Master of Dietetics Administration - MDA
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About this Degree
Program Contact:
Lacie Peterson, PhD, RDN, CDCES, BC-ADM, FADCES, FAND
Clinical Professor, MDA Program Director
Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences
Lacie.peterson@usu.edu 435-797-4244
Program description:
The Utah State University Master of Dietetics Administration (MDA) prepares graduates to lead and manage people and projects, setting them apart as they enter the workforce or advance in their current careers. The skills emphasized in the MDA program enhance management career options for graduates in clinical, community, food service, and entrepreneurial practice. Nationwide, there is a great need for professionally educated managers and leaders at the local, district, state, and federal levels. Graduates of the program will build skills in leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, financial management, human resource management, business, and more. The hands-on curriculum delivered by faculty equips graduates with the skills they need to land the career they want. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
Admission Requirements for this Program
Pre-RD MDA Track
The Pre-RD track is for students who have completed undergraduate dietetics education but do not yet hold the Registered Dietitian credential.
Option 2: The MDA is also available to students completing an affiliated dietetic internship outside Utah State University. Students in this program are concurrently enrolled in an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship and pursue their graduate degree online through USU. Students who successfully complete the internship and the MDA graduate program will be awarded a verification statement from their internship, making them eligible to sit for the Registered Dietitian (RD) Exam. For students not completing supervised practice through USU, 31 credits are required. This includes 16 MDA core credits, 6 elective credits, and students may be awarded up to 9 credits for Prior Assessed Learning (PLA) for the 1,000 hours of supervised practice completed as part of the dietetic internship. PLA credit determinations are made on a case-by-case basis and require approval by the Program Director. Tuition is not charged for PLA credits; however, a per-credit evaluation fee will apply.
Pre-RD MDA Admission Requirements
Applicants must complete one of the following two options:
1. Graduate from an accredited nutrition/dietetics program with a DPD Verification Statement OR be in the process of completing an accredited nutrition/dietetics program and will receive a DPD Verification Statement or Foreign Dietitian Education program (FDE) upon completion.
Applicants with a DPD Verification Statement more than 4 years old at the time of application may have to meet additional recency requirements.
2. Graduate with a minimum of a bachelor's degree or be in the process of completing a bachelor's degree and complete foundational dietetics coursework as determined by the USU MDA. Applicants who do not have a DPD Verification Statement must meet with the program director about prerequisite coursework prior to submitting an application.
Applicants must have a DPD GPA/Prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or greater.
No Ds or Fs in any DPD/Prerequisite courses.
Applicants to the USU MDA must secure preceptors and training sites prior to applying.
Applicants must have technological competence.
Both a bachelor’s degree and a DPD Verification Statement must be conferred prior to August 1st of the year a student plans to start the MDA.
The GRE is not required for admission.
Post-RD MDA Track
The post-RD track is for students who already hold the Registered Dietitian credential and are interested in pursuing a graduate degree. Applicants must complete one of the following two options:
Option 1: For graduates of the USU Dietetic Internship (USU DI) prior to 2023. The 25 graduate credits earned in the USU DI are applied to the MDA if the MDA is completed prior to the credit expiration limit of 8 years. In addition, 15 MDA core credits and 3 elective credits are required, for a total of 41 credits.
Option 2: The MDA is also available to credentialed dietitians from non-USU degree programs or for those whose USU DI credits have expired. For students not using credits from the USU DI, 33 credits are required. These include 15 MDA core credits and 18 elective credits, of which at least 9 credits should be from the NDFS department.
Post-RD MDA Admission Requirements
Registered Dietitian Credential through the Commission on Dietetic Registration
Bachelor’s degree
Must meet the requirements of the USU graduate school admissions
