Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
1 Hairpin Dr, Edwardsville, IL 62026, United States

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is a public university in Edwardsville, Illinois. Located within the Metro East of Greater St. Louis, SIUE was established in 1957 as an extension of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. It is the younger of the two major institutions of Southern Illinois University system. SIUE has eight constituent undergraduate and graduate colleges, including those in arts and sciences, business, dentistry, education, engineering, graduate study, nursing, and pharmacy, in addition to the East St. Louis Center.

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Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics

Overview

The Master of Science in nutrition and dietetics coordinated program is designed for students who wish to earn a master's degree while gaining eligibility to become a registered dietitian and pursue careers as entry-level dietitians. 

This program combines graduate-level coursework in nutrition with the clinical curriculum and supervised practice that allows graduates to sit for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics examination for registered dietitians. This program is also ideal for students who have earned a Bachelor of Science in another field but are now interested in becoming a registered dietitian or those who graduated with a bachelor’s in nutrition and were not matched for a dietetic internship.

What can I do with a degree in nutrition and dietetics?

Students graduating with a master's degree and passing the RD exam can pursue careers in: 

  • Clinical dietetics
  • Community and public health
  • Consulting
  • Private practice
  • Food and nutrition business industry
  • Food service
  • Food management 
  • Research and education
  • Sports and wellness nutrition
  • Corporate wellness

The program is carefully designed to provide both the didactic coursework as well as a minimum 1,000 hours of supervised practice experience in clinical, community, food service management and sports nutrition. 

Upon program completion, graduates are eligible to take the registration examination for dietitians offered through the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR). Successful completion of the RD exam is a prerequisite for licensure or certification in most states.

For more information, please refer to the following websites:

Effective January 1, 2024, a graduate degree will be required to sit for the registered dietitian nutritionist credentialing exam. Please see additional information on the CDR website.

Accreditation

The Coordinated Program in Nutrition and Dietetics at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is accredited by The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND(R) ), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312/899-0040 ext 5400. More information about accreditation can be found at the ACEND website.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) 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. Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Coordinated Program in Dietetics at SIUE and acquire a master’s degree will be able to take the CDR credentialing exam.

Mission, Goals and Objectives

Program Mission

  • To provide candidates with knowledge and supervised practice experience which will enable them to successfully pass the registration exam for dietitians
  • To prepare competent entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists for careers in a variety of healthcare settings, including sports nutrition, clinical, community, research, business and food service, who will work towards improving the health of society through optimal nutrition practices
  • To produce graduates with critical thinking and problem solving skills, who stay abreast of knowledge to provide effective evidence-based nutrition care and theory-based nutrition education

Goal 1: Prepare graduates for successful completion of the Commission on Dietetic Registration credentialing exam for dietitians.

  • Objective 1: At least 80% of program students will complete program/degree requirements within three years (150% of the program length).
  • Objective 2: 80% of program graduates will take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
  • Objective 3: The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
  • Objective 4: At least 80% of program graduates will indicate they strongly agree or agree they felt adequately prepared for the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists.

Goal 2: Prepare competent entry-level practitioners to provide evidence-based nutrition services to individuals and groups in a variety of practice settings.

  • Objective 1: Students will maintain a grade of C or better in all dietetics and support courses.
  • Objective 2: Students will maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
  • Objective 3: Of graduates who seek employment, 80% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
  • Objective 4: Over a five-year period, 80% of preceptor respondents will rank the quality of students from SIUE as above average.
  • Objective 5: Over a five-year period, 80% of graduates will be considered “well prepared” for employment, and provide evidence-based care and/or education in nutrition and dietetics or related fields.
  • Objective 6: Over a five-year period, alumni respondents working in dietetics or related fields will collectively identify three different practice areas as primary job settings.

Information regarding program outcomes, including graduation rates and achievement on registration exams is available upon request.

Professional Credential Disclosure

This program is intended to prepare students for licensure/certification meeting educational requirements established by regulatory boards in the state of Illinois. Licensure/certification requirements can vary by state. If you intend to practice or teach inside or outside the state of Illinois, please visit our professional licensure webpage.

Estimated Costs

Tuition costs are approximately $350 per credit hour and student fees are approximately $108.40 per credit hour. Textbook costs are included in student fees. In addition, students in the nutrition and dietetics program can expect to incur the following expenses:

  • Lab coat and/or uniforms for supervised practice experiences ($30)
  • Background checks (about $90 per check)
  • Drug screening with compliance tracker (about $60)
  • Immunizations as deemed essential by practicum sites ($5-15 each or $30-90 for a series)
  • Practicum and supervised practice courses include a course-specific fee ($30 per class)
  • Transportation costs for field trips/field based experiences (varies by location)
  • Students are required to join the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as a student member. The student fee is $58 per year.
  • Housing expenses vary. Off-campus shared housing costs $400-500/month. Most on-campus housing options range from $500-1,000/month depending on location and shared or private bedroom.

