Accelerated B.S. + M.S. In Nutrition Sciences

"I feel that in every class, I received the best advice that applied to what I want to do as a career," said Megan Scutti ’15, a retail dietitian for ShopRite supermarkets. "Many of my professors had such a diverse level of experience in the nutrition field."

Motivate others to lead healthy lives

Our 5-year Accelerated Bachelor's + Master's program in Nutrition Sciences will give you the knowledge, training, and clinical experience to enter this dynamic and rewarding field as a Registered Dietitian or a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Upon successful completion of the graduate program, a verification statement is granted and the graduate is eligible to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration exam. This program was developed in response to the credentialing changes that will take effect on January 1, 2024.

Our cutting-edge approach to nutrition education will give you an advantage in your job search, saving you time and money. The accelerated degree program allows students the opportunity to complete the requirements for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees at an accelerated pace, to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in five years, versus a traditional path that would take between 6 to 7 years of full time academic work. All requirements for both the undergraduate and graduate degrees must be met, and students must meet all program requirements, to remain on this accelerated pathway.


Changes in the Nutrition & Dietetics Field

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s 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) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree.

In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences program at the University of New Haven are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RD/RDN. Please note the B.S. in Nutrition Science alone is not ACEND accredited and is intended as a pathway for students interested in pursuing the ACEND accredited Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences and becoming a Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

Envision Your Future

The information below is designed to show the many possible careers you could pursue with your major. The research is provided by Encoura, the leading research and advisory firm focused exclusively on higher education. It includes median national salaries and industry growth projections over the next decade. Click here to view the full report.

$80K

School Food Service Director

$85K

Biological Scientists

$95K

Director of Clinical Nutrition

Degree Program Options

nutrition program students

The University of New Haven offers a wide variety of in-depth courses that create a transformational educational experience for our students. To view the complete list of courses you'll take while pursuing a degree in Nutrition Sciences, check out the Academic Catalog:

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From career assessments, networking, and job shadowing to on-campus interviews and salary negotiation, the Career Development Center provides the skills and connections to identify a meaningful career and an opportunity to pursue your passion.

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  • In addition to the general admission requirements for all prospective University of New Haven students, it is recommended that applicants to the accelerated Nutrition Sciences program demonstrate satisfactory performance in the sciences and mathematics. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed both high school biology and chemistry with laboratory and two years of college preparatory mathematics.

    An in-person or telephone interview with the department director or a faculty member is recommended; letters of recommendation supporting the student’s ability to pursue a rigorous science-based curriculum and desire to contribute in the health care delivery system are strongly encouraged. Admission to the program is limited.  All students enrolled as freshman must be full-time students. For additional admission criteria regarding the nutrition sciences program contact Admissions.

    Admission Criteria and Procedure for Full-Time Freshman Students

    • Complete the Undergraduate Application for Admission and submit it to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions with the non-refundable application fee.
    • Submit official secondary/high school transcript including: Science grades (must have a “B” grade or better in biology and chemistry); Math grades (must have a “B” grade or better in all math courses); GPA: 2.9 / higher on a 4.0 scale
    • Official SAT or ACT Scores Submission of SAT or ACT test scores for admission is optional for incoming undergraduate and transfer student applications (optional)
    • Submit at least one (1) letter of recommendation.
    • A personal essay is required.
    • An interview with the Nutrition Sciences Program Director is optional.
  • We offer a comprehensive financial aid program, with students receiving assistance in the form of grants, scholarships, student loans, and part-time employment. Funds are available from federal and state governments, private sponsors, and from university resources. More than 85 percent of the University's full-time undergraduate students receive some form of financial assistance.

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Licensure and Certification Information

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). Students interested in this dual degree program should contact Undergraduate Admissions.

Please note the B.S. in Nutrition Sciences alone is not ACEND accredited and is intended as a pathway for students interested in pursuing the ACEND accredited Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences and becoming a Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

For the B.S. Nutritional Sciences program without continuing into the M.S. Nutritional Sciences program:

  • Our curriculum does not meet the educational requirements for licensure in AL, AK, AS, AR, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MS, MO, MP, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WV, WI, and WY.
  • The following states/territories do not regulate licensure/certification for Registered Dietitians: AZ, CA, CO, MI, MT, VI, and VA.

NOTE: Our 5-year Accelerated Bachelor's + Master's program in Nutrition Sciences will give you the knowledge, training, and clinical experience to enter this dynamic and rewarding field as a Registered Dietitian or a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Upon successful completion of the graduate program, a verification statement is granted and the graduate is eligible to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration exam. This program was developed in response to the credentialing changes that will take effect on January 1, 2024.

Click the link below for contact information on State licensure boards.

Licensure Information

Click here for more information on Licensure & Professional Certification Disclosures.