Nutrition and Integrative Health, MS | Registered Dietitian

Program's mission

The mission of the registered dietitian with dietetic internship concentration at SFA is to prepare competent entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists to serve in traditional and emerging dietetics professions in the communities of East Texas and beyond.

Goals and objectives

The program outcome measures are as follows:

Goal 1: Program graduates will be prepared to be competent, entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists in the various areas of clinical, community, food service management, and integrative and functional nutrition.

• Objective 1: At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 3 years (150% of the program length).
• Objective 2: Of graduates who seek employment, at least 90% percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
• Objective 3: At least 90% 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 90% of employers will rate program graduates as satisfactory or above as having skills equivalent to those of an entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (5-point scale: outstanding to unsatisfactory).

Goal 2: Program graduates will be prepared to work in the nutrition and dietetics profession to serve the rural populations of the East Texas region.

• Objective 1: At least 30% of our graduates will be employed in the dietetics field in the East Texas region.
• Objective 2: At least 80% of graduates will agree "the SFA dietetic internship prepared me for my first dietetics-related job" (5-point scale: strongly agree to strongly disagree).

Program outcomes data

Program outcomes data are available upon request.

Prior learning

SFA offers prior-learning assessment as permitted by ACEND. Prior learning may be granted for paid work experiences in clinical or community food-service management.

Work experience

Credit may be awarded for documented work experiences that demonstrate achievement of required ACEND competencies provided in supervised practice.

How to request assessment

Read the student handbook for policies and procedures on requesting a credit assessment. Coursework or experience required by the didactic program in dietetics will not be counted toward APL credit.

Delivery formats

Graduate courses are available in various delivery formats.

First-year coursework is offered fully online and/or via a hybrid Zoom livestream model.

Year-two students are required to reside in the Deep East Texas region while completing supervised practice rotations. Most rotations are face-to-face; however, some elective rotations may be completed through distance experiences.

The ACEND program objective 1 indicates that “At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 3 years (150% of the program length).” View the program's student handbook for more details.

Cost of attendance

• SFA's estimated cost of attendance
  • graduate-level tuition, fees and variable costs (textbooks, supplies, course materials, equipment, travel and other miscellaneous expenses.)
  • actual cost varies based on credit hours taken per semester, residency status and course delivery method.

Program-specific costs

The following estimates are suggested budgeting amounts. Actual costs may vary.

• Uniforms/Lab coats/professional clothing: $300
• Onboarding for clinical sites (background check, HIPPA Training, drug testing, vaccinations): $80-$100
• Academy membership: $58

Additional costs to consider include health and car insurance, and housing. Visit your placement site-region's Chamber website for apartment complex options and current rates.

Funding options for the program

• Out-of-state residents: Your state may qualify for in-state tuition benefits through the Academic Common Market. Visit their site to look up your state and apply.
• Visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics scholarship collection.
• Learn about SFA's graduate assistantship opportunities.
• Visit SFA's Office of Financial Assistance website
  • and the various scholarship opportunities.