Skip to main content
University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
    • Admitted Students
    • Current Students
    • Families of Current Students
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Alumni
    • Email
    • Blackboard
    • Campus Connection
    • Employee Self-Service
    • Hawk Central
    • Degree Map
    • Zoom
  • Directory
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Student Life
  • Research
  • Athletics
  • Majors & Programs
  • About
University of North Dakota
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Student Life
  • Research
  • Athletics
  • Majors & Programs
  • About
  • Request Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
Accelerated Nutrition students in lab with instructor
  • Home
  • Program Finder
  • Nutrition (Accelerated B.S./M.S.)

Accelerated Nutrition Degree

B.S. and M.S.

Gain professional skills in human nutrition through our accelerated degree program.

Start your career in nutrition sooner by earning both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years. You’ll gain the knowledge and practical skills to advance in nutritional research, education, health coaching and counseling.

Program type:
Accelerated (Bachelor’s and Master’s)
Format:
On Campus or Online
Est. time to complete:
5 - 6 years
Credit hours:
144
  • Requirements
  • Tuition & Aid

Request Information

Why earn an accelerated Nutrition degree at UND?

Graduate Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 1
Spring:
Dec. 1
Summer:
May 1

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

Complete the required courses, and you'll earn both your bachelor's and master's degrees at the same time. You’ll declare your program of study as an undergraduate student and follow a straightforward plan to graduate with a master’s degree.

  1. Incoming freshman or transfer students apply to UND as an undergraduate student.
  2. After completing 60 credits, apply to the School of Graduate Studies.

With an accelerated degree in nutrition, you can take your nutrition expertise further. By combining a bachelor's in Human Nutrition with a master's in Nutrition, you'll build on your undergraduate education at an accelerated pace and develop advanced skills in nutrition science, education, counseling and research. This is a fast-paced and intense program.

At UND, you’ll explore how nutrition affects the body, helps prevent chronic disease and supports health and development throughout your life.

Through your nutrition studies, you’ll:

  • Build a strong foundation in nutrition science and understand how nutrients affect your health.
  • Assess nutrition needs and develop strategies that support healthier food and lifestyle choices.
  • Learn how to provide nutrition education to individuals, groups and communities.
  • Understand how cultural, social, economic and psychological factors can influence food choices and nutrition.
  • Use nutrition research to make informed, evidence-based recommendations.
  • Explore the nutritional needs of diverse populations.
  • Develop advanced skills in nutrition education and counseling.

Interested in becoming a Board Certified Nutrition Specialist?

UND's M.S. in Nutrition fulfills the current educational requirements for the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) with the allowance that the three-credit Anatomy & Physiology and a three-credit Biochemistry course are a prerequisite to the program. The Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS) requires a graduate degree in the field of nutrition from a regionally accredited university and specific coursework. Potential candidates will need to complete 1,000 hours of supervised practice experience beyond the academic requirements. BCNS reviews the candidate individually, including current course descriptions, transcripts and experience, to determine eligibility.

Accelerated Nutrition Degree at UND

  • Study at a Carnegie R1 Institution ranked #144 by the NSF. In 2025, just 187 American universities held the R1 status.

  • Complete your degree 100% online. You never have to come to campus.

  • Learn at one of the most affordable and accredited online master's degrees in Nutrition in the nation.

  • Join the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior, the Student Association for Nutrition & Dietetics or the North Dakota Nutrition Council to build your network of other nutrition professionals.

  • Get hired! At UND, you'll receive help perfecting your resume, practice interviewing, and learn effective job-hunting strategies.

  • Enhance your professional skills at 60+ free workshops offered through the UND School of Graduate Studies. Our goal is to provide you with the workforce skills and job search strategies to succeed.

Careers Opportunities with an Accelerated Nutrition Degree

76k

Median annual salary for dietitians and nutritionists, 2025

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

8%

Projected job outlook for dietitians and nutritionists through 2035

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The U.S. News & World Report ranks nutritionists/dietitians as one of the 100 Best Jobs. A master's in Nutrition opens the door to a number or job opportunities, including:

  • Health Consultant: Provide expert advice on diet, nutrition and the connection between good health and proper dieting, developing personalized plans to improve clients' health and wellness.
  • Nutrition Educator: Develop and deliver educational programs on nutrition and healthy eating habits, tailoring content to diverse audiences to promote better health outcomes. ​
  • Nutrition Manager: Oversee nutrition programs and services within organizations such as hospitals or schools, ensuring compliance with health regulations and effective delivery of nutritional care.​
  • Research Nutritionist: Conduct studies to explore the effects of nutrition on health, analyze data and contribute to scientific knowledge that informs dietary guidelines and public health policies.​
  • Nutrition Counselor: Work one-on-one with clients to assess dietary needs, develop personalized nutrition plans and provide guidance to help them achieve optimal health. ​
  • Food Regulation/Policy Maker: Develop and implement policies related to food safety, nutrition standards and public health initiatives to ensure communities have access to healthy food options.

