Graduate Programs in Nutrition & Dietetics
As one of only a few faith-based graduate programs in nutrition in the nation, Ouachita will prepare you for meaningful work as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) through its Master of Science in Nutrition degree and Dietetic Internship (MS/DI). Whether practicing in a clinic, in foodservice or in community nutrition, you will be equipped as a lifelong learner and effective leader in your profession and local community.
With a national shortage of dietitians – and expected growth rate of 11% for the profession
in the next 10 years – you can find a career meeting needs by improving the health
of people of all ages. And as a member of Ouachita’s tight-knit Department of Nutrition
and Dietetics, you’ll do it with a community of supportive faculty members and fellow
students alongside you. Whether you begin your nutrition journey at Ouachita at the
graduate or undergraduate level, you’ll find a place to grow not only in your professional
expertise but also in your faith and passion for serving others.
This 36-hour program can be completed in 15 months. All courses after the DI are fully online. Graduates of Ouachita's DPD program have priority access to the MS/DI program.
Courses included in the MS/DI are DIET 5003, 5043, 6013, 6023, 6033, 6053, 6063, 6073, 6083, 6093, 6103 and 6113.
Students who have completed an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship program and passed the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Exam in the last five years may receive up to 18 hours of graduate credit toward the 36 required hours (subject to approval by program director, must provide current CDR ID card).
The Dietetic Internship has a 100% RD Exam pass rate!
Ouachita Baptist University has been granted candidacy for accreditation of a Dietetic Internship by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the accrediting agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Resources from the Academy can be found at www.eatright.org/acend. // Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics | 120 South Riverside Plaza Suite 2190 Chicago, IL 60606-6995 | 800/877-1600 ext. 5400
Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration will require a minimum of a master's degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice.
Health Educator and Community Health Worker
Agricultural and Food Scientist
Sports Nutritionist/Wellness Coach
Eating Disorders Counselor
Pharmaceutical Sales
Pediatric Dietitian
Media Spokesperson
And more
Advanced Community Nutrition
Nutrition Counseling
Supervised Practice I and II
Sports Nutrition
Pediatric Nutrition
Diabetes, Obesity and Weight Management
Eating Disorders
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A baccalaureate degree in nutrition or a related field is required, as well as a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited Nutrition and Dietetics Didactic Program (DPD) or Foreign Dietitian Education Program (FDE) obtained from the DPD director within the last five years. See additional admission requirements below.
- See more about Ouachita’s DPD program.
Ouachita offers a Master of Science in Nutrition degree and Dietetic Internship (MS/DI) to prepare students for work as registered dietitian nutritionists. The MS/DI can be completed in 15 months. All but the supervised practice section of the program, which is completed in 32 weeks, is fully online.
Learn more about Ouachita:
- Department of Nutrition & Dietetics
- Patterson School of Natural Sciences
- Graduate and Professional Studies
- Graduate and Professional Studies financial aid and cost information
- Graduate Course Catalog
Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration will require a minimum of a master's degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).
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of only a few Faith-based DI Programs Nationwide
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Internship Sites
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RD Exam Pass Rate (Dept. of Nutrition & Dietetics)
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Students in each MS/DI Cohort
In their words
hear from a faculty member & student
"There is a great need for Registered Dietitians in Arkansas and the nation. Ouachita is taking this opportunity to make a difference in our state and offer a Master of Science in Nutrition degree and Dietetic Internship (MS/DI) for up-and-coming dietitians."
Holly Kyzer, MS, RD, LD
Assistant Professor and Director of Dietetic Internship Program
LIMITLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH
Ouachita's dietetic interns benefit from 1,000+ hours of supervised practice, choosing from more than 50 internship sites located throughout Arkansas. You might be placed with the Arkansas Department of Health, Baptist Health or CHI St. Vincent facilities, Arkansas Children’s Hospital or DaVita Dialysis, among others. With such extensive and varied internship experiences, you will have daily opportunities to be challenged, learn and explore.
GRADUATE-LEVEL COURSEWORK YOU WILL ENJOY
From classes in Sports Nutrition and Pediatric Nutrition to Eating Disorders and Diabetes, Obesity and Weight Management, what classes won’t you enjoy studying? At Ouachita, we believe in academic excellence, and you can expect to be challenged. At the same time, our MS/DI will allow you to explore the range of opportunities within the field – and especially to pursue those that you are most passionate about.
ON THE FENCE? YOU SHOULD MEET OUR FACULTY
In Ouachita’s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, you will find humble, personable professors who have significant professional experience in the field of nutrition and also possess academic expertise within the discipline. In our tight-knit department, you can expect to be known as more than a number and receive personal feedback and encouragement in your training and beyond as your career develops.
FROM FRESHMAN TO MASTER IN FIVE YEARS
Students who enter Ouachita’s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics in their freshman year of undergraduate study are now able to go straight through and earn an MSN in just five years! The transition from undergraduate to Dietetic Internship to MSN can be seamlessly navigated as caring professors guide students toward lives of meaningful work. The Dietetic Internship offers hands-on experience in clinical, community and administrative settings, effectively preparing students ultimately to become competent Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. In addition, students who select the five-year option gain priority access to the MS/DI program. Students who complete Ouachita’s programs also will be fully equipped for the Registered Dietitian examination; in fact, the department currently boasts a 100% pass rate!
program details
Ouachita Baptist University has been granted candidacy for accreditation of a Dietetic Internship by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the accrediting agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Resources from the Academy can be found at www.eatright.org/acend.
