Skip to main content

Nutrition & Dietetic Practice/RDN Program

At a Glance

  • College

    College of Health Professions

  • Degree

    Master of Science

  • Campus

    Center City

  • Format

    On Campus, Online

  • Duration

    19 Months

  • Enrollment Options

    Full Time, Part Time

Program Contact

Kati Fosselius, MS, RDN, LDN
  • Director, MS in Nutrition & Dietetic Practice Program

Contact Admissions

Visit Jefferson
JCHP Alumni
Support JCHP

Curriculum

Part-time, Online Pathway

The Part-Time, Online MS/RDN program pathway is composed of both didactic coursework and supervised experiential learning (SEL). These two modes of learning are integrated as the didactic courses include experiential learning activities (such as case studies, site visits, on-site activities, and simulations) and the SELs include didactic coursework (such as reflections and written assignments). SEL faculty are able to provide students with learning materials and other resources to refresh students on relevant foundational knowledge prior to applied practice.

Year 1 Credits
Fall I   
RDN 511: Nutritional Biochemistry & Physiology* 3
Fall II   
RDN 531: Integrative Nutrition Across the Life Cycle* 3
Total Credits 6
Spring I   
RDN 537: Culinary Nutrition, Functional Foods & Diet Planning* 3
Spring II   
SCJU 631: Social Justice Seminar: Food, Weight, and Health 1
RDN 622: Public Health Nutrition* 3
Total Credits 7
Summer I   
RDN 535: Food Science & Safety* 3
Summer II   
RDN 612: Nutrition Communication & Education 3
Summer Individualized Scheduling (any time across the semester)   
RDN 722: SEL - Public Nutrition Experience  1
Total Credits 7
Year 2  
Fall I   
RDN 571: Medical Nutrition Therapy 1 3
Fall II   
RDN 675L: Clinical Skills (Lab) 1
RDN 661: Management and Leadership in Nutrition 2
Fall Individualized Scheduling (any time across the semester)   
RDN 762: SEL – Food Service & Culinary Nutrition Experience 1
Total Credits 7
Spring I   
RDN 614: Nutrition Counseling 3
Spring II   
RDN 671: Medical Nutrition Therapy 2 3
Spring Individualized Scheduling (any time across the semester)   
RDN 771: SEL – Introduction to Nutrition Therapy Experience 1
RDN 712: SEL – Nutrition Communication & Education Experience 1
Total Credits 8
Summer I   
RDN 681: Nutrition Research 3
Summer II   
SCJU 633: Social Justice Seminar: Systemic Barriers & Challenges  1
Summer Individualized Scheduling (any time across the semester)   
RDN 772: SEL – Clinical Experience 1 3
Total Credits 7
   
Year 3  
Fall I   
RDN 682: Applied Nutrition Research  1
Fall II   
SCJU 665: SEL - Social Justice Seminar: Sustainable Nutrition Practice 1.5
Fall Individualized Scheduling (any time across the semester)   
RDN 714: SEL – Nutrition Counseling Experience 1.5
RDN 773: SEL – Clinical Experience 2 2
Total Credits  6
Spring I   
SCJU 634: Social Justice Seminar: Analysis & Advocacy 1
Spring II   
RDN 692: Capstone Course 1
Spring Individualized Scheduling (any time across the semester)   
RDN 782: SEL – Individualized Professional Experience 2.5
RDN 761: SEL – Nutrition Management & Leadership Expereince 1.5
Total Credits 6
OVERALL TOTAL CREDITS 54

SEL = Supervised Experiential Learning (SEL may contain one or more rotations with different preceptors).

*Students who apply and receive Advanced Standing status through our Prior Learning Process may bypass these five foundational courses and start in the fall semester. These students are not receiving Jefferson academic credits for prior learning or transferring credit from other institutions. Students who achieve Advanced Standing status will earn a total of 39 credits throughout the entire program. For more information, please visit this page.

