Master of Science in Nutrition with Didactic Program in Dietetics

The purpose of the Master of Science in Nutrition with Didactic Program in Dietetics (MSN-DPD) is to train students who are primarily interested in becoming registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). The program’s mission is to prepare graduate students for supervised practice leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become RDNs who will be agents of change in bringing the perspective of whole foods, environmental awareness of food choices, and integrative medicine into their dietetic and nutrition-related practices.

The MSN-DPD program at Bastyr University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The knowledge requirements outlined by ACEND are over and above the requirements for a master’s in nutrition as outlined by the University and prepare dietetic students to be eligible to apply for a supervised practice program accredited by ACEND, and subsequently, to be eligible to sit for the registration examination for dietitians. 

Students enrolled in the DPD program will apply for their supervised practice (dietetic internship) in their second year and will complete their dietetic internship after graduation. We average a 95 percent placement rate in internship match and our students are routinely placed in competitive sites including Bastyr University, Yale, John’s Hopkins, Brigham and Women’s, and Cleveland Clinic, among many others. Please note that the MSN-DPD is not a coordinated program.

In addition to the MSN-DPD, Bastyr University offers a dietetic internship program. The internship accepts a total of 12 students each year, with up to six spaces reserved for Bastyr MSN-DPD students in a pre-select admissions process. Learn more about our dietetic internship program.

Expected Program Outcomes

The MSN-DPD program curriculum is designed to meet all Core Knowledge Requirements for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (KRDNs) as required by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), and prepares students for success in dietetic internships/supervised practice programs.  

Admissions

For general information on the admissions process, refer to the Admissions section in this catalog. Information below refers only to the MSN-DPD program.  

Prerequisites

Entering students must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university and a minimum GPA of 3.0, or a 3.0 in the last 45 credits in their undergraduate degree, or a B or better in Human Physiology, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, and a C or better in all other prerequisite courses. Exceptional candidates who do not meet these standards will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Human Physiology or a combined Human Anatomy and Physiology course	1 course
Organic Chemistry*	1 course
Biochemistry*	1 course
Introductory Nutrition	1 course
General Psychology	1 course
College Algebra or Statistics	1 course
Microbiology	1 course

^*Must be science major level and not survey level with at least one lab in any science class.

Note: Biochemistry course must have been taken within seven years of program start.   

Admissions to Clinical Training

In order to enroll in the Clinic Nutrition Practicums (TR6811 and TR6812), students must have successfully completed all prerequisites based on the clinic track outline below and must have met the criteria for behavior and attitudes as outlined in the Nutrition Student Clinician Handbook. Students are also required to pass a national criminal background check (see Felony Disclosure and Background Checks in the Academic Policy and Procedure Manual for more information) and must show proof of completion of the clinic entry checklist prior to the first scheduled clinic shift.

Graduation Requirements

MSN-DPD students must complete a minimum of 78 credits. All MSN-DPD students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA with a minimum of 64 credits in residence. MSN-DPD students must complete their degree within five years following matriculation into the program. MSN-DPD students are recommended to meet with the DPD director for academic advising each quarter prior to registration to discuss academic progress. A minimum of 150 hours of approved paid and/or volunteer nutrition-related work is required to graduate from the MSN-DPD. The following is a breakdown of those hours: 

• Minimum of 50 hours clinical nutrition (in-patient, ambulatory care, and/or long-term care direct patient contact)

• Minimum of 50 hours food service management

• Minimum of 50 hours community nutrition

Leadership in the area of dietetics by participating in the Bastyr University Student Nutrition Association (SNA) is strongly encouraged, and becoming a student member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is required.

Once coursework for the MSN-DPD and the 150 volunteer and/or paid required hours are completed, signed and verified by the DPD director, the student is eligible to sit for the DPD exit exam. A pass rate of at least 75 percent on the DPD exit exam and completion of all learning-outcome, self-tracking questionnaires are required to receive the verification statement that will enable the student to be eligible to complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program. Completion of the DPD program does not guarantee acceptance into a supervised practice program. All other policies and procedures related to the MSN-DPD program are located on MyBU under the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Science. 

Accreditation

The Master of Science in Nutrition with Didactic Program in Dietetics (MSN/DPD) at Bastyr University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (800) 877-1600, ext. 5400, email: acend@eatright.org website: www.eatright.org/acend.  ACEND a specialized accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Program outcomes data are available upon request from the program director.