Nutrition and Dietetics (Prior B.S./B.A.) — M.S.
Students desiring an M.S. degree in nutrition and dietetics who have a bachelor's degree in a field other than nutrition take one year of basic undergraduate foundation courses in nutrition. The second and third years consist of nutrition and dietetics courses offered at the master's degree level, including both the didactic coursework and the supervised professional practice. Program completion establishes eligibility for writing the registration examination for dietitians and becoming a registered dietitian. Listed below are the required admission and prerequisite requirements to obtain a master's degree from Loma Linda University.
Program learning outcomes
At the end of this program, the graduate should be able to:
- Integrate scientific information and translation of research into practice;
- Demonstrate beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors consistent with the professional dietitian nutritionist level of practice;
- Develop and deliver information, products, and services to individuals, groups, and populations;
- Apply principles of strategic management and systems in the provision of services to individuals and organizations;
- Plan, process, and perform nutrition-related research while protecting the public;
- Demonstrate an ability to translate evidence-based literature into formats that the lay public can understand, including use of videos, writing articles, and counseling;
- Evaluate emerging trends in nutrition and give competent, evidence-based answers to the public;
- Use metabolic pathways to determine patient and client nutritional needs.
Admission is based on a selective process. In addition to Loma Linda University and School of Allied Health Professions admissions requirements, the applicant must also complete the following requirements:
- have a 3.0 G.P.A. or above (science and non-science)
- complete an interview (by telephone or in person)
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
- complete program prerequisites
Prerequisites
- College algebra or higher
- Anatomy and physiology with laboratory, complete sequence (2 terms)
- General chemistry with laboratory, two semesters/three quarters
- Microbiology with laboratory
- Human nutrition
- Medical terminology certificate or course
| Junior Year | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| AHCJ 305 | Infectious Disease and the Health-Care Provider | 1 |
| DTCS 302 | Food Selection and Presentation | 5 |
| DTCS 304 | Community Nutrition | 4 |
| DTCS 3051 | Professional Issues in Nutrition and Dietetics | 2 |
| DTCS 321 | Nutrition and Human Metabolism | 4 |
| DTCS 329 | Organic Chemistry with Applications for Nutrition | 4 |
| DTCS 334 | Biochemistry with Applications for Nutrition | 4 |
| DTCS 338 | Introduction to Clinical Nutrition | 2 |
| DTCS 340 | Nutrition through Life Stages | 3 |
| DTCS 342 | Medical Nutrition Therapy I | 5 |
| DTCS 343 | Medical Nutrition Therapy II | 5 |
| DTCS 371 | Quantity Food Purchasing, Production, and Service | 5 |
| DTCS 372 | Food Systems Organization and Management | 4 |
| Graduate Year | ||
| AHCJ 548 | Human Resource Management in the Health-Care Environment | 3 |
| AHRM 571 | Statistics and Research for Health Professionals I | 3 |
| AHRM 572 | Statistics and Research for Health Professionals II | 3 |
| AHRM 604 | Research-Proposal Writing | 3 |
| DTCS 506 | Professional Seminar in Nutrition and Dietetics | 1 |
| DTCS 526 | Pharmacology in Medical Nutrition Therapy | 2 |
| DTCS 545 | Nutrition Care Management | 4 |
| DTCS 554 | Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy | 3 |
| DTCS 566 | Food Chemistry and Experimental Foods | 4 |
| DTCS 574 | Advanced Food Systems Management | 3 |
| DTCS 576 | Exercise Physiology in Medical Nutrition Therapy | 3 |
| DTCS 5891 | Capstone Course in Nutrition and Dietetics | 3 |
| DTCS 694 | Research | 4 |
| EPDM 509 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| NUTR 506 | Nutritional Metabolism | 3 |
| NUTR 510 | Advanced Public Health Nutrition | 3 |
| NUTR 517 | Advanced Nutrition I: Carbohydrates and Lipids | 4 |
| NUTR 518 | Advanced Nutrition II: Proteins, Vitamins, and Minerals | 4 |
| NUTR 519 | Phytochemicals | 2 |
| NUTR 526 | Nutrition Counseling and Education | 2 |
| Elective: Any graduate-level course approved by advisor | 4 | |
| RELE 5__ Graduate-level Ethics | 3 | |
| Total Units: | 115 | |
Affiliation and practicum units are required in addition to the didactic units listed above.
| Affiliation and practicum | ||
| DTCS 778 | Clinical Nutrition Affiliation (6, 12) | 12 |
| DTCS 795 | Nutrition and Dietetics Graduate Practicum | 12 |
| Total Units | 24 | |
| 1 | Fulfills service learning requirement |
Comprehensive Examination
The written comprehensive examination is designed to establish that the student has a broad understanding of nutrition and dietetics, statistics, and basic research methodology. The comprehensive examination will be administered after students have successfully completed the majority of required courses—typically during the Spring Quarter of the student’s third year in the M.S. program.
Normal time to complete the program
One (1) year (three [3] academic quarters) of undergraduate preparatory work plus two (2) years (eight [8] academic quarters) of graduate course work at LLU — based on full-time enrollment
