large-scale meal planning and preparation in healthcare facilities, business and industry, and colleges and universities.
6. Consultant dietitians—who often work under contract with healthcare facilities.
7. Private practice dietitians—who counsel individuals and groups on good nutrition to improve health.
8. Education dietitians—who teach nurses, dietetics students, and others about nutrition in higher education.