Students can only apply for summer admission to the program.  

In addition to the criteria established for general admission to graduate studies, applicants must have the following: 

1. A baccalaureate or advanced degree from a regionally accredited college or university or a foreign degree evaluated as equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree 
2. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale 
3. A verification statement from a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) accredited by Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) or completed list of approved DPD equivalent courses approved by program director 
4. Evidence the applicant has accumulated a minimum of 750 hours experience from any combination of the following: 
   • Volunteer experience (unaffiliated with course requirements) 
   • Paid work experience 
   • Collegiate athletics 
   • Student organizations 
   • Leadership experiences 
   • Other extracurricular experiences 
   • Completed these application requirements

• DI graduates only need to submit a verification statement or proof of RD credentials, transcripts, resume, and three references to apply.
• Field experience courses are waived for DI graduates or RDN’s. Some applicants may qualify for other prior learning credit. Ask Program Directors for more information.

Required Applied Nutrition Program Courses

• FN600 Advanced Application of Medical Nutrition Therapy (3) 
• FN607 Food Science and Technology (3) 
• FN610 Strategic Management of Nutrition and Food Services for the Dietitian (3) 
• FN611 Foundations in Dietetics Practice (3) 
• FN615 Culinary Nutrition (3) 
• FN617 Applied Statistics in Health Sciences (3) 
• FN619 Metabolic Considerations in Performance and Wellness Nutrition (3) 
• FN620 Community Nutrition Programming: Advanced Concepts and Application (3) 
• FN622 Nutrition Counseling and Education: Advanced Concepts and Application (3) 
• FN624 Research Methods for the Registered Dietitian (3) 
• FN628 Applied Nutrition Field Experience I (1) 
• FN629 Applied Nutrition Field Experience II (1) 
• FN645 Capstone Project in Applied Nutrition (1) 
• FN650 Professional Skills and Emerging Trends in Dietetics Practice (3) 

Choose one with the advice of the program coordinator:

• GR698 Master’s Final Comprehensive Examination (0) 
• GR699 Master’s Oral Examination (0) 

Recommended Sequence of Required Course Work  

Because of the intensive workload for this program, all courses must be completed in order in rotation with the cohort.  

• For students who need the FEM Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics verification statement, the total program cost for tuition and program fees is $16,298.64. That includes 36 credit hours at $427.74 per credit hour, a $100 course fee for GR698, and course fees at $800.
• For students who are only completing the MSAN degree program without field experience and do not need the Graduate Program verification statement, the total cost for tuition will vary depending on the number of courses you will take. Please email msan@semo.edu for an estimate. The general cost is $427.74 per credit hour.
• Please read the Applicant Handbook for instructions for all types of applicants, instructions for students who are locating student-identified sites, a program calendar and timeline, program completion requirements, estimated costs, and fees, instructions for obtaining prior learning credit, and the program’s mission, goals, and objectives

The mission of the Master of Science in Applied Nutrition is to provide integrated innovative graduate coursework and experiential learning to prepare high-quality Registered Dietitian Nutritionists who utilize evidenced-based practice and professional skills in the dynamic world of food, nutrition, and health throughout the region and beyond.

Program Goals

• Goal 1: Program graduates will demonstrate evidence-based practice and professional skills expected of an entry-level dietitian.
  • Objective 1: At least 80% of employer evaluations indicate graduates demonstrate evidence-based practice expected of an entry-level dietitian or entry-level practitioner in a comparable position. 
  • Objective 2: At least 80% of employer evaluations indicate graduates demonstrate the professional skills expected of an entry-level dietitian or entry-level practitioner in a comparable position. 
• Goal 2: Program graduates will demonstrate competence to practice as entry-level dietitians in administrative, clinical and community dietetics.
  • Objective 1: At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 2 years (150% of the program length)
  • Objective 2: Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80 percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation
  • Objective 3: At least 80 percent of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion
  • Objective 4: 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%
  • Objective 5: At least 80% of employer evaluations rate graduates as above or equal to the performance level expected of an entry-level registered dietitian or entry-level practitioner in a comparable position

The MSAN program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) as a Future Education Model Graduate Program. 

The accreditation term ends on December 31, 2031.

Email: ACEND@eatright.org 
Phone: (800) 877-1600, ext. 5400 
Mail: 120 South Riverside Plaza / Suite 2190 / Chicago, IL 60606-6995 

ACEND accreditation overview 

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. 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 FEM-Graduate MS Applied Nutrition program at Southeast Missouri State University are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN. 

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. Visit CDR's website for more information. 

More information about educational pathways to become an RDN. 

SEMO's Master of Science in Applied Nutrition has earned reaccreditation from ACEND as of September 2024. SEMO is one of 88 ACEND-accredited graduate programs in nutrition and dietetics in the U.S., and one of only four in Missouri.