The USF Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics has the following goals and objectives*:

A. Prepare graduates to be competent entry-level dietitians, with a specialty in community and public health nutrition.

• 80% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion*.
• The program's one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of the first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%*.
• At least 80% of program students will complete the internship program requirements within 30 months (150% of the program length) of program initiation*.
• Of graduates who seek employment, 80% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation*.
• At least 80% of graduates will indicate they "agree" that the internship prepared them for professional practice.
• At least 80% of graduates will rate themselves as "satisfied" or better with their preparation for professional practice by the internship program.
• One year after program completion, 50% of graduates will be practicing in community nutrition or public health settings.
• At least 80% of employers will rate graduates' professional knowledge and skills expected for entry-level dietitians as "above average" or "outstanding."

B. Prepare graduates who are able to work with individuals from various economic, ethnic and educational backgrounds.

• At least 80% of graduates will rate the internship experience as improving their skills in delivering information, products and/or services to a culturally varied population as "above average" or "outstanding."
• At least 50% of graduates will report engagement in professional and/or volunteer work with culturally varied populations, groups and/or individuals.
• At least 80% of employers will rate graduates' ability to work with clients of various economic, ethnic and educational backgrounds as "above average" or "outstanding."

C. Produce graduates who are confident leaders capable of effective advocacy and beneficial service on behalf of the community and the dietetics profession at large.

• At least 80% of graduates will indicate improvement in their leadership ability and advocacy skills as "above average" or "outstanding."
• At least 50% of graduates who respond to the survey will report leadership, service and/or advocacy activities in the dietetics profession and/or the community at large.
• At least 80% of employers who respond to the survey will rate graduates' leadership skills as "above average" or "outstanding."

^{*USF's graduate program in nutrition and dietetics has an ongoing assessment process for program outcomes. Data on outcomes are available upon request. To obtain information on available program outcomes, send a written request to the program director, Dr. Lauri Wright, at lywright@usf.edu.}

The Online MPH with a Concentration in Nutrition and Dietetics is a full-time, 16-month (five-semester) curriculum that integrates academic coursework with supervised practice. Students complete foundational public health courses alongside advanced nutrition and dietetics coursework during the first two semesters. The final three semesters are dedicated to supervised experiential learning, averaging 32 hours per week, conducted at affiliated sites throughout the Tampa Bay area. Didactic courses are delivered online to provide flexibility, while supervised practice is scheduled and coordinated by the program director to ensure a comprehensive and cohesive training experience.

Process to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) 

The field of nutrition and dietetics is continually growing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, projected job growth from 2016 to 2026 is 15%. In 2020, the median pay for dietitians was $63,090 per year.

Dietitians are experts in the use of food and nutrition to promote health and manage diseases. They work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, health clinics, public health departments and food service operations.

Beginning in 2024, a master's degree will be required to gain candidacy to sit for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Examination. Upon successful completion of a graduate-level Future Education Model program (such as the Integrated Nutrition Graduate Program at UNF), students are eligible to sit for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Examination.

The graduate program in dietetics at USF is a Future Education Model. A Future Education Model places training for registered dietitian nutritionists at the graduate level by providing didactic coursework and 1,000 hours of supervised experiential learning. In this model, students can earn a bachelor's degree in any field while completing prerequisite courses required for most graduate-level Future Education Model nutrition programs.

Traditional dietetics education pathways to becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist are still available. These include:

• Completing an ACEND-accredited undergraduate Didactic Program in Dietetics, followed by a graduate-level ACEND-accredited dietetic internship program
• Completing an ACEND-accredited coordinated program with didactic coursework and the dietetic internship combined into one program at the undergraduate level
• Completing an ACEND-accredited coordinated program with didactic coursework and the dietetic internship combined into one program at the graduate level*
• Passing a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information, refer to the CDR Website. 
• Obtaining state licensure through an application process (in most states, including Florida). For more information, visit the State Licensure Information website. 

For more information about educational pathways to becoming an RDN, visit the ACEND website.  

