Admission Requirements

***Please see the current academic year’s catalog for the most up to date program admission information.***

Because the Master of Science in Dietetics is a 2nd admission program and faculty cannot make a final decision regarding admission until they know if you have completed all requirements for the program (including the 2nd Admission Application Notebook and subsequent program admission), students cannot apply to EMU for the graduate major of Dietetics. Students who wish to pursue the MS-Dietetics must apply to EMU in general in one of the following ways – as an undergraduate non-degree seeking post-baccalaureate student or as a 2nd BS student.

• If you do not need financial aid to complete prerequisite courses you apply to EMU in general as a Post-Bachelor Non-Degree Student (additional information). On the first page of the 2nd admission application notebook (due in January), you will check the MS box. If you are accepted into the MS-Dietetics program through the 2nd admission process, you will be provided directions on how to become a fully admitted graduate student at EMU.
• If you need financial aid to complete prerequisite courses you apply to EMU as a 2nd BS student with a dietetic intent major. On the first page of the 2nd admission application notebook (due in January), you will check the MS box. If accepted into the MS-Dietetics program through the 2nd admission process, you will be provided with directions on how to become a fully admitted graduate student.

A transcript review is based on how you apply to EMU…

• If you apply as an undergraduate non-degree seeking post-baccalaureate student, your transcript will be reviewed once you have applied to EMU and obtained a student number. Contact the program director once you apply and have a student number. The program director will send you the transcript review procedure.
• If you apply to EMU as a 2nd BS student (for financial aid reasons only, will eventually be a graduate student if accepted into the MS-Dietetics program), the 2nd Bachelor’s office will review your transcripts; instructions are in the acceptance letter you will receive from them.
• BEFORE APPLYING TO EMU:  You can do an informal self-evaluation by comparing your transcripts to the prerequisite courses to give you an idea of what you need. Prerequisite courses cannot be older than ten years, with the exception of general psychology and statistics which have no time limit. If your prerequisite courses are older than ten years, you will need to repeat them.

Important Notes

Definition: Coordinated Program – the didactic (theory) coursework and the supervised practice experiences are completed concurrently. Once a student has successfully finished the coordinated program, they are eligible to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians

• This is a second admission program with both online and on-campus delivery methods
• EMU admission is required prior to program admission
• Admission to the University is not a guarantee of entry into the dietetics program
• Based on accreditation and the availability of supervised practice experience sites, the CP limits the number of students admitted to each class
• The dietetics program 2nd admission application deadline for both delivery methods is in January for consideration for entrance into the CP the following fall semester; the program only begins in the fall
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required to apply. This includes all previous college-level courses
• A minimum prerequisite GPA of 2.75 is required to apply. This is comprised of the six pre-application phase courses
• Satisfactory completion (C or above) of all prerequisite courses (pre-application and pre-admission) is required prior to starting the CP in the fall.
• Prerequisite courses cannot be older than ten years at the time of application to the program with the exception of General Psychology and Statistics, which have no time limit
• A screening procedure is used for cohort selection that evaluates:
  • GPA - Cumulative & Prerequisite Courses
  • Two Reference Forms
  • Personal statement
  • Answers to application questions
  • Overall application notebook presentation
  • Online assessment
  • Committee input

• The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) action to change the degree requirement for dietitian registration eligibility from a baccalaureate degree to a graduate degree will be effective January 1, 2024.  For further information, please see the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

Information/Group Advising Sessions for Dietetics Intent Students

Information/group advising sessions are designed to provide an introduction to the EMU Dietetics Program. All interested students and potential applicants are required to view the Recorded Dietetics Information Session or attend a scheduled On-Campus Group Advising Session, prior to a 1:1 advising appointment. This requirement is meant to provide information about the program and instruction as to the process involved in applying to the Dietetics Program, for best use of time. Advising Session PowerPoint  

Important Documents

Application - Online  

Application - Campus  

Dietetics Information Packet  

Preceptor Handbook  | Online Preceptor Commitment Form  | Preceptor Summary Form   

Practice Experience Site Map for MI & OH Distance-Online Students  

Physical and Mental Requirements  

Please see the program’s website for additional information.

Online Education for Out-of-State Students

It is great that you are considering Eastern Michigan University for your online degree program. Before you apply, though, it is critical that you make sure you are eligible to enroll in a program based in Michigan. EMU is an approved State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) Participant. That means EMU can enroll students into online programs who live in any SARA member state without seeking additional authorization from that particular state. 

Check your eligibility to attend EMU: Is your state a SARA member? If yes, you are eligible to enroll in an EMU–Online program. If your state is not a SARA member, you may still be eligible to enroll at Eastern Michigan University. For more information, please click here.

School Information

Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Services

Colleen Croxall, Ph.D. | Director | 313 Marshall | 734.487.4096 | ccroxall@emich.edu

Advisor Information

Program Advising | 313 Marshall | 734.487.3713  | dieteticsms_advising@emich.edu

Continuance

Once students have been accepted into the Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP), it is assumed that they will maintain their academic status.

In preparing for a professional career in dietetics, students are expected to assume responsibility for their learning, to support the ethics and standards of practice of their profession and to value honesty in the fulfillment of scholarly and professional endeavors. The department reserves the right to retain only those students who, in the judgment of the faculty, satisfy the requirements of scholarship and practice competence and personal integrity suitable to dietetics. Specific continuance policy details are available in the Student Handbook found here .

Registration in Dietetics:

Upon successful completion of the coordinated program in dietetics curriculum and degree, students will be eligible to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians through the Commission on Dietetics Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Passage of the exam will provide the recognized credential of Registered Dietitian or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

Prerequisite Courses:

The following prerequisite courses to the program will be required

Degree Requirements: 73-76 hours

Semester Credit Hour Limit Waiver

Students in this program are granted a waiver of the University requirement that “Graduate Students may not enroll in more than 15 hours for any semester.”

Extended Program

This graduate program is available at an EMU off-campus location or entirely online | Locations