Nutritional Sciences Program

Program Overview

Nutritional Science Program Receives 7-year Accreditation Status

Jocelyn Peterson, Maryam Ganjavi, Bottom

The Nutritional Science Program in the School of Community Health and Policy, under the leadership of Dr. Joycelyn Peterson, has achieved a significant academic milestone. This achievement comes from continued accreditation from the esteemed ACEND, the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. In its recent meeting, the ACEND Board, impressed by our program's self-study report and site visit, has granted us accreditation for a 7-year term, ending June 30, 2031.   

ACEND has recognized and appreciated our program's unwavering commitment to our students and the quality and continuous improvement of dietetics education. This was demonstrated during the accreditation process, confirming that our program is in full compliance with the 2022 ACEND Accreditation standards.

Improvement in Pass Rate Examination for Registered Dietitians

The Nutritional Science program received a 100 % Pass rate in 2023 for students taking the examination to become a registered dietitian.

Welcome to the Nutritional Sciences (Dietetics) Program at Morgan State University (MSU). We are pleased that you have an interest in the growing field of Dietetics which is loaded with opportunities for the student who is interested in studying the science of food and nutrition. As a student of the Program you will be well trained in the science of nutrient metabolism; medical nutrition therapy for various diseases and conditions; food habits and customs of various populations, food preparation and safety; and health promotion and disease prevention.

Successful completion of the Nutritional Sciences (Dietetics) Program leads to a B.S in Nutritional Sciences. With additional training provided in an Internship Program, available outside of Morgan, successful graduates who pass the Registration Exam for Dietitians receive the Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN) credential. Registered Dietitians/Nutritionists are food and nutrition experts who work in a wide cross-section of settings including hospitals, long-term care facilities; public health clinics, schools, universities, food industry, food management, government agencies, research, in private practice and various other settings. The role of the Dietitian is invaluable in health promotion, disease prevention, and medical nutrition therapy for diseases and conditions. Your choice of a career in Dietetics places you among a cadre of health professionals who are making a real difference in the lives of individuals, families, and the community.

Accreditation Status

The Nutritional Sciences Program currently offered here at Morgan is recognized by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). This signifies that graduates of the program have completed the course work that makes them eligible to apply for a Dietetic Internship, paving the way for credentialing as a Registered Dietitian (RD).

The accreditation of Morgan State University’s Didactic Program in Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040 ext. 5400. http://www.eatrightpro.org/ACEND. For an explanation of probationary status, consult the director of the nutrition and dietetics program.

Below is the address and phone number of ACEND.

Program Mission

The mission of the Dietetics program at Morgan State University is to prepare highly qualified students from culturally diverse backgrounds with knowledge and skills for success in supervised practice programs, graduate school or leadership in a dietetic practice.  The mission embraces the diversity of its student clientele, prepares highly qualified graduates to serve and address priority issues of the local and broader community.

Program Goals:

The Nutritional Sciences Program's mission is embraced by two (2) primary goals listed below.

Goal #1 Program graduates will be culturally diverse to meet the critical shortages and under-representation in the profession.

Objectives aligned to Goal 1:

At least 50% of program graduates will be from under-represented minority groups

Goal #2 Program graduates will be prepared for entry-level positions as food and nutrition professionals in the field of Dietetics

Objectives aligned to Goal 2:

“At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 3 years (150% of planned program length)”.

“At least 50% of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation”.

The Program goals are aligned with the mission of ACEND accredited DPD programs, and that of the School and the University. All three missions remain very relevant. Furthermore, the goals of the Program are undergirded by the 2008 ACEND Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards for Didactic Programs in Dietetics; workforce and secular trends and demands help to shape the goals of the DPD Program.

“Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 50% are admitted within 12 months of graduation”.

“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%”.

When surveyed, 80% of supervised practice directors will rate graduates’ performance as at least satisfactory.

At least 50% of students join AND within one year of completing the program

Nutritional Sciences Program outcomes data are available upon request.

"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 order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree. 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). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at Morgan State are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program and then to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN. In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements click here.

For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN click here."

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995
312-899-0040 x5400 (Phone)
312-899-4817 (Fax)
www.eatright.org

General Disclosure Matrix for Nutritional Science Program
Licensure by State Data Table