Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition

Distance Learning Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition through the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA)

The Great Plains IDEA program is a consortium of 8 universities and provides an online 36-credit hour Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition degree. Admittance is limited to only credentialed registered dietitians (RD) or registry-eligible individuals having met all requirements of the American Dietetic Association for registration. The Great Plains IDEA program acknowledges reciprocity as outlined by the American Dietetic Association. Reciprocity is defined as individuals who have completed the education and credentialing requirements in one country may be eligible for another country's credentialing examination if the two countries have entered into an agreement to allow this process. The Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) currently has registration eligibility reciprocity agreements with the following foreign dietetic associations and regulatory boards:

• Canada - Dietitians of Canada
• Netherlands - Dutch Association of Dietitians and Ministry of Welfare, Public Health and Culture
• Philippines - Philippine Professional Regulation Commission
• Ireland - Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute
• United Kingdom - Dietitians Board of the Health Professions Council in the United Kingdom

FAQ about the Distance Learning MS Program

Who are the universities participating in the Great Plains IDEA program?

• University of Kansas Medical Center
• Kansas State University
• Colorado State University
• Iowa State University
• North Dakota State University
• Oklahoma State University
• South Dakota State University
• University of Nebraska- Lincoln

How many credits are required to graduate?
This degree program requires completion of 36-credit hours for graduation.

How do I enroll in the program?
You will enroll for the program and for all courses through your home institution (KU Medical Center), but the actual courses will be taught online from any of the participating universities and their faculty members. 

How is the degree plan structured?

• 15 credit hours from the following required core courses:
• Current issues and Trends in Dietetics
• Methods of Research 
• Basic Graduate Statistics
• Two advanced nutrition courses OR two management-oriented courses

• 15 credit hours of electives covering a wide variety of topics to meet the student's career goals. Options include courses in clinical nutrition, community or public health nutrition, healthcare administration, management, food science, foodservice management and many others.
  
  
• 6 credit hours of thesis or non-thesis research.
  Thesis students enroll in DIET 899 Thesis, write a proposal, conduct their research, and defend their research before their research committee. They must also complete a comprehensive examination.
  
  Non-thesis students participate in a research activity, write a proposal, defend their work and complete a comprehensive examination.

How long will it take to complete my degree?
The speed of program completion will depend on how much time you can devote to taking classes. Many students in this program may be working professionals with job and family responsibilities which may limit the number of courses they can take each semester.

The number of courses available each semester will grow as the program matures and more students enter the program. Taking two courses a semester (including summers) should allow you to complete the program in approximately three years. The more courses you take each semester, the quicker you can finish! To see the current schedule of course offerings, visit the Great Plains IDEA web site.

What are the costs?
The Great Plains IDEA Board of Directors evaluates and sets the common price per credit-hour each year.  All universities charge the same amount per credit hour. This tuition may differ from that of on campus students at KU Medical Center. The price per credit hour is the same for in-state or out-of-state students.  Visit the Great Plains IDEA website for current tuition pricing.

Additional costs include access for your Internet connection or other delivery method (preferably a high-speed connection rather than dial-up) and textbooks or other learning materials. Expenses vary from course to course, as content may be delivered in a variety of formats including online, CD, DVD, e-mail lists, message boards, e-mail, videotape, audiotape, guided study, or Illuminate (videoconferencing).

What are the criteria for admission?

• Students must be credentialed as a registered dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and submit a copy of current CDR registration card as documentation.
• Without an RD credential, students must be registration-eligible, having completed both an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics and an accredited dietetic internship or a Coordinated Program in Dietetics (which encompasses both the academic degree and the supervised practice). Required documentation would be a signed verification statement from the director of the supervised practice program.
• GPA of 3.0 or higher (lower GPAs can be considered under probationary or provisional admission)
• Graduate Record Examination – minimum score 1000

How do I apply to the distance learning MS program?
The application procedures and required documentation are identical to the on-campus MS program, plus the additional documentation to verify RD credential or eligibility.

International students must meet all requirements for admission set by the International Office including satisfactory TOEFL scores required by the university (http://www.kumc.edu/international/esl_req.html) sent directly to the department.