^{*This is similar to a graduate program in dietetics but follows slightly different accreditation standards.}

Program Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the following admission requirements:

1. Completion of one of the following:
   1. A verification statement from a didactic program in dietetics (DPD). A "verification statement" or "declaration of intent" to complete form must be submitted in student’s application to show evidence of DPD enrollment. A "verification statement" must be provided by the time of enrollment.
   2. A bachelor's degree in another discipline completed at an accredited institution with the following prerequisite courses:
      • General chemistry with lab (2000-level)
      • Nutrition Metabolism (HSC 4933)
      • Anatomy and physiology I & II with labs (2000-level)
      • Microbiology with lab (3000-level)
      • College algebra
      • Social science such as Intro to Psychology or Intro to Sociology,
      • Basic Principles of Human Nutrition
      • Food Science which includes lab (FOS 4041)

 ^{*Cumulative GPA of >3.0 and Science GPA of >3.0}

Application Requirements

The application for the USF MPH Dietetics program is a two-part process: 

• Apply to the dietetics concentration: 
  • For non-USF students, submit all application components through DICAS. 
  • For USF students, submit application components directly to Dr. Lauri Wright. 
  • Deadline for Dietetics concentration application (either method) is Oct. 15. 
  • Application components: 
    • DICAS Application/Resume 
    • Letter of Intent, addressing:                      
      • Why do you want to be a registered dietitian?
      • What are your short- and long-term professional goals?
      • Why the USF Dietetics program? 
      • Why you? (What strengths make you an ideal candidate?) 
    • 3 Letters of Recommendations 
      • Ideally from a work supervisor, a professor and one additional reference
    • Official transcripts/Unofficial transcript 
  • Top candidates will be scheduled for an online interview in late-October. 
  • All applicants will be notified of acceptance status by Nov. 1.  
  • Students must provide decision by Nov. 15. 
• Apply to MPH program (if accepted to the Dietetics concentration).
  • Complete a SOPHAS application and submit all required materials to SOPHAS.  All materials must be submitted only to SOPHAS.
  • Complete and submit the USF graduate application and fee.  Do not upload or submit any supplemental materials directly to USF.
  • Allow two to four weeks for SOPHAS to verify your application. Be sure to follow up with SOPHAS regularly to ensure all requirements are met.
  • Monitor the email address you provided in SOPHAS for application decisions and other communications.
  • The application deadline is May 1. 

^{*Standardized tests, including the GRE, are not required for admission to the USF MPH program.}

Credit for Prior Learning Experiences

Transfer of academic credit is not permitted. However, supervised learning experience hours may be credited for students who are licensed dietitians/nutritionists through the Florida Department of Health with proof of completed internship, or for credentialed dietitians from other countries.

• Melissa Baron
• Heewon Gray
• Lauri Wright (Concentration Lead)

Students in this concentration complete 12 credit hours of experiential learning or a minimum of 1000 hours. Experiential learning will be completed in clinical, community and foodservice practice to prepare graduates for entry-level dietetics practice. In addition, students will complete three hours of Applied Practice experiences and three hours of Integrated Learning experiences.

Registered Dietitians work in a wide variety of employment settings, including health care, business and industry, community/public health, education, research, government agencies and private practice.

When completion of this concentration is combined with completion of an ACEND accredited dietetic internship, graduates are eligible to earn a Verification Statement of Completion which allows them to sit for the national examination to become a Registered Dietitian. After successfully passing the Registration Examination for Dietitians, one may practice as a registered dietitian nutritionist. Application for state licensure may also be necessary after credentialing.

To learn more, please contact Anthony Iannelli Jr., Assistant Director of Recruitment and Student Outreach, at cophinfo@usf.edu or leave a voicemail at (813) 974-6505.

Your online learning experience is supported by the Office of Educational Technology and Assessment (ETA)—a team of instructional designers, technologists, and multimedia experts who work closely with faculty to ensure your courses are engaging, accessible, and designed for student success.

Visit the ETA website for tech requirements and support to help you succeed in your online learning journey.

Distance Education Requirements 

Students in all online public health courses are expected to meet our student technology requirements to successfully participate in their courses. Failure to meet these requirements may cause problems accessing the course materials. It is the student's responsibility to ensure all requirements are met prior to the start of the semester. 

At a minimum, you must have regular access to a computer with internet connection (preferably broadband) and a web browser. Students are expected to be knowledgeable in basic computer skills, such as word processing, spreadsheet, and email programs. 

Up-to-date tuition and fees for students in the FEM Graduate Program are available at USF Tuition and Fees.

Estimated Additional Expenses

• Housing: $15,000
• Travel to Sites: $3,000
• Books: $2,000
• Health Insurance: $150
• Liability Insurance: $35 per year
• Background Checks: $139
• Professional Membership: $58 per year
• Technology: $1,500
• Lab Coats: $80

Total Estimated Costs: $22,055

Financial Aid

The USF Office of Financial Aid can help students apply for financial aid and scholarship.

Graduate assistantships are available within the College of Public Health. The program director will apprise students of application deadlines.