Why study Nutrition & Dietetics through IDEA?
Our nutrition and dietetics master’s degree is offered completely online which means you can complete your coursework when it’s convenient for you. Listen as graduate Casey Colin explains how the flexibility of this program allowed her to accomplish her goals.
Build your own degree program with two paths to graduation. One option provides those interested in entering the field of nutrition with a foundation in a community-focused, non-clinical program that opens the door to becoming a nutrition professional. The second option provides current Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) with the opportunity to expand their skills in either community-focused, clinical, or a combination of courses that advance their level of practice. Listen as graduate Brooke Noble shares her experience.
In both pathways, the elective courses provide 21-24 credit hours to craft a program that fits your needs and interests. Whether you want to learn more about medical nutrition therapy, nutrition and aging, supporting public health initiatives, or how nutrition influences chronic disease, you can choose a path to help you make a difference in the lives of others.
Our online curriculum prepares you to integrate and apply nutrition and dietetics principles in biomedical sciences, human behavior, social ecological systems, and program management in order to design and lead effective food and nutrition programs.
Affordable Online Structure Designed for Flexibility and Convenience
Your home university is where you pay tuition, manage your program, receive academic advising, and meet graduation requirements. While you will take courses online from any of the participating universities, your home university will award the diploma at the completion of the program.
Designed for working professionals, the online nutrition & dietetics master’s degree provides flexibility and convenience, as well as affordability through a common price per credit hour through all universities.
"The IDEA program has granted me opportunities through online learning that would never be possible in a traditional setting. As a military family, we are required to move frequently and sometimes unexpectedly. There were times when I lived in three different states in a matter of one year. The IDEA program allows me to receive an outstanding education regardless of my home state. I have access to classes and universities throughout the United States to provide a comprehensive array of knowledge in my field. The IDEA program has proven to be an excellent fit for myself and for my family."
Autumn Laurito, dietetics master's student and recipient of the 2022 Student Excellence Award.
Program Format of Nutrition & Dietetics
Each track within this master's degree consists of a 32-credit hour curriculum that prepares future nutrition professionals and RDNs to practice at an advanced level in one of the most dynamic and versatile of the health-related professions. This interdisciplinary curriculum will provide you with the skills to adapt to the ever-evolving field of nutrition. Students typically finish in two to three years, taking one or two courses each semester.
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"Given the wide variety of courses that are available, you are allowed to pick and choose what courses are of interest to you which allows you to tailor your education essentially to whatever your aspirations or interests or clinical goals would be. I really thought this was one of the unique aspects in comparison to other programs."
Kathryn Holt, nutrition & dietetics graduate
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Curriculum Overview for Both Tracks
Our online program is tailored for future nutrition professionals or current dietetics professionals who seek to develop their knowledge or explore new career opportunities in nutrition or dietetics practices. You can build a program of study that fits your needs and interests.
There are three core courses offered every fall and spring semester. These include current issues and trends, basic statistics, and research methods. These courses will ensure your success throughout the remainder of your program.
You will customize your degree experience through an additional seven to eight courses of electives, totaling 21-24 credit hours. Our elective courses allow you to choose a focus that best fits your professional needs and interests.
Your culminating experience will be three to six credit hours of your elective courses and will depend on the requirements of your home university. This includes a thesis, comprehensive paper, project, or additional coursework. The Nutrition & Dietetics Student Handbook provides further explanation about the culminating experience requirements for each home university.
This option is for individuals interested in community nutrition, either as a future nutrition professional or current RDN. This program does not lead to eligibility for the RDN credential. In order to become RDN eligible, individuals must complete a master's degree and an internship accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
You can choose from these courses to build out your master's degree program:
• Food Culture
• Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice
• Dietary and Herbal Supplements
• International Nutrition and World Hunger
• Maternal and Child Nutrition
• Micronutrients in Human Nutrition
• Advanced Human Nutrition: Macronutrients
• Nutrition: A Focus on Life Stages
• Nutrition Counseling and Education Methods
• Nutrition Education in the Community
• Nutrition and Human Performance
• Nutrition and Wellness
• Obesity Across the Lifespan
• Public Health Nutrition
This program is designed for those who are already Registered Dietitian Nutritionists working in the field or those with verification from a didactic program in dietetics (DPD) or dietetic internship program.
