College
- Center City Campus
- College of Health Professions
Degree Earned
- Master of Science
Program Options
Nutrition & Dietetic Practice/RDN
Program Type
- On Campus
Program Length
22 months
Program Contact
- Director, MS in Nutrition & Dietetic Practice Program
Curriculum
The MS/RDN program 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). Didactic workshops are provided at the beginning of many SELs, to refresh students on relevant foundational knowledge and resources prior to applied practice.
MS/RDN Suggested Curriculum Path (Fall 2021 Cohort)
Fall Year 1 |
Credits |
RDN 571: Medical Nutrition Therapy 1 (Health Mentors 1) |
3 |
RDN 531: Integrative Nutrition Across the Life Cycle |
3 |
RDN 511: Nutritional Biochemistry & Physiology |
3 |
RDN 535: Food Science & Safety |
3 |
RDN 537: Culinary Nutrition, Functional Foods & Diet Planning |
3 |
Total Credits |
15 |
|
|
Spring Year 1 |
Credits |
RDN 614: Nutrition Counseling (Health Mentors 2) |
3 |
RDN 671: Medical Nutrition Therapy 2 |
3 |
RDN 612: Nutrition Communication, Education & Leadership |
3 |
SCJU 632: Social Justice Seminar: Interprofessional Perspectives |
0.5 |
RDN 712: SEL – Nutrition Communication, Education & Leadership Experience |
1 |
Total Credits |
10.5 |
|
|
Summer Year 1 |
Credits |
RDN 622: Global & Public Health Nutrition |
3 |
RDN 681: Nutrition Research |
3 |
SCJU 631: Social Justice Seminar: Food, Weight & Health |
1 |
RDN 675L: Nutrition Support |
0.5 |
RDN 714: SEL – Nutrition Counseling Experience |
1.5 |
RDN 771: SEL – Introduction to Nutrition Therapy Experience |
1 |
Total Credits |
10 |
|
|
Fall Year 2 |
Credits |
RDN 661: Management in Nutrition |
3 |
SCJU 633: Social Justice Seminar: Systemic Barriers & Challenges (Health Mentors 3) |
1 |
RDN 722: SEL – Public Nutrition Experience |
1 |
RDN 761: SEL – Nutrition Management Experience |
1.5 |
RDN 772: SEL – Clinical Experience 1 |
3 |
Total Credits |
9.5 |
|
|
Spring Year 2 |
Credits |
RDN 692: Capstone Course |
1 |
RDN 665: Sustainable Nutrition Practice |
1 |
SCJU 634: Social Justice Seminar: Analysis & Advocacy |
1 |
RDN 762: SEL – Food Service & Culinary Experience |
1 |
RDN 773: SEL – Clinical Experience 2 |
3 |
RDN 782: SEL – Individualized Professional Experience |
1.5 |
RDN 765: SEL – Sustainable Nutrition Experience |
0.5 |
Total Credits |
9 |
OVERALL TOTAL CREDITS |
54 |
SEL = Supervised Experiential Learning (SEL may contain one or more rotations with different preceptors).
Suggested Curriculum Path for MS/RDN Students With Advanced Standing (Fall 2021 Cohort)
Fall Year 1 |
Credits |
RDN 571: Medical Nutrition Therapy 1 (Health Mentors 1) |
3 |
RDN 661: Management in Nutrition |
3 |
RDN 665: Sustainable Nutrition Practice |
1 |
RDN 765: SEL – Sustainable Nutrition Experience |
0.5 |
RDN 722: SEL – Public Nutrition Experience |
1 |
RDN 762: SEL – Food Service & Culinary Experience |
1 |
Total Credits |
9.5 |
|
|
Spring Year 1 |
Credits |
RDN 614: Nutrition Counseling (Health Mentors 2) |
3 |
RDN 671: Medical Nutrition Therapy 2 |
3 |
RDN 612: Nutrition Communication, Education & Leadership |
3 |
SCJU 632: Social Justice Seminar: Interprofessional Perspectives |
0.5 |
RDN 771: SEL – Introduction to Nutrition Therapy Experience |
1 |
RDN 712: SEL – Nutrition Communication, Education & Leadership Experience |
1 |
Total Credits |
11.5 |
|
|
Summer Year 1 |
Credits |
RDN 681: Nutrition Research |
3 |
SCJU 631: Social Justice Seminar: Food, Weight & Health |
1 |
RDN 675L: Nutrition Support |
0.5 |
RDN 772: SEL – Clinical Experience 1 |
3 |
RDN 714: SEL – Nutrition Counseling Experience |
1.5 |
Total Credits |
9 |
|
|
Fall Year 2 |
Credits |
RDN 692: Capstone Course |
1 |
SCJU 633: Social Justice Seminar: Systemic Barriers & Challenges (Health Mentors 3) |
1 |
SCJU 634: Social Justice Seminar: Analysis & Advocacy |
1 |
RDN 761: SEL – Nutrition Management Experience |
1.5 |
RDN 773: SEL – Clinical Experience 2 |
3 |
RDN 782: SEL – Individualized Professional Experience |
1.5 |
Total Credits |
9 |
OVERALL TOTAL CREDITS |
39 |
SEL = Supervised Experiential Learning (SEL may contain one or more rotations with different preceptors).
