Please note: If you are not currently a registered dietitian or do not hold a bachelor's degree in the field of nutrition, this program does not provide eligibility to sit for the National Registration examination to become a registered dietitian, nor does it provide eligibility to apply to a dietetic internship.

Samford's program will:

  • Provide you with an advanced knowledge of the field of nutrition sciences
  • Improve and strengthen your analytical and research skills
  • Prepare you to take leadership roles in the nutrition profession, influencing and contributing to nutrition services, education, programs and policies
  • Develop your oral and written communication skills for the education of nutrition professionals, allied health professionals, students, clients and others in the general public

Application Timeline

  • Application Opens: Aug. 1, 2023
  • Early Action Deadline: Nov. 1, 2023 (Applications submitted by the Early Action Deadline will receive priority consideration when scholarships are awarded.)
  • Rolling Admission: Decisions are released approximately two weeks after all application materials have been received.
  • Application Closes for Summer Start: April 1, 2024 (Applications submitted after April 1 will be reviewed on a rolling basis if space is available in the program. Please contact the School of Public Health recruiter at publichealth@samford.edu if this applies to you.)
  • Application Closes for Fall Start: June 1, 2024 (Applications submitted after June 1 will be reviewed on a rolling basis if space is available in the program. Please contact the School of Public Health recruiter at publichealth@samford.edu if this applies to you.)
  • Entry Month for Summer: May 2024
  • Entry Month for Fall: August 2024

Admission Requirements

  • Possess a baccalaureate degree in any field from a college or university that holds institutional accreditation, or be in the senior year of undergraduate study
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Achieve a C or better in all prerequisite courses from a college or university that holds institutional accreditation. All prerequisite courses must have been completed within 10 years prior to application. Required prerequisite courses include mathematics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, and introductory nutrition.
  • Submit valid GRE, MCAT, or DAT scores (Please note: This entry exam requirement has been waived for the 2024 application cycle.)
    • GRE minimum scores: Verbal, 153: Quantitative, 144; Analytical, 4.0
    • MCAT equivalent of 492
    • DAT minimum score of 14
  • Submit three letters of reference through the application system. References should be from 1] a current or previous professor, 2] a work supervisor and 3] a registered dietitian or another current or previous professor
  • International applicants must score at least a 550 (paper), 213 (computer) or 80 (internet) on the TOEFL or a 6.5 on the IELTS Academic test. This may also apply to American citizens who learned English as a second language.
  • International applicants may be required to submit a WES/ECE transcript review. The School of Public Health Admission Office will contact you at the time of application review if this is necessary.
  • We cannot issue an I-20 for this program at this time.
  • If accepted, a non-refundable fee of $1,000 is required to secure admission into the program. The fee is applied to the first semester’s tuition.
  • Exceptions to any of the admission requirements may be considered on an individual basis.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Science in Nutrition, graduates will:

  • Demonstrate mastery of advanced knowledge of nutrition.
  • Demonstrate advanced knowledge and learning of a specialty area in the field of nutrition.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in scientific methodology and critical thinking.
  • Demonstrate effective communication (both oral and written) skills.
  • Demonstrate attributes of professional development consistent with the field of nutrition.

Plans of Study

Rationale

Based on the recommendations of the Council on Future Practice Visioning Report of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics released in 2012, the Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR), at its April 2013 meeting decided to move the entry-level registration eligibility education requirements for dietitians, beginning in 2024, from a baccalaureate degree to a minimum of a graduate degree. The need to elevate entry-level Registered Dietitian education to a graduate level is consistent with the knowledge, skills, and research base required in the field of nutrition and dietetics. Further, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that many dietitians have advanced degrees and that employment of dietitians is expected to increase an average of 16% from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations.