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

Students With a Nutrition/Dietetics Background

Procedures for Evaluating Prior Learning to Determine Advanced Standing

The MS in Nutrition & Dietetic Practice/RDN program is designed for individuals seeking careers as credentialed nutrition experts. An educational background in nutrition and dietetics is not required. However, students who have an academic background in nutrition and dietetics may opt to request credit for demonstrated prior learning, earning them advanced standing in the program.

The purpose of this option is to minimize repetition of learning activities for knowledge and skills already attained in foundational coursework, while ensuring students are well prepared to begin more advanced didactic and SEL courses. Through this method, Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) graduates and other students with a nutrition background can complete the MS/RDN program on a shortened timeline, potentially decreasing their required coursework by up to 15 credits (one full semester for full-time students and two semesters for part-time students).

The foundational courses that students may not be required to complete at Jefferson if they are able to demonstrate relevant prior learning include: Nutritional Biochemistry & Physiology; Integrative Nutrition Across the Life Cycle; Food Service & Safety; Culinary Nutrition, Food Science & Diet Planning; and Public Health Nutrition.

DPD graduates will automatically qualify for advanced standing if they’ve earned a C+ or better in relevant courses.

Other students with an academic background in nutrition may contact the Program Director with interest in a prior learning evaluation. This process can be completed before or after applying to the program. The Program Director will need access to a copy of students’ transcripts; course syllabi documenting relevant learning objectives and activities may also be required.

The Program Director will review the information provided to determine whether the student meets the eligibility requirements for advanced standing. If offered a position in the program, the student will receive a decision regarding advanced standing with the acceptance letter.

The Program Director reserves the right to require completion of one or more of the bypassed foundational courses as part of a remediation plan, if needed, for any student enrolled in the program.

Transferring Credits

Bypassing Courses vs. Transfer of Credits

Students who bypass foundational prerequisite courses as a result of our Prior Learning Process are not receiving Jefferson academic credits for prior learning or transferring credit from other institutions.

Students accepted into the Jefferson MS/RDN program may only transfer graduate credits from other institutions in cases where the graduate courses are deemed equivalent in scope and content to Jefferson MS/RDN courses. In those cases, students must receive approval from the Program Director to transfer those credits based on a review of transcripts, syllabi, and an evaluation of prior learning (as described above). The maximum number of allowable transfer credits is nine (9). Credits to be transferred must be completed prior to matriculation into the MS/RDN program.

Procedures for Evaluating Prior Professional Experience

Prior professional experience is an avenue by which a student may document demonstration of competencies through expereince in a professional position with responsiblities that fulfill program competencies typically demonstrated through SEL rotation projects. Examples of potentially applicable positions include dietary manager, dietetic technician, WIC aide, or certified professional chef.

When applicable, students will identify the SEL courses for which they believe they are eligible for prior professional experience evaluation as well as the semester during which they are scheduled to complete those courses.

Students will contact the Program Director with interest in a prior professional experience evaluation and be provided with a prior professional experience portfolio template, to be completed by the student and submitted to the Program Coordinator at least six (6) weeks prior to the start of the semester they are scheduled to complete the relevant SEL course.

The prior professional experience portfolio should thoroughly describe and document knowledge and skills gained through professional experience and should specifically demonstrate completion of ACEND Future Model Graduate Program (FG) Competencies. The prior professional experience portfolio submission should include all the following:

  • Completed Prior Professional Experience Portfolio Competency Alignment Document (the Program Coordinator will provide the student with this document)
  • Supporting documentation to demonstrate that listed competencies were achieved
    • Examples include completed projects (such as lesson plans, budget reports, copies of developed employee scheduling, menus) and performance evaluations
  • Completed evaluation forms and/or a letter from the student’s immediate supervisor(s) corroborating work experience and assessing level of competence
    • In situations where students require documentation from a former employer/supervisor, it is the student’s responsibility to maintain communication with the professional(s) appropriate for corroborating the work experience

The Program Coordinator will review the portfolio to determine which SEL rotations and/or projects, if any, will be waived due to prior professional experience, or how to modify existing projects to enhance learning beyond the student’s previous related professional experiences.

If the Program Coordinator determines that only specific rotation projects will be waived, students will use the hours in the SEL experience to complete richer, more sophisticated projects/opportunities for competency completion and the amount of time required of the student to complete the relevant rotations may additionally be decreased. In this scenario, students do not earn credits for prior professional experience, nor will any SEL courses be waived. Tuition and fees are not adjusted. Rather, appropriate prior professional experience will reduce the number of competencies that students must demonstrate to earn credit for relevant SEL courses.

In cases of more extensive prior professional experience, a student may be able to waive one or more rotations in their entirety, in which case their curriculum plan (along with associated tuition and fees) will be adjusted.

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