Combined BS/MS in Dietetics (Option I)
Mission
The mission of the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics is to support the missions of the University, college and department by fostering a rigorous academic curriculum culminating in a Master of Science degree with a concentration in nutrition education that prepares students to be scientifically competent, accountable and ethically responsible citizens who are prepared to be productive, leaders and research-literate professionals and entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists in the global community.
Program of Study
The Combined BS/MS in Dietetics offers students the unique opportunity to complete the required didactic instruction (lecture and laboratory courses) and supervised practice experience hours necessary to meet the Core Knowledge and Competencies for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist as mandated by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) in five years. Curriculum is based on educational standards mandated by ACEND. Graduates receive verification and establish eligibility to write the Registration Examination for Dietitians.
Admission to TCU is required for all programs; however, admission to the University does not guarantee admission to the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics. Eligibility for admission to the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics is based on successful completion of at least 60 semester hours with a minimum 3.0 GPA in required Nutrition (NTDT) classes and an Associated Requirements GPA of 2.75, no more than three grades below a B- in the Associated Requirements, 45 semester hours of required prerequisites and major courses, 200 hours of documented food or nutrition practical experience, and an application packet.
Application packets for the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics must be received by Feb. 1 (typically of the sophomore year), and applicants are notified of provisional acceptance by April 15. Students who are provisionally accepted begin the program in August of the following academic year (typically the junior year). Final acceptance/enrollment in the Combined BS Dietetics depends on successful completion of required prerequisite courses and summer requirements.
Students must apply for graduate school admission during the last fall semester before graduating with the BS in Dietetics (typically the senior fall semester) through the University's Online Graduate Application portal. Current graduate application fees apply. Students must comply with all university and college requirements for graduate students to gain admission. Conditional admission to the MS in Dietetics program is granted to applicants who have completed all admission formalities and have a superior undergraduate record but who have not completed undergraduate requirements. Conditional admission will be changed to unconditional admission when the necessary prerequisites and/or admission formalities are fulfilled. Students must abide by all program polices and procedures in order to continue in the MS in Dietetics program.
A student's continuation in the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics is contingent upon attainment of a strong academic record and successful completion of the program sequence.
In order to earn the BS in Dietetics degree, the student must attain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in required NTDT courses, earn a grade of "C-" or better in all required NTDT courses and Associated Requirements, have no more than three grades below a "B-" in the Associated Requirements, complete a minimum of 126 hours and meet all of the requirements of the university and college. Students who do not meet all of these requirements for graduation with a BS in Dietetics or the requirements for admission into the graduate program may change their major to Nutrition or another major in order to graduate with a bachelor's degree, but cannot continue in the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics. Students who do not meet all of the requirements to continue in the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics have the option to pursue verification from the TCU Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) in order to be eligible to pursue a Dietetic Internship upon graduation and/or graduate with a BS in either Nutrition or Dietetics. Students must formally apply to the DPD and satisfy all DPD requirements for verification. Acceptance into the DPD is not guaranteed. Students are required to abide by all DPD policies and procedures.
Students can graduate with a BS in Dietetics and begin the graduate program, but they will not earn verification to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians if they are unable to complete the graduate degree requirements and do not earn the MS in Dietetics degree. In order to earn the MS degree, the student must attain a minimum graduate NTDT GPA of 3.0 and earn a grade of “C-“ or better in all NTDT graduate courses. In addition, all final 50000- and 60000-level course grades will be included in the computation of the graduate GPA, but no more than two grades below a “B-” or lower may be used in satisfying the degree requirements.
Students complete 12 hours of dual undergraduate/graduate credit toward the MS in Dietetics during the fourth year of undergraduate study. At the end of the fourth year, assuming that all other undergraduate graduation requirements are met, the student earns the BS degree in Dietetics. Beginning with the summer session following graduation in May the student completes the remaining 19 graduate credit hours (10 of coursework, 9 of supervised practice) toward the MS in Dietetics degree. Students pursuing the thesis option take an additional 6 credit hours. Students intending to pursue the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics must earn a BS in Dietetics from TCU. In addition, all 30000-, 40000-, 50000- and 60000-level NTDT courses must be taken at TCU, with the exception of NTDT 30123 Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle and NTDT 30331 Medical Terminology.
Information about costs for tuition and university fees are available through the TCU Office of Admission or Financial Services. More detailed costs for students are outlined in the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics Student Handbook and include approximately $1,000-$1,500 per year for travel to supervised practice sites, vaccinations, lab fees, photocopying, school and office supplies, textbooks, lab coats, malpractice insurance and professional dues. The TCU Combined BS/MS in Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, Ill. 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040, ext. 5400, www.eatright.org/ACEND.
Requirements
Major Requirements
Students earn dual undergraduate and graduate credit in the following courses for the Combined BS/MS in Dietetics:
| NTDT 55323 | Gut Microbiota and Health | 3 |
| NTDT 55343 | Biochemical, Physiological, and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition | 3 |
| NTDT 55363 | Community Nutrition and Public Health | 3 |
| NTDT 55973 | Nutritional Sciences Seminar | 3 |
Associated Requirements
No minor is required.
All upper-level (30000 and 40000) NTDT courses, with the exception of NTDT 30123 Nutrition Throughout the Lifecycle and NTDT 30331 Medical Terminology, must be taken at TCU.
Refer to the Graduate Catalog for remaining course requirements for the MS in Dietetics.