Plan Description
The mission of the Master of Science (M.S) – Nutrition Sciences program is to provide graduates with the skills and knowledge to be competent nutrition and dietetics professionals capable of providing excellent nutrition and dietetic services in numerous community, food service, management, and clinical settings.
The program will provide an evidence-based curriculum with a translation to clinical/professional practice. This degree will satisfy the possession of a master’s degree requirement in order to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) National Registration Examination for Dietitians. This degree alone will not qualify an individual to sit for this exam- students still need to successfully complete an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPND) and an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship Supervised Practice Program. The Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Subplan will provide students with the opportunity to complete the ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship Supervised Practice Program and earn the MS degree at the same time.
For more information about your program including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes please visit the Degrees Directory.
Plan Admission Requirements
Application deadlines
Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.
Students are admitted in the fall and spring semesters. Applicants for admission must have an undergraduate major in nutrition, or a closely related academic discipline.
All applicants must have a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 (A=4.0), or 3.00 (A=4.0) in the last two years. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is optional but may be used by the student toward admission (as evidence of quantitative abilities, and/or evidence of verbal abilities). Applicants to the Thesis Subpan are encourged to provide the GRE scores for admission.
Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics Subplan applicants must also have 2.75 minimum GPA in the required sciences courses and DPND courses, separate from the total GPA.
Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics Subplan Application Must Include:
Applicants must apply online through the Grad Rebel Gateway system. In addition to all documents required by the Graduate College, applicants must upload the following information into the Grad Rebel Gateway system:
- A letter of intent that addresses: 1) Reason(s) for wishing to earn a M. S. in Nutrition Sciences and reason(s) for wanting to become an RDN; 2) motivation for attending this program at UNLV; 3) Summary of educational goals; 4) Summary of clinical interests; 5) Strengths & challenges; 6) Possible faculty mentors the applicant would be interested in working with.
- Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic record and potential for graduate study and becoming an RDN.
- An applicant who is a non-native English speaker must provide proof of English language proficiency by fulfilling the requirements displayed at the UNLV Graduate College English proficiency webpage.
- Didactic Program in Dietetics Verification Statement from an ACEND accredited program. This statement must be obtained from the DPND director of the institution granting the statement.
Thesis and Non-Thesis Subplans Application Must Include:
Applicants must apply online through the Grad Rebel Gateway system. In addition to all documents required by the Graduate College, applicants must upload the following information into the Grad Rebel Gateway system:
- Official GRE scores taken within 5 years prior to the application.
- A letter of intent that addresses: 1) Reason(s) for wishing to earn a M. S. in Nutrition Sciences; 2) motivation for attending this program at UNLV; 3) Summary of educational goals; 4) Summary of research activities and/or clinical interests; 5) Possible faculty mentors the applicant would be interested in working with.
- Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic record and potential for graduate study.
- An applicant who is a non-native English speaker must provide proof of English language proficiency by fulfilling the requirements displayed at the UNLV Graduate College English proficiency webpage.
- Undergraduate Prerequisites (UNLV courses or equivalent). Preference given to students completing an ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPND). This is the undergraduate program that provides all of the pre-requisite courses.
- CHEM 108 or CHEM 121/122/241; KIN 223/L/ 224/L; BIOL 251; MATH 124; NUTR 301; NUTR 223; NUTR 370; NUTR 451
All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.
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