Curriculum and Graduation Requirements

The MSND program has two tracks, which differ in entrance pathway and length only:

• Track One: For direct entry students who have earned a baccalaureate degree (with or without a DPD verification statement) and have met program-specific prerequisite courses, which can be found on our Prerequisite Grade Sheet. (17 months).
• Track Two: For current Virginia Tech HNFE Nutrition and Dietetics major students to apply for an accelerated B.S./M.S. pathway (22 months starting fall semester of senior year).

Track One Curriculum Timeline (17 months)

First Year: Fall

• HNFE 5125G – Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy I (3)
• HNFE 5154 – Research Methods in Nutrition and Physical Activity (3)
• HNFE 5034 – Foundations in Nutrition Counseling and Communication (2)
• ALS 5024 – Building Multicultural Competency in Agriculture and Life Sciences (1)
• HNFE 5304 – Principles of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice (2)
• Choice Science-Based Elective (3)

Total: 14 credits

First Year: Spring

• HNFE 5126G – Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy II (3)
• HNFE 5334 – Clinical Nutrition Care Applications (2)
• HNFE 5344 – Nutrition Counseling for Behavior Change (3)
• HNFE 5314 – Business of Dietetics and Healthcare (3)
• HNFE 5704 – Dietetics and Professional Management Supervised Practice (2)

Total: 13 credits

First Year: Summer

• HNFE 5354 – Food for Optimal Health (3)
• HNFE 5724 – Foodservice Management Supervised Practice (3)
• HNFE 5714 – Community Nutrition Supervised Practice (4)

Total: 10 credits

Second Year: Fall

• HNFE 5394 – Professional Practice in Nutrition and Dietetics (1)
• HNFE 5734 – Clinical Nutrition Supervised Practice (10)
• Choice Elective (3)

Total: 14 credits

Total program: 51 credits

HNFE 5704, 5714, 5724, 5734 = Supervised Practice (Internship) Rotations
One credit equates to approximately 50 hours supervised experiential learning.

Track Two Curriculum Timeline (22 months)

First Year: Fall*

• HNFE 5125G - Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy I (3)
• HNFE 5034 – Foundations in Nutrition Counseling and Communication (2)
• ALS 5024 – Building Multicultural Competency in Agriculture and Life Sciences (1)

Total: 6 credits

First Year: Spring*

• HNFE 5126G - Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy II (3)
• HNFE 5334 – Clinical Nutrition Care Applications (2)

Total: 5 credits

*Courses from first year fall and first year spring are in addition to any undergraduate courses needed to finish the DPD program. HNFE 5125G and HNFE 5126G are dual counted towards both B.S. and M.S. degrees. After the first-year spring semester, students will complete undergraduate DPD and officially become graduate students.

First Year: Summer

• HNFE 5354 - Food for Optimal Health (3)
• HNFE 5344 - Nutrition Counseling for Behavior Change (3)
• HNFE 5314 - Business of Dietetics and Healthcare (3)
• HNFE 5704 – Dietetics and Professional Management Supervised Practice (2)

Total: 11 credits

Second Year: Fall

• HNFE 5304 – Principles of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice (2)
• HNFE 5154 – Research Methods in Nutrition and Physical Activity (3)
• HNFE 5714 – Community Nutrition Supervised Practice (4)
• HNFE 5724 – Foodservice Management Supervised Practice (3)
  Choice Science-Based Elective (3c)

Total: 15 credits 

Second Year: Spring

• HNFE 5394 - Professional Practice in Nutrition and Dietetics (1)
• HNFE 5734 – Clinical Nutrition Supervised Practice (10)
• Choice Elective (3c)

Total: 14 credits

Total program: 51 credits

HNFE 5704, 5714, 5724, 5734 = Supervised Practice (Internship) Rotations

One credit equates to approximately 50 hours supervised experiential learning.

The program will follow the university’s academic calendar and will comply with their deadlines. Any changes to dates or deadlines related to the program will be communicated directly with the students (more information about Virginia Tech dates and deadlines).

Graduation Requirements

In order to earn a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics diploma, the student must 1) complete all courses with a grade of “B-” or higher; and 2) receive a passing grade for all Supervised Experiential Learning (SEL) rotations (HNFE 5754: Internship in HNFE).

Students must also maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all courses on their graduate plan of study and demonstrate all ACEND summative competency evaluations at the “competent” level or higher.

Successful completion the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics degree coursework and demonstration of all ACEND competencies results in the conferral of a Master of Science degree and issuance of an ACEND verification statement resulting in eligibility to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians through the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR).

All students must complete 51 credits at Virginia Tech including both graduate level courses and supervised practice rotations to fulfill program requirements and graduate. Students enrolled in track 1 and 2 will each follow the same curriculum, however the timing of the coursework and rotations are different. Students will be enrolled in 19 total credits of supervised practice with each credit hour being the equivalent of approximately 50 hours of onsite work or experiential learning.

Successful completion of the program is dependent upon students demonstrating all ACEND-outlined competencies at the “competent” level or higher. Some students may require additional time than what is estimated for each track to successfully demonstrate these competencies within the coursework and SEL experiences. Students are responsible for extra tuition required to extend the program beyond the allocated timeline in order to demonstrate competency.

Assessment of Prior Learning and Course Substitutions

Track one students who have taken Medical Nutrition Therapy at the undergraduate level (or graduate level) at an ACEND-accredited didactic program in dietetics (HNFE 4025, HNFE 4026 at Virginia Tech, or equivalent) and want to receive credit for the 5000-level course (HNFE 5125G, HNFE 5126G) within the MSND program must submit evidence demonstrating the appropriate level of competency.

Required evidence includes: a) course syllabi and course calendar; b) transcript verifying receipt of a “B+” or higher for one or both semesters (“A” or higher for institutions that do not use +/- grading system); and c) a form outlining competencies demonstrated (form provided upon request). Evidence must be submitted by July 15th prior to the start of the first Fall semester to be considered. Notification will be provided by approximately August 10th.

Students receiving prior learning credit for Medical Nutrition Therapy (one or both semesters) will be required to enroll in a 1-credit independent study per semester (2 credits in total) to meet graduate-level competencies not met through the undergraduate course.

Students receiving credit for prior coursework will be required to take additional credits of graduate coursework to fulfill the remaining credits to reach the required 51 credits to graduate coursework at Virginia Tech and will work with the Assistant Director to determine specific changes to their plan of study. Any other changes to the program plan of study are subject to final approval from the Program Director.

Transfer credit for any other graduate-level nutrition and dietetics courses taken prior to enrollment in the program will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The program does not offer credit for prior work experience to be applied towards supervised experiential learning rotations/hours. However, prior work experience is considered when determining supervised practice site assignments in order to advance student competency according to their professional development goals.

Students will work with the assistant director to determine specific changes to their plan of study. Any other changes to the program plan of study are subject to final approval from the program director.

Contact

Please direct all program inquiries to msnd@vt.edu or 540-231-3877.