We Offer Flexible Scheduling, Small Class Sizes, Expert Faculty,
and Online Support
Lakeland Campus, Melbourne Campus, Pembroke Pines Campus, Port St. Lucie Campus
Keiser University’s Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition Coordinated Program (MSCN-CP) combines clinical evaluation, community concerns, and food service management into a profession long valued for its service to individuals and the community at large and focused on optimal nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases. The MSCN-CP is unique since the didactic instruction is integrated with the supervised practice.
Students will enter the accredited program at one entry point which is admission to the MSCN-CP at one of the four campuses to include Lakeland, Melbourne, Pembroke Pines, and Port St. Lucie. Students complete the admission process under the direction of Admission Counselors. The program director/program coordinator is notified when new students enroll and will start academic advising and GPA monitoring immediately.
The Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition – Coordinated Program at the Lakeland, Melbourne, Pembroke Pines, and Port Saint Lucie campuses is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, USA, 800-877-1600 ext. 5400, https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend.
Please Note: Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree for individuals to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In addition, CDR will continue to require that students complete didactic coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited MSCN Coordinated Program in Dietetics and Nutrition program at Keiser University are eligible to take the credentialing exam for RDNs upon completion of the program.
The mission of the Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition Coordinated Program is to provide a comprehensive graduate program, inclusive of a high-quality didactic curriculum and supervised practice, preparing graduates for entry-level practice as Registered Dietitian Nutritionists in a diverse environment demonstrating professionalism, leadership, and a commitment to service community needs.
Program Goal 1
Prepare a diverse population of graduates for successful careers as Registered Dietitians/Registered Dietitian Nutritionists in a variety of settings.
Program Goal 2
Graduates will be committed to professionalism, leadership, and service to the community while working as Registered Dietitians/Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
Program Outcomes are available upon request.
Students are required to complete the required General Education courses with a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA in order to begin the undergraduate major courses. If a student does not have the required 3.0 GPA in order to start the undergraduate courses, the student may petition the Dean for Grade Forgiveness which permits a student to re-take a course in which a grade of “C” was earned.
During the first 16 months of the program, students will take one 4-week in-person face-to-face undergraduate course per month. The last 4 months of the 20-month undergraduate coursework includes 4 months of supervised practice. The didactic undergraduate courses are offered in-person only 3 days per week from 9:00am-1:00pm (3-credit courses) or 4 days per week from 8:00am-1:00pm (4-credit courses).
The 4 months of supervised practice in the undergraduate coursework and the 8 weeks of supervised practice in the graduate coursework occur off campus at assigned facilities (hospital, nursing home, rehabilitation hospital, school, or community agency). Students will know their assigned sites at least 4 weeks in advance. Students are expected to be at their sites 40 hours per week, at days and times determined by the clinical coordinator and the preceptor at the assigned facility. The practice experiences may involve as few as six (6) hours and as many as twelve (12) hours on any given day, however, all students will meet the forty (40) hours per week supervised practice experience hours requirement (minimum of 1000 total hours). Students are expected to complete assignments and activities required for the supervised practice courses outside of the 40 hour per week supervised practice experience.
During the graduate portion of the program, students will take 12 fully online 8-week courses using the learning platform, Blackboard. An 8-week clinical supervised practice will be scheduled concurrently during the graduate course DIE 544 Advanced Practice.
Program completion requirements are:
Students will be awarded the Verification Statement upon completion of all stated program requirements.
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA per semester throughout the undergraduate and graduate coursework in order to continue in the program. The program director/program coordinator will monitor each student’s semester cumulative GPA and provide academic advisement and remediation per policies stated in the Student Handbook should they fall below the required 3.0 GPA.