Year 1 Credits
Fall I   
RDN 571: Medical Nutrition Therapy 1  3
Fall II   
RDN 675L: Clinical Skills (Lab) 1
RDN 661: Management and Leadership in Nutrition 2
Total Credits 6
   
Spring I   
RDN 614: Nutrition Counseling 3
Spring II   
RDN 671: Medical Nutrition Therapy 2 3
Spring Individualized Scheduling (any time across the semester)   
RDN 762: SEL – Food Service and Culinary Nutrition Experience 1
Total Credits 7
   
Summer I   
RDN 681: Nutrition Research 3
Summer II   
SCJU 633: Social Justice Seminar: Systemic Barriers & Challenges  1
RDN 612: SEL – Nutrition Communication & Education 3
Total Credits 7
   
Year 2  
Fall I   
RDN 682: Applied Nutrition Research  1
Fall II   
SCJU 665: SEL - Social Justice Seminar: Sustainable Nutrition Practice 1.5
Fall Individualized Scheduling (any time across the semester)   
RDN 771: SEL - Introduction to Nutrition Therapy Experience 1
RDN 772: SEL - Clinical Experience 1 3
Total Credits  6.5
Spring I   
SCJU 634: Social Justice Seminar: Analysis & Advocacy 1
Spring II   
SCJU 631: Social Justice Semniar: Food, Weight, and Health 1
Spring Individualized Scheduling (any time across the semester)   
RDN 722: SEL - Public Nutrition Experience 1
RDN 712: SEL - Nutrition Communication & Education Experience  1
RDN 773: SEL - Clinical Experience 2  2
Total Credits 6
Summer II  
RDN 692: Capstone Course 1
Summer Individualized Scheduling (any time across the semester)   
RDN 714: SEL – Nutrition Counseling Experience 1.5
RDN 761: SEL – Nutrition Management & Leadership Expereince 1.5
RDN 782: SEL - Individualized Professional Expereince  2.5 
Total Credits 6.5
OVERALL TOTAL CREDITS 39

SEL = Supervised Experiential Learning (SEL may contain one or more rotations with different preceptors).

*Students who apply and receive Advanced Standing status through our Prior Learning Process may bypass these five foundational courses and start in the fall semester. These students are not receiving Jefferson academic credits for prior learning or transferring credit from other institutions. Students who achieve Advanced Standing status will earn a total of 39 credits throughout the entire program. For more information, please visit this page.

Jefferson’s Part-Time, Online MS/RDN pathway is designed for working professionals pursuing a career in dietetics. This flexible option allows students to work while completing their studies at a pace that’s right for them. Students will receive individualized guidance from faculty to tailor rotation experiences and coursework to their goals.

The schedule of the suggested curriculum path will follow the academic calendar and will include fall, spring, and summer semesters. The curriculum path may be altered for students transferring in credits or bypassing courses. The timeline for SEL courses may be altered based on site availability. The program director reserves the right to modify the course schedule indicated in the suggested curriculum path as needed.

Students with a nutrition and dietetics background may opt to request credit for demonstrated prior learning and experience, earning them advanced standing in the program.

Academic Schedule

The program can be completed in 24 months by those with a degree in dietetics or 31 months by newcomers to the field. Students have the option of extending these timelines if this best meets their needs. Students typically begin the program in mid-August (fall semester). Coursework is 100% online and primarily asynchronous, with several optional synchronous class meetings and some required synchronous class meetings for seminar and lab courses. SEL rotations occur at sites secured by students and are scheduled by the student in order to ensure a plan that accommodates their existing professional and personal commitments.

Fall semester – The fall semester will typically start the last week of August and classes will end in mid-to-late December. Didactic courses are completed in 7-week terms (Fall 1 and Fall 2). SEL rotation courses can be completed across this entire 15-week semester.

Spring semester – The spring semester typically begins in early January and ends in late April. Didactic courses are completed in 7-week terms (Spring 1 and Spring 2). SEL rotation courses can be completed across this entire 15-week semester.

