Nutritional Sciences, M.S. (Distance Education Program)

The Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences is an online (distance education) program that prepares students with advanced training in nutritional sciences, education and research. You can select one of the following concentration areas: Community Nutrition Educator, Gerontological Nutrition, Obesity and Weight Management, Pediatric Nutrition or Sports Dietetics. All students complete either the internship or thesis option.

Students who are registered dietitians or completing an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)-accredited Dietetic Internship Program or other ACEND-accredited dietitian training programs are eligible to use this experience for six internship credits, which reduces the number of credits needed to complete the degree. The department also offers training to become a registered dietitian/nutritionist through the ACEND-accredited Future Education Model Graduate Program.

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Students with a degree in nutritional science have a versatile degree with many career opportunities. Some examples of industries and careers include healthcare, nutrition and health education, public health, food service, food industry, worksite wellness, health coaching, nutrition writer, nutrition project manager, research and government agencies.

Students who are registered dietitians (RD) or completing an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship Program or other ACEND-accredited RD training programs are eligible to use this experience for six internship credits. This reduces the required credits to complete the degree to 27 credits.

Getting your master’s degree as an RD will allow you to keep up with the educational advancement of upcoming RDs, who — starting January 1, 2024 — will be required to have a master’s degree in addition to having met supervised practice requirements to be eligible for the RD exam. In addition, a master’s degree can increase your earning potential. The 2013 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Compensation and Benefits Survey showed that the median salary for an RD with a master’s degree was $1.89 more per hour than an RD with only a bachelor’s degree.

To become a registered dietitian nutritionist, students must complete a bachelor's degree and —starting January 1, 2024 — a master’s degree at a US regionally accredited university or college and coursework accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program and pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

Please see this fact sheet from the Academic of Nutrition and Dietetics about careers in nutrition and dietetics and how to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.

If you are interested in applying to an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship Program, you must complete an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). NCCU offers the DPD program in our undergraduate Nutrition and Dietetics Program.

NCCU also offers the ACEND-accredited Future Education Model Graduate Program, which is an integrated master’s degree and supervised practice to be eligible for the RDN exam. A DPD verification statement is not required for this program.

The Future Education Model Graduate Program (GP) is an accredited program in which students will complete a master’s degree (M.S. in Nutritional Sciences, Dietetics Concentration) and supervised experiential learning (SEL) in professional settings to be eligible for the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s credentialing examining for dietitian nutritionists.

A DPD verification statement is not required, but all students must have completed the prerequisite coursework. A student with a DPD verification statement will meet all prerequisite courses. The GP integrates didactic coursework with supervised experiential learning in a competency-based curriculum designed to prepare nutrition and dietetics practitioners for future practice. The GP program at NCCU is four semesters, with year 1 courses through distance education. NCCU also offers a one-year Future Education Model Dietetics Certificate program for qualifying students who already have a master’s degree and have completed year 1 coursework competencies.

See the Future Education Model Graduate Program website for more information.

Tuition each semester will vary by the number of credits you take. If the program is completed as a full-time student, then the total two-year program tuition and fees based on 2022–2023 for in-state residents of North Carolina are estimated at $9,516.96 (Year 1 = $5,189.16, Year 2 = $4,327.80). For out-of-state residents, these are estimated at $33,914.77 (Year 1 = $18,497.05, Year 2 = $15,417,72). For future and current tuition and fees as well as the policy on deferment, please use the following two links:

Financial aid, bill payment, and deferment

For unconditional admittance, the prospective student needs to have an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, preferably in a major in nutritional sciences or a related field. Students with a cumulative GPA from 2.7–2.9 may be considered for conditional admittance. Students are expected to have at least one nutrition course with a grade of B- or higher. The GRE is not required.

Students must have a minimum of two letters of recommendation, preferably from current or former faculty who can evaluate the student’s ability to handle graduate work. Students must also submit a personal statement that discusses in detail why the individual wants to pursue an M.S. degree in Nutritional Sciences. Work and volunteer experience in the field is also evaluated.

NCCU cannot accept international students who require a student visa because of the distance education courses. If you do not need a student visa, then you can apply.

Professional Core (9 Credit Hours)

• NSCG 5600: Advanced Nutrition (3)
• NSCG 5610: Nutrition Therapy and Disease States (3)
• NSCG 5910: Nutrition Through the Life Cycle (3)

Research Core (6 Credit Hours)

• NSCG 5800: Research in Foods and Nutrition (3)
• NSCG 5420: Biostatistics (3)

Nutrition Elective Courses (9 Credit Hours from the Following Courses)

• NSCG 5630: Sports Nutrition (3)
• NSCG 5640: Public Health Nutrition (3)
• NSCG 5720: Advances in Nutrition Education (3)
• NSCG 5740: Pediatric Nutrition (3)
• NSCG 5820: Gerontological Nutrition (3)
• NSCG 5840: Weight Management, Obesity and Diabetes (3)
• NSCG 5890: Specialized Study in Nutrition Concentration (3)

Elective (3 Credit Hours)

• Any 5000-level or above course or Nutrition elective

Internship or Thesis (3 Credit Hours)

• NSCG 5850: Internship (3) or NCSG 5900: Thesis (3)

Total Credit Hours: 33 Credit Hours

Concentration Requirements

Students may earn a concentration in the areas below by completing nine hours of specialty work as designated below. The director of Graduate Studies approves all concentration plans of study.

Community Nutrition Educator:

• NSCG 5640: Public Health Nutrition (3)
• NSCG 5720:  Advances in Nutrition Education (3)
• NSCG 5890: Specialized Study in Nutrition Concentration or CON 5351: Principles and Procedures of Group Counseling or similar course (3)

Gerontological Nutrition:

• NSCG 5910: Nutrition Through the Life Cycle (3)
• NSCG 5820: Gerontological Nutrition (3)
• NSCG 5890: Specialized Study in Nutrition Concentration or RECG 5410: Social Gerontology (3) or PERG 5410: Social Gerontology in Recreational Therapy or similar course (3)

Obesity and Weight Management:

• NSCG 5600: Advanced Nutrition (3)
• NSCG 5610: Nutrition Therapy and Disease States (3) or NSCG 5930: Applied Medical Nutrition Therapy
• NSCG 5840: Weight Management, Obesity and Diabetes (3)

Pediatric Nutrition:

• NSCG 5910: Nutrition Through the Life Cycle (3)
• NSCG 5740: Pediatric Nutrition (3)
• NSCG 5890: Specialized Study in Nutrition Concentration or CON 5308: Counseling Children and Adolescents or similar course (3)

Sports Dietetics:

• NSCG 5600: Advanced Nutrition (3)
• NSCG 5630: Sports Nutrition (3)
• NSCG 5890: Specialized Study in Nutrition Concentration or PEDG 5100: Sociological Aspects of Sports and Leisure or similar course (3)