A student may submit a written request to the Dean of the Graduate School for consideration in being awarded the Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition (BSDN) degree upon completion of 121 credit hours, (3 credits lower division major, 48 credits lower division General Education Courses, and 70 credits undergraduate courses). However, if the student does not continue in the MSCN program and complete the requirements listed above, the student will be considered a drop and will not receive a Verification Statement indicating that all program requirements were met.
| Undergraduate Lower Level Courses | |
|---|---|
| American or English or World Literature | 3.0 credit hours |
| Principles Biochemistry | 4.0 credit hours |
| Anatomy and Physiology I | 4.0 credit hours |
| Anatomy and Physiology II | 4.0 credit hours |
| Introduction to Computers | 3.0 credit hours |
| General Chemistry | 3.0 credit hours |
| General Chemistry Lab | 1.0 credit hours |
| Advanced Chemistry | 3.0 credit hours |
| Advanced Chemistry Lab | 1.0 credit hours |
| Micro OR Macroeconomics | 3.0 credit hours |
| English Composition I | 3.0 credit hours |
| English Composition II | 3.0 credit hours |
| Principles of Nutrition | 3.0 credit hours |
| College Algebra | 3.0 credit hours |
| Microbiology | 4.0 credit hours |
| Introduction to Psychology or Sociology | 3.0 credit hours |
| Statistics | 3.0 credit hours |
| Clinical Nutrition Undergraduate Upper Level Courses | |
|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Food | 4.0 credit hours |
| Food Science | 4.0 credit hours |
| Life Cycle Nutrition | 3.0 credit hours |
| Dietetics in Community Health | 3.0 credit hours |
| Nutrition in Health and Exercise | 4.0 credit hours |
| Advanced Nutrition | 3.0 credit hours |
| Research Methods | 3.0 credit hours |
| Management of Dietary Systems | 4.0 credit hours |
| Medical Nutrition Therapy 1 | 3.0 credit hours |
| Medical Nutrition Therapy 2 | 4.0 credit hours |
| Food and Culture | 3.0 credit hours |
| Nutrition Counseling and Communication | 4.0 credit hours |
| Nutrition and Disease 1 | 3.0 credit hours |
| Nutrition and Disease 2 | 3.0 credit hours |
| Seminar in Dietetics | 3.0 credit hours |
| Dietetic Management of Nutrition Programs | 3.0 credit hours |
| Supervised Dietetic Practice 1A and 1B | 7.0 credit hours |
| Supervised Dietetic Practice 2A and 2B | 7.0 credit hours |
| Clinical Nutrition Graduate Level Courses | |
|---|---|
| Nutrition Assessment | 3.0 credit hours |
| Nutritional Biochemistry in Health and Disease | 3.0 credit hours |
| Trends in Therapeutic Nutrition | 3.0 credit hours |
| Research Design | 3.0 credit hours |
| Food, Nutrition and Communication | 3.0 credit hours |
| Special Topics: Principles of Nutrition and Medical Nutrition Therapy | 3.0 credit hours |
| Advance Practice (Supervised Practice) | 3.0 credit hours |
| Public Health Nutrition | 3.0 credit hours |
| Affirming Diversity | 3.0 credit hours |
| Quality Management in Healthcare | 3.0 credit hours |
| Dietetic Management and Administration | 3.0 credit hours |
| Capstone: Research Methods in Nutrition | 3.0 credit hours |
Keiser University uses the Blackboard online learning management system for all courses. Some of the General Education courses are delivered totally online. All of the undergraduate courses are delivered in person. All of the MSCN courses are delivered online except for DIE 544 – Advanced Practice, which requires 304 hours of in-person supervised practice in medical nutrition therapy in addition to the online coursework and assignments.
Students will need access to a desktop or laptop with reliable internet for all coursework. Microsoft Office software is provided to all students through Office 365.
Blackboard provides support for students 24 hours a day, 7 days per week through this link – https://keiseruniversity.edusupportcenter.com/shp/keiser u/home or by phone at 855-412-3717.
The methods typically used to evaluate a student’s learning for college credit used in the MSCN-CP program include:
The MSCN-CP will not accept supervised practice hours from other programs.
The Program Completion requirements are different if a student already holds a master’s degree and wants to become a registered dietitian. Keiser University MSCN-CP will consider admitting these students as long as the master’s degree is granted by a US Department of Education accredited institution, or foreign equivalent. These students will be required to complete the undergraduate component of the program with any eligible courses being transferred into Keiser University. They will also be required to successfully complete one eight-week supervised practice course in the master’s curriculum which is DIE 544 – Advanced Practice and show mastery of all ACEND required competencies for RDNs by completing any additional assignments per the Program Director. After completion of the requirement stated here, the student will be awarded the Verification Statement.
In addition to the university tuition, which is found in the Keiser University Undergraduate Catalog and Keiser University Graduate Catalog, students are responsible for the additional costs.
