Prospective Students Current Students Preceptors Public
WHY CHOOSE UCA?
- Students with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and who meet all admission requirements are welcome to apply to the Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition Therapy program. The program does not require a bachelor’s degree in nutrition/dietetics or a Verification Statement from an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) program.
- Supervised experiential learning in each online class allows for completion of a Master’s Degree and eligibility to sit for the Registered Dietitian exam in 15 months.
- Excellent job placement rate.
- Available scholarships specific to students in Dietetics and Nutrition Therapy.
PROGRAM INTRODUCTION
UCA has been selected as a Cohort 5 Demonstration Program for the Future Education Model – Graduate (FEM-G). The ACEND Board has approved our reorganization application, contact mmannix@uca.edu for more information.
Graduates of the MS in Nutrition, Dietetics and Nutrition Therapy receive a verification statement and are eligible to sit for the national exam for Registered Dietitians. Students will enroll as graduate students at UCA.
Completion of the Master’s Degree will be required for entry-level practice starting in 2024. 2024 CDR Mandate (Standard 9, Required Element 9.3.d): 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). 
While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND’s considered opinion that the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND-accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state’s licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license. More information about state licensure and certification can be found at this link: State Licensure.
Successful completion of the required supervised experiential learning hours and all didactic work (the MS degree) is required for program completion. After passing the Registration exam, graduates may apply for Arkansas licensure. Details on requirements for Licensed Dietitians in Arkansas can be found at ARKANSAS DIETETICS LICENSING BOARD According to the Arkansas Dietetics Practice Act, “no person shall engage in the practice of dietetics in the State of Arkansas unless said person has in his/her possession a current license or a provisional license duly issued by the Board under the provisions of the Dietetics Practice Act.” Currently, 48 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia have statutory provisions regulating the dietetics profession or associated titles such as “dietitian” and “nutritionist.” To learn more about other state’s regulations, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics provides a Licensure Map for links to boards, statutes, and rules, in addition to information about the type of nature of dietetics regulation in each state. The Academy also provides detailed information about the importance of licensure to consumer protection HERE.
PROGRAM ACCREDITATION
The UCA MS in Dietetics and Nutrition Therapy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), formerly the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education (CADE), of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-secondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education. Contact information for ACEND includes:
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995
Phone: 312.899.0040, X 5400; 800.877.1600 X 5400
Email: acend@eatright.org
Website: http://www.eatright.org/acend
MISSION
The mission of the University of Central Arkansas Graduate Program in Dietetics and Nutrition Therapy, is to maintain a high-quality program in dietetics, dedicated to assisting graduates with development of needed skills for the varied roles of the dietitian in today’s society, and which ultimately culminates in preparation of entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists and therefore registration eligibility with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Graduates will be provided opportunities to develop expertise in nutrition therapy, community nutrition, and foodservice systems management, while developing professional attitudes, maturity, and competent professional behavior.
GOALS
Program Goal 1: Graduates of the University of Central Arkansas Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition Therapy will be competent entry-level dietetic practitioners.
Program Objectives for Goal 1:
1.1 At least 80% of program graduates complete program requirements within 1.875 years (150% of the program length).
1.2 At least 80 percent of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
1.3 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%.
Program Goal 2: Graduates of the University of Central Arkansas Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition Therapy will be prepared for a broad range of career opportunities in the field of dietetics.
Program Objectives for Goal 2:
2.1 Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80 percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
2.2 At least 80% of employers will rate program graduates at “satisfactory” or above.
2.3 At least 80% of program graduates will rate their preparation for entry-level employment at “satisfactory” or above.
Program outcomes data are available on request.
