Program Overview

• The UTMB MS/DI combined program is specifically intended for those seeking eligibility to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians and become credentialed as a Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN).
• Our 16-month, 44 credit Master of Science + Dietetic Internship combined program begins every Fall and ends the following December.
• We aim to enroll 20 students every Fall semester.
• In Fall 2020, our program concentration shifted to Patient/Client-Centered Care, a fundamental component of high-quality healthcare and a core competency for all health professionals. The previous program concentration was Clinical and Translational Research. For those interested in a research experience, all research opportunities will remain available as a selective/specialty rotation.
• Supervised practice sites are located in Galveston and the greater Houston metropolitan area. Applicants are required to have their own reliable transportation.
• A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 is required. On average, overall GPA for applicants is 3.58 +/- 0.3. Please see our admissions requirements page for further details.
• Our program consists of registered dietitian nutritionists and nutrition research faculty engaged in a variety of human and behavioral health research involving muscle physiology, protein metabolism, women’s health, pediatrics, global health, and physical activity interventions. Students are encouraged to complete a supervised practice research rotation, but it is not required.
• For more information about our program, view our pre-recorded Virtual Open House.

Graduate Performance on RD Registration Exam

Note: scroll left to view full table on mobile devices.

According to the latest RD exam statistics provided by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (January 2023 – June 2023), the first attempt pass rate for dietetic internship pathway graduates was 64.8% (880 of 1,359) while the total for all ACEND programs (Coordinated + Internship + Future Education Model) was 65.5% (1,179 of 1,799). The RD exam pass rate within one year of first exam attempt for dietetic internship graduates was 88.4% (3,107 of 3,515) while the total for all ACEND programs was 88.8% (4,031 of 4,541).

Graduate Degree Requirement for 2024

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a graduate degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor's degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) by December 31, 2023 before 12:00 Midnight (CST).

For more information about this requirement, please visit the Commission on Dietetic Registration website.

For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN, please visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics is the Academy's accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as registered dietitian nutritionists or dietetic technicians, registered. ACEND exists to serve the public by establishing and enforcing eligibility requirements and accreditation standards that ensure the quality and continued improvement of nutrition and dietetics education programs. Programs meeting those standards are accredited by ACEND.

The UTMB Dietetic Internship has been granted full accreditation status through 2024. For verification, you may contact ACEND:

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995

P: 1-800-877-1600, ext. 5400
P: 312-899-0040
F: 312-899-4817
E: acend@eatright.org
W: www.eatright.org