Additional information about eligibility requirements, career information, RDN Frequently Asked Questions, and current Registration statistics can be found at https://www.cdrnet.org/RDN.
Keiser University has been approved as an eligible institution by the United States Department of Education to participate in Federal Financial Aid Programs. Please note students must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States in order to be eligible for Federal funding.
Keiser University has the following institutional and Federal Aid programs available to students who qualify:
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is due by the end of the first week of the semester when the student begins classes.
Upon graduation from our Clinical Nutrition, MS Coordinated Program, you will have earned a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition as well as gained the abilities you need to:
Through Keiser’s graduate program in clinical nutrition, you will gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to develop the nutrition knowledge and skills to build a career in the diverse field of nutrition and dietetics. Potential career opportunities can include:
The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) defines Registered Dietitians/Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RD/RDN) as food and nutrition experts who have met CDR’s criteria to earn the RD/RDN credential. RD/RDNs work in a wide variety of employment settings, including health care, business and industry, community/public health, education, research, government agencies and private practice.
Helpful Links:
My instructors believed in me. They were more than instructors, they tried to get to know you as a person and tried to understand your goals so they could push you towards them. Student services helped me find a job before I even graduated. Everyone was dedicated to my overall success.
Going to Keiser University was one of the greatest experiences in my life. All of my deans, professors, and staff made me feel that I was a part of something very special, and I am. I would recommend for anyone to get their education at Keiser University.
The instructors at Keiser University impacted my life. They believed in my ability to become a great graphic designer, regardless of how I felt about my skills. KU helped to prepare me for the real world and got me to where I am today.
If not for my education at Keiser I probably would not be where I am today, in both life and career. It is because of going to Keiser and the instructors I had that I joined a club started by Mr. Williams, The Lakeland Shooters Photography Group, which allowed me to venture into an amazing and very creative field that I use to enhance all aspects of my life.
The Design program at Keiser University was filled with real world learning and hands on instruction… Based on the portfolio I created while a student at Keiser University, I landed a job in Graphic Design for a major online retailer immediately after graduation.
The year and a half I spent in the program better prepared me for attaining a job in the field…As a hands-on learner, the project-centered teaching was perfect for me.
Keiser University has given me the opportunity to embrace a career change… It has opened the door for a timely graduation and quick return to the work force…
Without the education I received at Keiser University, I would not be where I am today!
I not only received an excellent education but also encouragement and training that built my self-confidence every day.
I realize the amount of knowledge I gained and feel that the educational experiences have developed me in to a person who can move higher up the career ladder.
Keiser University’s MBA program has renewed my mind, changed the way I think, and given me a new sense of purpose. The professors transformed my attitude and behavior, gave me the self-confidence I was lacking, and restored my energy.
It has been great attending and graduating from Keiser University. Because of the small class sizes, I was able to build good relationships with classmates and professors. The PA professors care very much about the progress and success of the students and have been great advisors every step of the way through the program.
Attending Keiser University and getting my degree was the best decision I have ever made. The small class sizes and personalized attention helped me get my degree quickly. The hands-on experience and the education landed me a job at a neighboring law firm.
I chose Keiser because it had everything—small classes, caring professors, hands-on learning, and counselors that are really there for you. I feel like I’m part of a family here, not just a number.
After being denied for several promotions at my current employer, I decided that I needed to further my education. Since graduating from Keiser with my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, I have been promoted and I am able to obtain positions that weren’t available to me before.
Beyond the curriculum of the courses, the lessons the instructors have taught me have paid dividends in my real work experiences. How to respond to criticisms, project and time management, interview skills, the list goes on and on. At the end of the day, they not only showed me how to design, but they taught me how to be a professional.
Keiser helped change my life by getting my education at the right school! I had been going to another school before, I dropped out because I felt that I was not getting enough information. When I found out about Keiser, I was pleased because the instructors were great.
My decision to attend Keiser University has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. I chose to enroll in the Information Technology program… The one-class-a-month pace helped incredibly with my self-discipline.
The BA for Business Administration at Keiser has to be one of the best in the nation. Keiser takes the basics that are taught at the Associates level and uses them to strengthen your skills and knowledge.
I found that Keiser University’s Nuclear Medicine program of advanced studies and small class size was a perfect fit. I never came across a faculty member who wasn’t truly interested.
