Program Overview

The Master of Science in Nutrition with a concentration in Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) as a Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (GP). It is designed primarily to seamlessly transition exceptional undergraduate students in Nutrition-Dietetics into an intensive one-year graduate program to prepare the next generation of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) for clinical practice. Students who complete the program will have earned a B.S. degree as well as a M.S. in Nutrition with a concentration in Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics in just five years and be eligible to take the national credentialing examination to become RDNs. External applicants who have completed program prerequisites are also eligible to apply. Students accepted through this route are expected to be able to complete the master’s program in two years. The program is accredited to accept up to a maximum of 20 students per year based upon applicant qualifications and availability of clinical, community, and foodservice placements.

A myriad of features make our program novel:

• Accelerated learning – Exceptional undergraduate students at UTK can complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree in just five years.
• Cost saving – Undergraduate students accepted into the program save time and money through a seamless transition to complete only one year of graduate study beyond the bachelor’s degree.
• Hands-on learning – Students immediately apply classroom learning through the integration of traditional coursework and practicum experiences.
• Confidence building- Students first practice nutrition assessment, education, and counseling skills in a supportive environment with peers, community members, and standardized patients before stepping into clinical practice.
• Interprofessional and diverse learning and practice – Students spend a portion of four consecutive semesters of supervised experiential learning in Cherokee Health System (CHS) clinics, which offers a wide range of health services to an increasingly diverse community. It also offers the opportunity to be an AHEC Scholar. Time in the clinics particularly hones communication and motivational interviewing skills.
• General clinical and specialty clinical practice emphasis – Students build a foundation in the acute care setting followed by elective specialties in a wide range of practice areas including pediatrics, oncology, dialysis, gastroenterology, critical care, endocrinology, bariatrics, and others. The greater Knoxville area boasts a variety of expert RDNs who contribute their time to precepting graduate students. Thus, graduates are well-prepared for employment in healthcare facilities, the primary employer of RDNs.
• Leadership Development – Students utilize leadership skills in the final semester of study through mentoring new students in the practice setting.
• Research experience – Students develop research literacy related to clinical practice and share their work through professional-level presentations.
• Expanded training – Students have the potential to expand their graduate education by also completing master’s concentrations in Community Nutrition or Biomedical Nutrition Science or applying for doctoral study in Community Nutrition or Biomedical Nutrition Science.