MS/RDN Suggested Curriculum Path (2022 Cohort)
Pre-Fall Year 1 |
Credits |
RDN 531: Integrative Nutrition Across the Life Cycle* |
3 |
RDN 511: Nutritional Biochemistry & Physiology* |
3 |
RDN 535: Food Science & Safety* |
3 |
RDN 537: Culinary Nutrition, Functional Foods & Diet Planning* |
3 |
Total Credits |
12 |
|
|
Fall Year 1 |
Credits |
RDN 571: Medical Nutrition Therapy 1 |
3 |
RDN 661: Management in Nutrition |
3 |
RDN 612: Nutrition Communication, Education & Leadership |
3 |
SCJU 632: Social Justice Seminar: Food, Weight & Health |
1 |
RDN 712: SEL – Nutrition Communication, Education & Leadership Experience |
1 |
RDN 762: SEL – Food Service & Culinary Experience |
1 |
Total Credits |
12 |
|
|
Spring Year 1 |
Credits |
RDN 671: Medical Nutrition Therapy 2 |
3 |
RDN 614: Nutrition Counseling (Health Mentors 2) |
3 |
RDN 622: Global & Public Health Nutrition* |
3 |
SCJU 632: Social Justice Seminar: Interprofessional Perspectives |
0.5 |
RDN 761: SEL – Nutrition Management Experience |
1.5 |
RDN 771: SEL – Introduction to Nutrition Therapy Experience |
1 |
Total Credits |
12 |
|
|
Pre-Fall Year 2 |
Credits |
RDN 681: Nutrition Research |
3 |
SCJU 633: Social Justice Seminar: Systemic Barriers & Challenges |
1 |
RDN 675L: Nutrition Support (lab) |
0.5 |
RDN 714: SEL – Nutrition Counseling Experience |
1.5 |
RDN 772: SEL – Clinical Experience 1 |
3 |
Total Credits |
9 |
|
|
Fall Year 2 |
Credits |
RDN 692: Capstone Course |
1 |
RDN 665: Sustainable Nutrition Practice |
1 |
SCJU 634: Social Justice Seminar: Analysis & Advocacy (Health Mentors 3) |
1 |
RDN 773: SEL – Clinical Experience 2 |
3 |
RDN 782: SEL – Individualized Professional Experience |
1.5 |
RDN 765: SEL – Sustainable Nutrition Experience |
0.5 |
RDN 722: SEL – Public Nutrition Experience |
1 |
Total Credits |
9 |
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.
The schedule of the suggested curriculum path will follow the academic calendar and will include the summer semester. 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 who have completed an ACEND-accredited didactic program in dietetics (DPD) and earned a verification statement no more than five (5) years prior to their anticipated Jefferson matriculation date may opt to request credit for demonstrated prior learning, earning them advanced standing in the program.
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.
2021-2022 Academic Schedule
Orientation – Orientation will occur the week of August 23.
Fall Semester – Online registration for the fall semester will typically start in the beginning of April. The Fall 2021 semester will start on August 30 and end on December 17.
Spring Semester – Online registration for the spring semester will typically start in the beginning of November. The spring 2022 semester will start on January 3 and end on April 22.
Summer Semester – Online registration for the summer semester will typically start in the beginning of April. The summer 2022 semester will start on May 9 and end on July 29.
Please see the posted academic calendar for each school year for exact dates.
2021-2022 Vacations/Holidays
Vacation is defined as the time between semesters. This will include a two-week break between fall and spring semesters, a two-week break between spring and summer semesters, and a four-week break between summer and fall semesters. This time can be utilized to address a student’s remediation plan as appropriate and needed.
The MS/RDN program will not hold didactic classes on holidays recognized by the university. Students engaged in on-site supervised learning experiences will refer to their preceptor for expectations of attendance on holidays.
Labor Day (early September – 1 day)
Thanksgiving Break (late November – 1 week)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January – 1 day)
Spring Break (mid-March – 1 week)
Memorial Day (May – 1 day)
Independence Day (July – 1 day)