Degree Options - Nutrition and Dietetics

A Coordinated Program (CP) includes both the lecture-based coursework and 1000 hours of supervised practice required by ACEND.  Upon completion of a CP, the graduate is eligible to take the boards (RD exam) to become a Registered Dietitian (RD)/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

Currently, graduates with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics are eligible to take the RD exam. However, 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 RD exam.

Four CP tracks are available at Loma Linda University.  The following three are available through the School of Allied Health Professions, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics.  The focus of these three is medical nutrition therapy/clinical nutrition.

The prerequisite courses must be completed prior to enrolling in a program track.  An earned minimum of a 3.0 GPA for the science prerequisites and a 3.0 GPA for the non-science prerequisites are required, and no grades lower than a C will fulfill the requirement.

Option 1 – Bachelor of Science + Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics

Entry occurs at the beginning of the junior year of college.  Students will complete two years of undergraduate courses and one year of graduate courses.  

To be eligible for admission, the applicant must complete a minimum of 96-quarter units at any accredited community college, college, or university. If the applicant has an AS/AA degree, their High School transcript is not required. The minimum requirements are:

Humanities (16 quarter/11 semester units) - Units must be chosen from three of the following areas:

•  Art/Music - Appreciation
• Art/Music – Applied (performing arts limited to four quarter units)
• Civilization/History
• Foreign language
• Literature
• Philosophy
• Religion

Natural Science

• College Algebra, Pre-Calculus, or Calculus
• Human Anatomy with lab and Human Physiology with lab
• General Chemistry with lab (one full year)
• Microbiology with lab

Social Sciences (min. 12 qtr units)

• A Psychology course
• A Sociology course

Select remainder courses from the following content areas:

• Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Political Science, or additional Psychology or Sociology

Communication

• English Composition, complete sequence (CLEP not accepted)
• Speech or Public Speaking

Health and Wellness

• 2 PE Activity Courses or have military discharge papers (DD214)
• Human Nutrition

Required

• Certificate of Completion or transcript for a Medical Terminology course

Electives

• As needed to meet minimum total of 96 quarter units

Option 2 – Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (for bachelor graduates and international students) 

This program is for persons with an earned bachelor’s.  Also, ACEND, the accrediting body, requires that international students, regardless of their degree, must apply for this program.

The first year of the three-year MS, is taught at the foundational (undergraduate) level.  The second and third years are taught at the graduate level.

Prerequisites:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
• College Algebra, Pre-Calculus, or Calculus
• Human Anatomy with lab and Human Physiology with lab
• General Chemistry with lab (one full year)
• Microbiology with lab
• Human Nutrition

Required:

• Certificate of Completion or transcript for a Medical Terminology course

Option 3 – Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (post-Didactic Program in Dietetics) 

This program is for persons who have completed an ACEND-accredited DPD program.  Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics may be completed in two years.

Prerequisites:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
• Verification Statement from ACEND-accredited DPD program
• College Algebra, Pre-Calculus, or Calculus
• Human Anatomy with lab and Human Physiology with lab
• General Chemistry with lab (one full year)
• Microbiology with lab

Required

• Certificate of Completion or transcript for a Medical Terminology course

Option 4 – Master of Public Health in Nutrition, Track II   

(community nutrition/public health, public policy emphasis)

Contact Us

If you would like to contact us about the BS+MS or MS degree options, please email us @ nutrition@llu.edu. Please include the degree option in which you are interested.

If you would like information about MPH in Nutrition track, please email Dr. Celine Heskey, Program Director for the MPH in Nutrition, School of Public Health at cheskey@llu.edu.

We look forward to having you join us at Loma Linda University.