Summer semester – The summer semester typically begins in mid-May and ends mid-August. Didactic courses are completed in 6-week terms (Summer 1 and Summer 2). SEL rotation courses can be completed across this entire 12-week semester.

Please see the posted academic calendar for each school year for exact dates. 

Vacations/Holidays

Vacation is defined as the time between semesters. This typically provides a 3-week break between fall and spring semesters, a 3-week break between spring and pre-fall semesters, and a 2-week break between pre-fall and fall semesters. This time will be utilized to address a student’s remediation plan if appropriate and needed.

University Holidays

  • Thanksgiving Break (late November – 4 days)
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January – 1 day)
  • Spring Break (mid-March – 1 week)
  • Memorial Day (May – 1 day)
  • Independence Day (July – 1 day)
  • Labor Day (September – 1 day)

Students who wish to observe religious or cultural holidays will collaborate with program faculty and preceptors in order to do so.

SEL Rotations

Students complete 9 rotations during the program, spending 80 to 240 hours in each rotation, allowing a wide range of experiences. Students enrolled in the Part-Time, Online pathway identify and secure their own sites. Appropriate settings include hospitals, private practice businesses, outpatient clinics, non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, professional sports organizations, eating disorder facilities, school district and university dining services, and many additional settings. Students have the option of completing certain rotations virtually or in a hybrid format, rather than in person, if that is their preference. 

Each student will be assigned to a program faculty advisor. Each semester, students enrolled in the Part-Time, Online pathway will work with their advisor to plan for and secure agreements with SEL sites for the rotations they’re scheduled to complete during upcoming semesters. The advisor will provide support, strategies, and tools designed to set up students for success in securing rotation sites. The MS/RDN program team is committed to securing a rotation site for any student who is unable to secure an appropriate site for a particular rotation; however, in this case the student’s progression in the program may be delayed and/or they may be required to travel for available placements.

Curriculum Highlights

Interprofessional Practice Learning Experiences. MS/RDN students build relationships with and learn alongside other future health professionals from across a wide range of disciplines through programming hosted by the Jefferson Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education.

Simulated Patient Care Experiences. Our students prepare for clinical practice by first practicing in safe, simulated environments as part of their online didactic coursework.

Graduate Research in Applied Nutrition Research (GRAND) Symposium. For this culminating experience, MS/RDN students research and deliver evidence-based presentations on a topic of their choice for an audience of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and other health and nutrition professionals.

Social Justice Content. Our curriculum includes 4 social justice seminars, and social justice themes are additionally woven throughout the curriculum.

Program Completion Requirements

In order to successfully complete this program and graduate with a MS in Nutrition & Dietetic Practice, students must complete all of the required courses in the MS/RDN curriculum sequence, earning a grade of C+ or better in each of those courses, as well as earn a “meets expectations” rating or higher on all summative competency-related performance measures. Please see the MS/RDN Student Handbook for more information.

Distance Learning Experience Expectations

In the Part-Time, Online MS/RDN program pathway, didactic courses are delivered fully online.

All SEL rotation courses can be completed in person in a location geographically convenient to the student. Additionally, certain rotation settings may offer remote or hybrid experiential learning opportunities. Students can choose whether they would like to secure a rotation site that allows them to engage in distance learning during the relevant rotation(s).

The Jefferson MS/RDN program requires these components for successful distance learning: 

  • Reliable internet access, with a recommended minimum internet speed of 512 kbps
  • Access to a laptop, desktop computer, and/or tablet
  • A working webcam, microphone, and speakers
  • The most recent release of the web browsers Chrome, Firefox, and/or Safari
  • Ability to access satellite or wireless communication 

As students of Thomas Jefferson University, all MS/RDN students will be granted free access to additional tools and resources that support effective distance learning. 

Please see the MS/RDN Student Handbook for more information regarding distance learning experience expectations in the MS/RDN program. 

Go Back to MS in Nutrition & Dietetic Practice/RDN Program