Additional information regarding program costs can be found in the Program Guide and Policies and Procedures Manual. Please check with the Office of Financial Aid for more information about scholarships and financial aid.

https://www.siue.edu/academics/graduate/degrees-and-programs/nutrition-dietetics/ 

Graduate Applicants

Graduate student applicants who hold or require a non-immigrant student visa will be reviewed for appropriate academic requirements, English language proficiency, and adequate financial resources. Admission to the SIUE Graduate School requires that an applicant hold an undergraduate degree that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Eligibility for GRE/GMAT waivers are listed below. To apply to waive the GRE/GMAT requirement, applicants must contact the program director at CMISTestWaiverRequest@siue.edu to request the waiver. The decision to grant the GMAT/GRE waiver rests with the program director and School of Business MIS admissions committee and is not guaranteed by meeting one or more below criteria. 

  • Applicants should have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 (4.0 scale) in undergraduate coursework.

Application Materials

Once Approved for Admission:

All necessary documents can be uploaded via your application center. Only documents required for admission can be uploaded via your application center for review purposes. Do not mail materials to the department or program to which you are applying. Any additional supporting documents can be emailed to siueapps@siue.edu and will be added to your application.

Please note: If approved for admission by the academic department, you must submit official transcripts and test scores to our office before we can formally admit you and before we can issue an I-20 document to obtain a U.S. visa.

Please make sure your application is complete by the application deadline.

Submit official test scores using one of the codes below:

  • GRE: Institution code 1759 (no department code required)
    • *Speech-language pathology applicants should note separate code for CSDCAS on the program website
  • GMAT: Institution code 3T9-CD-05
  • TOEFL: Institution code 1759 (no department code required)
  • IELTS: Select SIUE from the institution list. Scanned score reports with TRF number can be uploaded through your self-service online application center.

Application Fee

There is a non-refundable application fee of $40 for all graduate programs. You may pay by Visa or MasterCard via the application center. A convenience fee of $1.10 is added for this service. You may also pay via wire transfer through your bank or debit card. Admitted students who decide to change their term of entry after submitting an application or being admitted will be required to submit a new application for the desired term. You may update the term of your application for the next two terms without another application fee. 

Tracking Your Application Status

You can track the status of your application via our application center using the same username and password you used to create the application.

We receive a high volume of applications and materials during the peak admission period (November-May). Please allow approximately 15 business days from the date of receipt of your official academic records to process these documents and match them to your application in our system.

Once you submit your application, you will begin to receive email notifications regarding missing transcripts and other materials required. Make sure to check the email address you provided on the application. Please note that we do not send confirmation emails when materials have been received.

View Your Decision

Once our office refers your application to the department to which you have applied, it is up to the department to review your application for an admission decision. You will receive a letter informing you when a decision has been made. The length of time required to make a decision varies by the department/program, type of degree and the size of the applicant pool. 

https://www.siue.edu/admissions/international/apply/graduate.shtml 

Applicants are encouraged to complete their applications early.  Applications received after the priority deadline may not be reviewed, especially for highly competitive and popular programs, including undergraduate and graduate programs in STEM designated areas. Applications are processed on a rolling basis and once seats are filled for a particular program in a particular term, additional applicants will be denied admission. 

Transfer students: Later deadlines may apply for students who are currently in the United States on a valid student visa and wish to transfer to SIUE. Please contact the Office of International Admissions for more information.

The priority deadline for Spring 2024 has passed, SIUE will no longer accept undergraduate applications from students outside the U.S.  Many graduate programs have met capacity, and students applying for these program will be waitlisted.  Prospective students are strongly encouraged to apply for the Fall semester to receive full consideration.

Fall Semester (August-December) - April 1(Priority Deadline) June 1(Deadline)
Spring Semester (January-May) - October 1(Priority Deadline) November 1(Deadline)

Prospective students should submit an application by the priority deadline to guarantee full consideration.  All STEM designated program applications will close at the priority deadline.  Applications received after the priority deadline, but before the final deadline, will be reviewed only if space remains available in the program of study. 

Note that all financial documents must be received within 15 days of the deadlines listed above for an I-20 to be issued.

https://www.siue.edu/admissions/international/apply/deadlines.shtml