About the Program

Enrollment in a combined pathway allows highly qualified, current SUNY Buffalo State University students to work on the Master of Science in Dietetics while completing the bachelor’s degree. Twelve credits of designated master’s courses are incorporated into the bachelor’s degree program and count toward both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree. The undergraduate B.S. portion of the pathway is in-person. The M.S., Dietetics is online/distance.

The graduate portion of the Dietetics Combined Pathway has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for the Education of Dietetics and Nutrition.

Accreditation standards integrate didactic coursework with supervised practice in a competency-based curriculum designed to prepare nutrition and dietetics practitioners for future practice. Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) required a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).

Program Requirements

The combined pathway includes 30 master’s credits leading to the M.S. in Dietetics. Students who complete the pathway become eligible to sit for the RDN credentialing exam: The pathway includes 1000 hours of supervised practice and all ACEND required competencies and courses.

The program requires careful planning that begins in the first year of the student’s undergraduate career at Buffalo State University including transfer students. The student should consult their major advisor each semester in planning the undergraduate degree program so that these degree requirements are met during undergraduate study. Twelve credits of master’s courses from the M.S. Program in Dietetics are included in the undergraduate degree plan and count toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Students must meet graduate expectations for academic progress and grade point average in their level courses to remain in the combined pathway.

Admissions Requirements
Admission into the combined pathway is highly selective. Matriculated undergraduate students may apply to the pathway in their second year for a junior year start and will complete all of the application requirements for the program. The admission application process includes a minimum GPA of 2.75, completion of prerequisite courses (transfer student may transfer many of these courses), two letters of recommendation, two faculty interviews, and personal statement. To advance to the master’s portion of the pathway, a GPA 3.0 is required.

Prerequisite courses include:

BIO 100 Principles of Biology

BIO 308 Human Anatomy and Physiology I

BIO 309 Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab

CHE 111/113 Fundamentals of Chemistry I and Laboratory I

CHE 112/114 Fundamentals of Chemistry II and Laboratory II

CHE 201/203 Organic Chemistry I and Laboratory I

CHE 322 Biological Chemistry

NFS 100 Introduction to Food Preparation

NFS 102 Introductory Nutrition

NFS 200 Applied Food Chemistry

NFS 211 Applied Management in Dietetics I NFS 230 Introduction to Dietetics

NFS 302 Advanced Nutrition

NFS 315 Life Cycle and Community Nutrition I

PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology

Program Requirements

General Education 23 Requirements (21 credit hours)

Undergraduate Program Requirements

Required Undergraduate Courses for the Major
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
NFS100 INTRODUCTION TO FOOD PREPARATION | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS102 INTRODUCTORY NUTRITION | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS200 APPLIED FOOD CHEMISTRY | 1 - Credit Hours
NFS211 APPLIED MANAGEMENT IN DIETETICS I | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS230 INTRODUCTION TO DIETETICS | 2 - Credit Hours
NFS302 ADVANCED NUTRITION | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS311 APPLIED MANAGEMENT IN DIETETICS II | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS315 LIFE CYCLE AND COMMUNITY NUTRITION I | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS316 LIFE CYCLE AND COMMUNITY NUTRITION II | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS330 INTEGRATIVE AND FUNCTIONAL NUTRITION | 1 - Credit Hours
NFS401 MEDICAL NUTRITIONAL THERAPY I | 4 - Credit Hours
NFS402 MEDICAL NUTRITIONAL THERAPY II | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS403 MEDICAL NUTRITIONAL THERAPY III | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS405 PRINCIPLES OF NUTRITION EDUCATION | 2 - Credit Hours
NFS430 INTRODUCTION TO NUTRITION RESEARCH | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS445 NUTRITION CARE A | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS446 NUTRITION CARE B | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS447 NUTRITION CARE C | 4 - Credit Hours
NFS448 NUTRITION CARE D | 5 - Credit Hours
NFS449 NUTRITION CARE E | 3 - Credit Hours

Required Courses Outside the Major (32 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
BIO100 PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
BIO308 SURVEY OF HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
BIO309 LABORATORY SURVEY OF HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY | 1 - Credit Hours
BIO355 SURVEY OF MICROBIOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
CHE111 FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY I | 3 - Credit Hours
AND CHE113 LABORATORY FOR FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY I | 1 - Credit Hours
CHE112 FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY II | 3 - Credit Hours
AND CHE114 LABORATORY FOR FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY II | 1 - Credit Hours
CHE201 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I | 3 - Credit Hours
AND CHE203 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I | 1 - Credit Hours
CHE322 BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY | 4 - Credit Hours
MAT311 INTRODUCTORY PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSY101 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours

Required Graduate Courses (12 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
NFS571 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN FOOD SERVICE SYSTEMS IN HEALTH CARE | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS605 CURRENT TRENDS IN NUTRITION | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS689 METHODS OF NUTRITIONAL RESEARCH | 3 - Credit Hours
HEW605 Epidemiology

Dietetics M.S. Program Requirements

Required Graduate Major Courses
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
NFS550 GRADUATE PRACTICUM IN DIETETICS | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS571 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN FOOD SERVICE SYSTEMS IN HEALTH CARE | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS601 LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN DIETETICS | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS605 CURRENT TRENDS IN NUTRITION | 3 - Credit Hours
HEW605 EPIDEMIOLOGY | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS607 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AND DIABETES PREVENTION AND TREATMENT | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS609 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN ADVANCED MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS612 NUTRITION COUNSELING | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS689 METHODS OF NUTRITIONAL RESEARCH | 3 - Credit Hours
NFS690 MASTER'S PROJECT | 3 - Credit Hours

30 Total Graduate Credit Hours

Dietetics Combined Pathway (BS and MS) Handbook
Professional Licensure Disclosure
Mission, Goals, and Objectives
Academic Roadmap

Outcome data is available upon request
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
(800) 877-1600, ext. 5400
https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend