M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics Registered Dietitian Track Online
Prepare to become a registered dietitian (RD) to help individuals, groups and communities lead healthy lives and meet nutritional needs.
Program Overview
A quick look at our M.S. in Nutrition & Dietetics – RD
Gain advanced knowledge in this ACEND-accredited master's program in nutrition and dietetics that sets you apart in the field. You will focus on the management of nutrition support for patients in critical care, the traditional and emerging roles of health professionals as moral agents, how to be a positive leader in shaping nutrition health, education and policies at the local, state and national level, and more.
For state program approvals, please refer to our State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.
In the online nutrition and dietetics program, you will:
- Become eligible to sit for the registration examination for dietitians
- Conduct research in the field of nutrition
- Address food and nutrition-related challenges for diverse populations
- Comprehend the ethical issues facing nutrition professionals
- Become eligible to sit for the registration examination for dietitians
- Conduct research in the field of nutrition
- Address food and nutrition-related challenges for diverse populations
- Comprehend the ethical issues facing nutrition professionals
Prepare for dietitian careers like these:
- Registered Dietitian
- Food Nutrition Services Director
- Public Health Nutrition Services
- Nutrition Research
- Registered Dietitian
- Food Nutrition Services Director
- Public Health Nutrition Services
- Nutrition Research
Also available:
A-State offers a variety of nutrition and dietetics programs in a convenient online format. Explore our Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics Non-RD Track and Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics online programs.
Accreditation
The Coordinated Program in Dietetics (RD Track) at Arkansas State University is accredited through the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040 ext. 5400. eatrightpro.org/ACEND.
Tuition
Our low tuition helps keep your degree within reach
The online registered dietitian master’s program offers the same low, pay-by-the-course tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Follow these dates to apply, enroll and start classes
Our M.S. in Nutrition & Dietetics – RD is a flexible online program featuring accelerated coursework and multiple start dates per year.
The RD track of the Nutrition & Dietetics program is a cohort-based program and has starts in Fall 1 and Summer 1 only. The other starts included are for pre-requisite requirements that must be completed prior to acceptance in the Nutrition & Dietetics – RD cohort.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 1 | 5/26/26 | 4/21/26 | 4/21/26 | 5/5/26 | 5/22/26 | 6/26/26 |
| Fall 1 | 8/19/26 | 7/15/26 | 7/15/26 | 7/29/26 | 8/14/26 | 10/2/26 |
Now enrolling:
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Admissions
Get ready to apply to A-state’s online Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics Registered Dietitian Track
Arkansas State University has a streamlined admission process that makes it easy for you to enroll in the online graduate program in nutrition and dietetics. Enrollment specialists are available to walk you through the admission process, so you will be able to complete your application quickly.
Admission Requirements:
- Online application
- Bachelor's degree
- 3.0 cumulative GPA
Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics Registered Dietitian Track Admissions Guidelines
To be considered for admission into the M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics Registered Dietitian Track online program, you must meet the following criteria:
- Any bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 score across all courses taken
- Official transcript(s) sent from the registrar of the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution.
- Completion of the additional requirements below:
- Transcripts that reflect the following courses: lifecycle nutrition, nutritional biochemistry, nutrition assessment, food science, nutrition counseling, community nutrition, medical nutrition therapy and applied statistics Note: If these undergraduate foundation courses are not reflected on your transcript(s), you will be required to take them prior to enrolling in the M.S. Nutrition and Dietetics program. These courses are offered through A-State Online.
- You may qualify for early admission if you have completed a bachelor’s degree, finished all the prerequisites with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 across all courses taken.
Application Submission Requirements
Submitting your application takes three easy steps: filling out the application, submitting your documents and paying the application fee.
- When completing the online application, select 100% online student and then complete all the steps on the online application.
- Pay $30.00 non-refundable application fee.
- Submit all official college transcripts.
- The following additional documents are required for admission:
- Current resume
- Two letters of recommendation/rating forms, which should be from former supervisors, faculty or preceptors
While not needed to render an admissions decision, the following items will be required prior to registering for your first course*:
- Preceptor contacts for supervised practice
- ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification
- CPR Certification
- Satisfactory background check
- Documentation of TB skin test, MMR, Flu shot, Tetanus and Hepatitis B
- Liability, auto and medical insurance
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics membership
- Acknowledgement of Student Handbook and Honor Code forms
- Acknowledgement of remediation policy
If you have any questions along the way, call us at 866-621-8096, and we'll be happy to help answer questions.
*Document submission may require a one-time fee of $100.
Document Submission Address
Submit all documents to:
A-State OnlineP.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467
Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]
For non-US postal mail overnight delivery only:
A-State Onlinec/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Additional Information About Transfer Credits
Up to 9 graduate hours from A-State or other higher education institutions may be credited toward a program. No course can be older than six years by graduation time. Transfer credit will be evaluated by the Director of the Program. To request prior credit be evaluated, please complete the Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form.
Transfer work will be entered on the student’s permanent academic record when an official transcript is presented to the University from a regionally accredited institution. Any transfer work received from a non-accredited institution is evaluated and considered on a case by case basis in the Office of the Registrar in conjunction with Academic Affairs and the Office of International Programs (as applicable). Please note that Sophia Learning and Straighterline have previously been reviewed and are NOT accepted as transfer work.
Courses
What you will study in our innovative online registered dietitian master’s program
To earn your M.S. in Nutrition & Dietetics – RD online, you need to complete 53 credit hours of coursework. The program includes 12 credit hours of core courses, 15 credit hours of major requirements, 9 credit hours of support courses and 17 hours of practicum courses.
Please note Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms are 5 weeks in duration for this program.
Students pursuing the Registered Dietitian track must have completed the following undergraduate courses:
- Community Nutrition
- Lifecycle Nutrition
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Nutrition Assessment
- Food Science
- Nutrition Counseling
- Medical Nutrition Therapy
- Applied Statistics (Junior level or higher)
Please note that additional courses may be required if you have not yet taken the pre-requisite courses for the foundation courses.
You can view your schedule of courses for this degree through the Course Smartsheet:
View the AOS Course Smartsheet
How to Use the Course Smartsheet
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