Master's Degree in Applied Nutrition

About the Program

Woman in a lab coat poses at a table with food samples.

Earn your master of science degree in applied nutrition (MSAN) in just 12 to 18 months and help others live healthier lives.

This program will provide you with a practice-based degree that prepares you to work as a registered dietitian, community nutritionist, or nutrition scientist in other clinical, industry, and public health settings. You will learn from faculty with years of leadership and research in their professions. You will gain the skills to address challenges and issues facing the nutrition field.

The program offers two different tracks:

The master’s degree combined with a dietetic internship or Supervised Practice Experience (SPE): This track is for those who are interested in becoming a registered dietitian. You will earn your master’s degree while conducting the supervised practice in your dietetic internship. This program fulfills two-thirds of the requirements to sit for the registered dietitian licensing examination.
The master’s degree without the dietetic internship: students on this track can complete the program in 12-18 months. Your coursework will include real-world experience and innovative content. You can choose to complete a thesis or research project.

Course Requirements

Students are required to take 36 units in the MSAN program, which are estimated to take three semesters to complete.

Required Courses -21 Units

NTR 5320 - Critical Evaluation of Nutrition Practice and Research (3 units)
NTR 5250 - A Life Course Approach to Nutrition, Disease Prevention, and Treatment (3 units)
NTR 5950 - Program Leadership and Entrepreneurship (3 units)
NTR 4260 - Food Service Administration (2 units)
NTR 4430 / 4430L - Medical Nutrition Therapy I + Lab (4 units)
NTR 4440 /5240 - Medical Nutrition Therapy II (3 units)
NTR 4460 / 4460A - Community Nutrition + Activity (3 units)

Major Electives - 12 Units

NTR 5600 - Clinical Practice Applications 1 (2-4 units)
- Or NTR 5410 (2-4), any 4000-5000 level NTR, AG, BIO, KPH or appropriate class in consultation with your graduate advisor
NTR 5610 - Clinical Practice Applications 2 (4 units)
- Or NTR 5410 (2-4), any 4000-5000 level NTR, AG, BIO, KPH or appropriate class in consultation with your graduate advisor
NTR 5450 - Advanced Seminar in Nutrition (4 units)
- Or any 4000-5000 level NTR, AG, BIO, KPH or appropriate class in consultation with your graduate advisor

SPE-track students completing ACEND supervised practice hours must complete NTR 5600, NTR 5610, and NTR 5450 with SPE director approval.

Culminating Experiences - 3 Units

NTR 6945 - Preparatory Work for Culminating Experience (1 unit)
NTR 6950 - Culminating Experience in NTR (project or thesis) (2 units)

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For the combined program track (master’s degree AND dietetic internship), submit applications at:

Furthermore, combined program applicants must submit a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Verification Statement or Declaration of Intent to Complete DPD before starting the MSAN program

For the master’s degree track without the dietetic internship, submit an application at Cal State Apply only.

Regardless of the track, all applicants MUST:

have a 3.0 grade point average as an undergraduate.'
submit a résumé
submit a personal statement of no more than 1,000 words answering the following:
- Why you are interested in this program and if you'd like to complete the supervised practice
- How your professional and academic experiences and achievements make you a suitable candidate for the program
- Your strengths and weaknesses or areas for improvement
- Your aspirations after completing the master's program and how this program will help you reach your short- and long-term professional goals.

All applicants with a baccalaureate program from outside the United States (regardless of citizenship) must also provide proof of language proficiency:

TOEFL 80 minimum on the internet-based exam

IELTS 6.5 minimum

Duolingo 105 minimum

The Blended Program

(Open to Cal Poly Pomona undergraduate dietetic students only starting in Fall 2027)

If you’re a Cal Poly Pomona student who is already enrolled in dietetics, you can apply to transfer into the applied nutrition program when you are a junior.

To do this, you must complete the following:

An internal application
CSU Apply application
DICAS application (for students on the dietetic internship track)

The following are the required preparatory courses for the MSAN program:

General biology with laboratory: at least one quarter or semester
General microbiology with laboratory: at least one quarter or semester
General chemistry with laboratory: at least two quarters or two semesters
Organic chemistry: at least one quarter or semester
Statistics: at least one quarter or semester
Physiology: at least one quarter or semester
Nutrition: at least one quarter or semester
Biochemistry: at least one quarter or semester

PLO1: Graduates will promote healthy living through disease prevention and/or interventions

PLO2: Graduates will be prepared for professional careers as clinicians and/or researchers related to nutrition and dietetics.

PLO3: Graduates will be prepared for professional licensure.

Visit the Student Accounting & Cashiering Services webpage for information about graduate tuition and fees. There are competitive scholarships and fellowships available, as well as financial aid for eligible students.

Important Links

Career Outcomes

Registered Dietitian

Registered dietitians help clients/patients by assessing their health, providing them nutrition education and counseling, and helping them plan menus. To become a registered dietitian, you must have completed a master's degree from an accredited program, finished supervised practice, and passed a national licensing exam. Registered dietitians work in hospitals, nursing facilities, dialysis centers, public health agencies, senior centers, food service operations, and food-related industry organizations.

Nutrition Scientist

Nutrition scientists can work in the private or public sectors or in academia. They conduct research and studies on the relationship between food, diet, nutrients, and health.

Registered Dietitian

Registered dietitians help clients/patients by assessing their health, providing them nutrition education and counseling, and helping them plan menus. To become a registered dietitian, you must have completed a master's degree from an accredited program, finished supervised practice, and passed a national licensing exam. Registered dietitians work in hospitals, nursing facilities, dialysis centers, public health agencies, senior centers, food service operations, and food-related industry organizations.

Nutrition Scientist

Nutrition scientists can work in the private or public sectors or in academia. They conduct research and studies on the relationship between food, diet, nutrients, and health.