Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program

The mission of the Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program is to prepare diverse students to become nutrition leaders who practice effectively and contribute solutions for human health and healthcare challenges.

Utilize experiential opportunities to prepare students to use evidence-based nutrition practice in their chosen profession

Prepare students to secure advanced nutrition-related employment in healthcare, government, industry, education or not-for-profit programs

Undergraduate courses are typically offered in a 16-week block, however some undergraduate courses are offered in an 8-week block. Undergraduate courses can be delivered in various instructional methods such as: face-to-face, online and hybrid. Please see the Class Schedule for more information on how your courses will be offered.

Graduate courses are offered in 8-week blocks and delivered in hybrid format partnering the best of online education and face-to-face learning. Engaging in the classroom with peers and faculty members deepens the learning experience, broadens perspective, and will strengthen your professional network. The online content of the hybrid format enhances the convenience of the program, allowing us to meet your needs as a busy individual.

Students enrolled in the full-time option will:

• complete all required courses within a five (5) year timeframe
• enroll in approximately 12-15 credit hours per semester

Students enrolled in the part-time option:

• must complete the Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program degree within eight (8) calendar years from their initial enrollment term

Students in this program earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree at graduation. Current matriculating MSU Denver undergraduate students may apply to the Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program after completing at least 75 credits and during or after the completion of NUT 3150 and NUT 3160.

Once admitted, a student may enroll in undergraduate and graduate courses provided prerequisites have been completed for the respective courses.

To apply for the Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program, the following items must be submitted/completed:

• Completed online Graduate Admission Application
• $50 non-refundable fee (Submitted online)
• Personal statement essay (submitted within Graduate Admission Application). The personal statement must be limited to between 500 and 800 words and answer only the following questions:
  1. Using your own words, please explain your understanding of the 3+2 Nutrition and Dietetics Program and the work it entails.
  2. How do you plan to stay motivated and balance the demands of rigorous graduate coursework? Please provide examples.
  3. What are your short term and long term goals as they relate to the 3+2 Nutrition and Dietetics Program?
• Resume (submitted within Graduate Admission Application)
• Contact information (phone and email) for three (3) professional and/or academic references (submitted within Graduate Admission Application)

Additionally, to be fully admitted to the Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program, students must have a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a “B” or better in NUT 3150 and NUT 3160.

Throughout the application materials, students are encouraged to highlight diversity and/or life experiences that will benefit the profession and their success in a graduate program.

Examples of diversity and/or life experiences include but are not limited to first-generation status, racial-ethnic diversity, working with diverse populations, bilingual skills and/or other unique life experiences that highlight overcoming adversity. 

Beyond the completion of NUT 3150 and NUT 3160, full program acceptance also requires the completion of the following prerequisite coursework with a grade of C- or higher in:

• Introductory statistics
• Chemistry with lab
• Organic and biological chemistry with lab (minimum of 1 semester combined)
• Anatomy and physiology (equivalent of 6 credit hours)

Only complete applications will be reviewed. Applicants will be notified via email of their application status. Applicants may be accepted, accepted with conditions, waitlisted, or denied admission.

If a student applies to the Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program, but does not receive admittance into the program, the student can complete a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Acceptance with requirements may be granted if a student is registered for NUT 3150 and NUT 3160. Students must successfully complete NUT 3150 and NUT 3160 with a grade of B or better for full acceptance to the program. Students with a GPA lower than a 3.0 can be accepted into the program. Students accepted into the program with a GPA lower than a 3.0 must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA during the first semester of the Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program.

Students may transfer in up to six (6) credits of graduate level coursework from a regionally accredited university. Each transfer course must have a minimum grade of “C” and have been completed within 5 years of admission to the program.

In general, no credit is given for prior learning experience derived from employment or other life experience.

Students not enrolled for three (3) consecutive semesters, including summer, must reapply to the University. Students requesting readmission must be in good academic standing and must submit their application for readmission to the Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program in which they have been enrolled.

The steps to become an RDN are:

1. Receive a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited program (DPD programs are one way to receive a verification statement)
2. Apply for and complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice dietetic internship or Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway program
3. Pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Please visit the Academy website for more information.

Students enrolled in the Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program are not required to pursue becoming an RDN. Career opportunities for non-RDN nutrition professionals do exist. However, students are encouraged to meet with an advisor to discuss the option of becoming an RDN and how the RDN vs non-RDN pathway could impact their future career. To schedule an advising session, please email [email protected] or call 303-615-0990.

The Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program provides students with a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) verification statement, which is required to be eligible for dietetic internships. Students in this program can receive a BS DPD verification statement after graduating from the BSND or may choose to receive the MS DPD verification statement after graduating from the MSND. However, students typically apply for dietetic internships during their last semester of graduate coursework, and start their internship soon after graduation if matched.

Most Dietetic Internship programs cost money to complete. Students are paying for an experiential learning opportunity while enrolled in a Dietetic Internship program. Costs for Dietetic Internships approximately range from $5,000-$50,000, depending on location, completion of a master’s degree along with the internship, etc. Dietetic Internships tied to graduate credit are eligible for financial aid to cover expenses.

Further, it should be noted that most Dietetic Internships are full-time programs which require the student to complete rotations in the field on a full-time, 40 hour a week, basis. Students are not paid for this time.

Dietetic Internships are therefore, unpaid experiences that have a cost. The Department of Nutrition can help you determine strategies for overcoming cost barriers associated with the Dietetic Internship. To schedule an appointment with an advisor to speak more about this, call 303-615-0990 or email [email protected].

Full-time Dietetic Internships typically range from 6-12 months. Part-time Dietetic Internships typically range from 1-2 years in length.

The Department of Nutrition offers many resources for students as they prepare for applying to Dietetic Internships including:

• Individual advising sessions with faculty and staff to review internship application materials (application, resume, personal statement, etc.)
• Workshops to discuss the application process

Effective January 1, 2024, the CDR will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a RDN. For more information about educational pathways to become an RDN please visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The proposed tuition for the undergraduate level courses can be found here.

The proposed tuition for the graduate level courses is $550/credit hour for residents and $650/credit hour for non-residents. Proposed tuition and fee schedules are outlined below.

Until students accumulate 132 credit hours, 3+2 students will be classified as undergraduates for financial aid and Colorado Opportunity Fund purposes (COF applies to courses numbered 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 only).

Financial aid information can be found on the MSU Denver Financial Aid website.

Current matriculating MSU Denver undergraduate students may apply to the Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program after completing at least 75 credits and during or after the completion of NUT 3150 and NUT 3160.

Once admitted, a student may enroll in undergraduate and graduate courses provided prerequisites have been completed for the respective courses.

If you are a current matriculating MSU Denver undergraduate student, and would like to receive communications about the Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program prior to applying, please contact us at [email protected] to let us know you are planning to complete the 3+2 Program.

Yes, we accept students for fall and spring start dates for the Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program. Applications deadlines can be found on the website for the current application cycle.

No, we do not require the GRE for the Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program.

If you don’t have a 3.0 GPA from your undergraduate degree, you can still apply to the Nutrition and Dietetics 3+2 Program. You may be able to be “admitted with requirements.” Requirements to stay in the program include maintaining a 3.0 GPA your first semester of the graduate portion of the 3+2 program.

Students in this program will graduate with their Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics after completing 120 undergraduate credit hours and meeting the undergraduate degree requirements. The Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics will be earned upon completion of the required 30 graduate credits.