Family and Consumer Science, MS, Nutritional Sciences Concentration

The Nutritional Sciences (NS) Concentration of the Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences prepares students with advanced training in nutritional sciences, education and research. All nutritional science courses are offered online. There are 4 tracks available based on background level of nutrition experience: NS, NS-RD, DIP-NS continuing and NS-DIP.

The NS track is for general students. The NS-RD track is for students who are registered dietitians/nutritionists or dietetic interns at other institutions; this track grants 6 graduate credits for the completed dietetic internship. The DIP-NS Continuing track is for NCCU dietetic interns who have earned 15 graduate credits as part of the dietetic internship and choose to continue into the master’s degree program. The DIP-NS Continuing track will be discontinued in 2024. The NS-DIP track is a dual program in which students complete courses for the master’s degree and then enter the dietetic internship program. Students must have a DPD verification statement.

I. Admission Requirements

For unconditional admittance, the prospective student needs to have an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, preferably in a major of nutritional sciences or related field. Students with a cumulative GPA lower than 3.0 or those who majored in another area may be considered for conditional admittance. 

Students must have a minimum of two letters of recommendation, preferably from current or former faculty who can evaluate the student’s ability to handle graduate work. Students must also submit a personal statement that discusses in detail why the individual wants to pursue an MS degree in Nutritional Sciences. Work and volunteer experience in the field is also evaluated. The department uses a rubric for evaluating each applicant and scores points for overall GPA, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and work, volunteer, or internship experience.

II. Program Requirements

NS Track

Professional Core - 9 hours
NSCG 5600 – Advanced Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5610 – Nutrition Therapy and Disease States (3)
NSCG 5910 – Nutrition through Life Cycle (3)

Research Core – 6 hours
NSCG 5800 - Research in Foods and Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5420 - Biostatistics (3)

Nutrition Elective Courses - 9 hours (selected from the following courses)
NSCG 5630 - Sports Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5640 - Public Health Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5720 - Advances in Nutrition Education (3)
NSCG 5740 - Pediatric Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5820 – Gerontological Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5840 – Weight Management, Obesity and Diabetes (3)              

Elective - 6 hours
Any Counseling, Human Development, or Nutrition elective

Internship or Thesis - 3 hours
NSCG 5850 - Internship (3) or NCSG 5900 – Thesis (3)

Total Credit Hours in NS Track - 33 hours

NS-RD Track

Professional Core - 9 hours
NSCG 5600 – Advanced Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5610 – Nutrition Therapy and Disease States (3)
NSCG 5910 – Nutrition through Life Cycle (3)            

Research Core – 6 hours
NSCG 5800 - Research in Foods and Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5420 - Biostatistics (3)

Nutrition Elective Courses - 9 hours (selected from the following courses)
NSCG 5630 - Sports Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5640 - Public Health Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5720 - Advances in Nutrition Education (3)
NSCG 5740 - Pediatric Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5820 – Gerontological Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5840 – Weight Management, Obesity and Diabetes (3)

Elective - 3 hours
Any Counseling, Human Development, or Nutrition elective

Internship
Internship requirements are fulfilled by a prior ACEND-accredited dietetic internship, and 6 credits are granted towards the degree program.

Total Credit Hours in NS-RD Track - 27 additional hours

(27 hours + 6 transfer internship hours = 33 hours)

III. Exit Requirements (NS and NS-RD tracks)

1. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher is required.
2. Successful completion of at least 33 credit hours for either the Thesis or Non-Thesis (Internship) option is required.
3. Successful completion of a written comprehensive examination is required, with an 80% minimum score.
4. Successful completion of a three-credit internship program project or thesis, including passing an oral exam, is required. The NS-RD track completes this requirement through the dietetic internship and RD exam.

I. Admissions Requirements

Students in the DIP-NS continuing track must have first applied to the Dietetic Internship Program through DICAS and D&D Digital and completed the DIP requirements. Students can then apply for the DIP-NS continuing track through the graduate school.