You can choose from these courses as well as those within Option A to build out your master's degree program:
• Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy
• Advance Nutrition: Nutrigenomics
• Clinical Aspects of Nutrition Support
• Diabetes Medical Nutrition Therapy
• Nutrition Aspects of Oncology
Nutrition Assessment and Evaluation
• Nutritional Therapy for Eating Disorders
• Pediatric Clinical Nutrition
Current students seeking supervisory committee members should contact their advisor for a list of available faculty.
REVIEW THE MASTER'S DEGREE CURRICULUM
Admission to the Online Nutrition & Dietetics Program
Applications are accepted year-round so you can start in the fall, spring, or summer semester – whatever works best for you.
To be admitted to this program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Have a bachelor’s degree
- Fulfill (or meet) the entrance requirements for a master’s program at your home university. Typically, this requires a minimum 3.0 undergraduate grade point average or a 3.0 in the last 60 hours of coursework in the undergraduate degree
- The GRE or GMAT is not required by any participating universities
- Option B only: Have the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential (or be eligible to sit for the RDN exam).
- The nutrition & dietetics student handbook provides additional information.
VIEW THE STUDENT HANDBOOK
"IDEA has so many benefits for its students. The ability to continue my education while working full-time and growing my family has been a huge benefit for me. Earning the Student Excellence Award will greatly benefit my family as we begin our lives with our new daughter because we can use it to pay for the rest of my tuition and will not have to budget in finishing my degree."
Alison Eddy, nutrition & dietetics master's student, and recipient of the 2023 Student Excellence Award
Program Information at Participating Universities
Four universities work together to bring an innovative, top-notch academic experience, allowing you to get the best from our member universities. Learn more about the program at each participating university.
Degree titles vary by university. Review the official master’s degree names at our member institutions in the nutrition & dietetics student handbook.
Review the STUDENT HANDBOOK
All IDEA member universities are accredited by regional agencies, aligning with requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education. This ensures that students pursuing their degree through IDEA are met with a high standard of academic excellence. All five member universities participating in the online nutrition & dietetics master's degree program are accredited. Learn more about the accreditation of our member universities.
Career Opportunities with a Nutrition & Dietetics Master's Degree
A nutrition or dietetics master’s degree will open the door to numerous career possibilities in health-related professions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, six out of every ten adults in the United States have at least one chronic disease, and about four in ten have two or more chronic diseases. Nutrition professionals continue to play an increasingly important role in health promotion and disease prevention and management.
This degree can help you advance in fields such as:
- Public health and community nutrition
- Healthcare administration
- Pediatrics
- Critical care
- Wellness coaching and counseling
- Sports programs
- Employee wellness programs
- Nutrition education
Graduates of this program take diverse professional paths. Some places include:
- Hospitals
- Long-term care facilities
- Private practice
- Community nutrition education interventions
- Nonprofit agencies
- Community or corporate health programs
- K-12 schools
- Correctional facilities
- Retail grocery stores
- Government programs
Some career paths are only available to those who hold the RDN credential which requires completing an internship followed by passing the RD exam.
Do you still have questions about a career in nutrition & dietetics? Find answers to 12 of the most commonly asked questions from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics or contact us with your questions.
Learn how Casey Colin, a graduate of this program, uses the skills and knowledge learned in this program every day in her job.
Collaborate with Expert Faculty
IDEA’s nutrition & dietetics faculty come from four different home universities, providing a range of experiences and perspectives not able to be offered at a single university. Get to know more about the nutrition & dietetics faculty members at the bottom of this webpage.
Advance Your Career with a Nutrition & Dietetics Master's Degree
IDEA’s online nutrition & dietetics master’s degree will provide you with the skills and knowledge to excel in your career in this high-demand profession.
Ready to get started? Learn how to get started today!
What You Will Learn
How You Will Learn