Ouachita’s Dietetic Internship participates in the Dietetic Internship Match.
The Dietetic Internship Match is a computer-based method which provides an orderly and fair way to match the preferences of applicants for Dietetic Internships (DIs) with the preferences of DI Program Directors. The Academy contracts with a company called D&D Digital to operate the DI Match and help applicants obtain an Internship (supervised practice position).
If you have completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree at a US regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited by ACEND, you are eligible to participate in the Dietetic Internship Match:
- Complete an application for the internship through the Dietetic Internship Central Application Service. There is no limit on the number of DI programs that students can apply to through DICAS. However, each program must be prioritized during the next stage of the process. If the DI Program you are interested in does not appear in the DICAS, check the DI program’s website for directions on how to apply or contact the DI Director.
- Register for the DI match through D&D Digital. This step allows you to create, edit and verify the priorities for your choices of internships. Some programs do not participate in the match. This is because they only accept applications from students who are employed by that sponsoring institution.
Through the DICAS, program directors can access applications from interested applicants; however, they cannot see the information about the priorities of the choices. The programs only see the application from applicants who applied to their programs. The program director and other staff from each Dietetic Internship program screen applications and submit rankings for acceptable applicants, as well as indicating their maximum class size.
If you have questions about the centralized application, please contact DICAS customer support at 617-612-2855 or dicasinfo@dicas.org.
If you need assistance with computer matching, please contact D&D Digital customer support at 515-292-0490 or dnd@sigler.com.
Estimated total tuition and fees for 18-hour Dietetic Internship program: $13,895
Estimated total tuition and fees for 36-hour Master of Science in Nutrition program: $27,625 (includes dietetic internship hours)
For a detailed breakdown of estimated costs, view the Graduate and Professional Studies Financial Aid and Cost Information page. Additional scholarship information can be found through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation.
Ouachita General Graduate Admissions Requirements:
- Conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution
- 2.5 minimum GPA on a 4.0 scale (individual programs will delineate more specifics)
- Completed application, which includes a statement of purpose
- Three references
- Minimum English proficiency requirements for international students are as follows:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):
At least 79 on the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT)
At least 550 on the paper-based TOEFL - International English Language Testing System (IELTS):
At least a 6.5 on the IELTS exam
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):
- Baccalaureate degree in nutrition or a related field from an accredited university
- Verification Statement from an ACEND-accredited Nutrition and Dietetics Didactic Program (DPD) or Foreign Dietitian Education program (FDE) obtained from the DPD director within the last five years. If the verification statement is greater than five years old, the student will be required to take a minimum of three hours of course credit in Clinical Dietetics and three hours of course credit in Administrative Dietetics.
- Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of ≥ 2.7 on a 4.0 scale
- Minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale of all nutrition and dietetic courses
- Minimum of ≥ 2.5 on a 4.0 scale in all science courses
- Achieved a minimum 3.00 GPA on any graduate course work previously taken at another accredited institution.
- Three letters of recommendation discussing the individual's potential for success in graduate study
- Additionally, MSN applicants must:
- Pass the registration exam
- Complete an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship
If you’re interested in applying to a Ouachita graduate program but are not a U.S. citizen, contact your graduate admissions counselor, Angie Schleiff, at schleiffa@obu.edu before submitting an application. Due to visa requirements, admission requests from non-U.S. citizens are addressed on a case-by-case basis and take extra time. Please inquire early in the process.
Minimum English proficiency requirements for international students are:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):
- At least a 79 on the internet-Based TOEFL (iBT)
- At least a 550 on the paper-based TOEFL
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS):
- At least a 6.5 on the IELTS exam
Dietetic Internship
The Dietetic Internship begins mid-August and concludes with graduation in mid-May the following year. Supervised practicums are 35-hour weeks. The length of the dietetic internship is two semesters, 16 weeks each.
Master of Science in Nutrition
MSN classes will begin in May 2022, with 18 hours offered across three terms (May, Summer, Fall).
Holidays: Students in the DI and MSN are entitled to the following holidays, most to be observed on the actual day in which the holiday falls: Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break and Spring Break.
Course Descriptions and additional information: Ouachita Graduate Catalog
INTERN MEMBERSHIP IN THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
Interns enrolled in an ACEND-accredited nutrition and dietetics education program may join the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as student members. Dues are $58 per year (June-May), and an online application is available at https://www.eatrightpro.org/membership/membership-types-and-criteria/student-member.
Benefits of student membership in the Academy include networking with other nutrition
and dietetics interns and professionals, leadership opportunities, free membership
in the state dietetic association, online access to the Journal of the Academy of
Nutrition and Dietetics and other publications, and reduced rates at professional
meetings and conferences.
OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY STUDENT DIETETICS ASSOCIATION
The Ouachita Baptist University Student Dietetics Association is open to any intern in nutrition and dietetics. Interns may join at any time during the academic year by attending one of the scheduled meetings, or by contacting an officer or sponsor.
The Student Dietetics Association meets monthly. Meetings may include guest speakers of professional interest, planning or participating in campus or community service projects, etc.
GRADUATE & PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Ouachita Baptist University's Graduate and Professional Studies programs cater to individuals committed to lifelong learning or seeking career advancement. The programs employ innovative modalities in diverse fields, ensuring that students find success professionally and spiritually. Emphasizing a sense of community, Ouachita cultivates meaningful relationships among students and professors for a supportive and enriching educational experience.
GET IN TOUCH
Have a question about Ouachita? Want more information? Shoot our Graduate and Professional Studies team a message!