Students interested in applying for the DI program should go to the Dietetic Internship Program website. The NS-DIP track does not require DICAS and D&D Digital participation. Students apply in the Fall to the graduate school by the deadline posted. Applicants to the NS-DIP must meet the following requirements:

• Meet DIP admission requirements as well as graduate school admission requirements.
• Submit a graduate school application online with associated application fees after reviewing the following: https://www.nccu.edu/admissions/graduate-school-admissions
• Submit a Supplement DI program application and processing fee of $50. Required materials and the deadline are posted on the NCCU DIP website.
• Submit an official transcript with a Bachelor of Science degree showing the day, month, and year of graduation.
• Submit a verification statement (VS) from an approved undergraduate program bearing an original signature of the program director or declaration of intent to graduate from an ACEND-approved program. Students without a VS must take approved prerequisite courses to earn a B.S. verification statement. NCCU does not accept a VS older than 4 years.
• GPA requirement: minimum cumulative grade point average, professional Didactic program in Dietetics (DPD) grade point average, and biological, natural and physical sciences grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00-point scale.
• Submit work experience, academic honors, volunteer activities, and community service.
• Perform personal face-to-face, telephone, or WebEx interview.
• Applications will be evaluated using the Rating Scale for Evaluation of Applicants for admission into the NS-DIP track.
• A program deposit fee of $500 is required when the student is admitted into the program. Checks should be made payable to NCCU-DIP.

The supplemental application and fee in one package can be addressed to :

Kimberly Powell, PhD, RD, LDN
Director, Dietetic Internship Program
North Carolina Central University
P.O. Box 19615
Durham, NC 27707

II. Program Requirements

DIP Program Requirements – 15 hours
NSCG 5910 – Nutrition through the Life Cycle (3)
NSCG 5920 – Special Problems in Dietetics (3)
NSCG 5930 – Applied Medical Nutrition Therapy (3)
NSCG 6000 – Dietetic Internship (6)

Graduate Program Requirements

Professional Core - 3 hours
NSCG 5600 – Advanced Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5610 – Nutrition Therapy and Disease States (3)

Research Core – 6 hours
NSCG 5800 - Research in Foods and Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5420 - Biostatistics (3)

Nutrition Elective Courses - 3 hours (selected from the following courses)
NCSG 5630 - Sports Nutrition (3)
NCSG 5640 - Public Health Nutrition (3)
NCSG 5720 - Advances in Nutrition Education (3)
NCSG 5740 - Pediatric Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5820 – Gerontological Nutrition (3)
NSCG 5840 – Weight Management, Obesity and Diabetes (3)

Electives - 3 hours
Any graduate-level Counseling, Human Development, or Nutrition elective

Total Credit Hours in the NS-DIP or DIP-NS Continuing Track - 33 hours

III. Exit Requirements

1. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher is required.
2. Success completion of 33 credits through 18 credits of graduate program requirements and 15 credits of dietetic internship program requirements is required.
3. Successful completion of 15 hours of community service and attendance at required professional meetings is required.
4. Successful completion of 6 credit hours of supervised internship practice is required.
5. A performance survey completed by a site preceptor must show evidence of performing as an entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) in all rotations.
6. Successful completion of an RDN comprehensive examination is required, with an 85% minimum score.
7. The student must have met all RDN eligibility requirement evidence by VS.

The Future Education Model Graduate (FG) program is an accredited program in which students will complete a master’s degree and supervised experiential learning (SEL) in professional settings to be eligible for the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s credentialing examining for dietitian nutritionists.

A DPD verification statement is not required, but all students must have completed the prerequisite coursework. A student with a DPD verification statement will meet all prerequisite courses. The FG program integrates didactic coursework with supervised experiential learning in a competency-based curriculum designed to prepare nutrition and dietetics practitioners for future practice. The FG program at NCCU is four semesters, with year 1 courses through distance education.

NCCU coordinates student’s SEL in professional settings with sites throughout North Carolina and the vicinity, with the majority in the Triangle area. It may be possible to acquire a site in your local area for year 1 community SEL, but year 2 SEL sites will be in North Carolina. An accelerated option is available for qualified students who already have a master’s degree.

After acceptance into the program, students can request an assessment of prior learning to be waived from a course or SEL. Students who have a master’s degree and are approved to waive a course (or courses) can complete the program at a reduced credit load (15 credit minimum) and earn a graduate certificate. Please contact the program director for more information. NCCU has excellent outcomes in RDN exam pass rate and job placement. Outcome data is available by request.

Future Education Model