Key Skills You’ll Develop

Through UND's online Nutrition master’s program, you will gain expertise in:

  • Nutrition Education: Designing and implementing effective educational materials and programs to convey essential nutrition information to various populations.
  • Nutrition Counseling: Providing personalized guidance and support to individuals to help improve their dietary habits and health outcomes.
  • Health Promotion: Developing initiatives that encourage healthy lifestyles and help prevent nutrition-related diseases within communities.
  • Strategic Planning: Creating long-term plans for nutrition programs and interventions, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and public health needs.

Top Employers Hiring UND Nutrition Graduates

UND Nutrition & Dietetics alumni have gone on to a variety of successful careers with:

  • Mayo Clinic
  • Altru Health System
  • Public School Systems
  • UMN Extension Service
  • University of Minnesota Extension
  • North Dakota Department of Health

Accelerated Nutrition Degree Courses You Can Take

N&D 240. Fundamentals of Nutrition. 3 Credits.

Fundamentals of Nutrition presents the basic understanding of nutrition science. This introductory course identifies nutrients, their functions, and food sources, and discusses how food behavior translates into nutritional health. Additional topics include evaluating nutrition information, evidence-based dietary guidelines, energy balance, and nutrition across the lifespan. Students learn to apply the principles of nutrition to their own food intake to improve their nutritional health. F,S,SS.

N&D 325. Nutrition Through the Life Cycle. 3 Credits.

Optimal growth and development throughout the lifespan requires proper nutrition that begins prior to conception. This course examines nutritional needs of Individuals prior to conception, during pregnancy and lactation, and throughout childhood, adolescence, and all of adulthood. The course will study the nutrient needs for each phase of the life cycle. Students will learn about the influence of nutrition on growth and development, as well as the physiological and developmental basis for food choice and dietary recommendations. Prerequisite: N&D 240. F.

Code N&D 250 not found (or empty).

N&D 554. Nutrigenomics. 3 Credits.

This course explores to the interactions between nutritional factors, genomics, and health. The course also explores the potential roles of the nutrition professional in developing personalize dietary prescriptions to optimize health, reduce disease risk, or improve management of chronic disease. Prerequisite: Undergraduate courses in biochemistry or advanced nutrition and human physiology. S.

N&D 564. Integrative and Functional Nutrition. 3 Credits.

The integrative and functional nutrition course will provide students with the framework and foundations of following an integrative and functional nutrition (IFN) approach. Students will learn about common IFN assessment including chemical labs, hormonal regulation, and the gut microbiome. This course will cover concepts in inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, endocrine disorders, autoimmune conditions, nutrition for mental and cognitive health, detoxification pathways, and more. Prerequisite: Admission to the program, a course in Human Physiology, or instructor permission. On demand.

N&D 550. Medical Nutrition Therapy I. 3 Credits.

An evidence-based study and application of the nutrition care process. This includes nutritional assessment techniques, pathophysiology in disease, and medical nutrition therapy for common medical condition. Prerequisite: N&D 441. Corequisite: N&D 650.

Online Accelerated Nutrition Degree

+170

online programs

#1

best colleges for adult learners in North Dakota

NICHE

UND's accelerated Nutrition degree is entirely online. You never have to come to campus. For this program, we offer the same online tuition rates regardless of your legal residency. Compare our tuition and you’ll see UND is lower cost than similar four-year doctoral universities.

As part of this program, you will experience a combination of asynchronous (on your own learning) and some live (synchronous) class sessions. We provide opportunities for you to learn in a variety of settings and gain insights from instructors and fellow students.

Regardless of the format of your classes, if you’re the kind of learner that likes active discussion, you’ll enjoy this online course format. Classes are structured similarly to on-campus classes with unique assignments, due dates and opportunities to discuss content with your classmates virtually.

With asynchronous classes, you do not attend class at a set time. If you need to balance work, family and other commitments, this flexible format allows you to learn anywhere at any time.

Depending on your instructor, you’ll learn online through:

  • Lesson modules
  • Streaming video content
  • Virtual libraries
  • Posted lectures
  • Online simulations

There will be times when you interact with your instructor and classmates through online discussion boards, polls and chat rooms.

Your learning revolves around materials that can be accessed on your own time within a set time frame. However, this is not a self-paced course. You’ll have structure and deadlines.

Synchronous classes are held in real-time. If you’re the kind of learner who likes active discussion and immediate feedback through live interaction, you’ll enjoy this online course format.

Every class is different, but generally, you’ll log into a virtual classroom at scheduled times to:

  • Listen to a lecture
  • Ask questions
  • Participate in class discussions
  • Conduct group activities
  • Participate in video-sharing
  • Have chat conversations
  • Use interactive whiteboards
  • Take live polls

You should prepare for your classes by finishing any assigned readings, compiling questions for your instructor and thinking about how to contribute to the next live class.

Leaders in Online Education

Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online; plus, more take a combination of online and on-campus classes. You can feel reassured knowing you won't be alone in your online learning journey, and you'll have resources and services tailored to your needs.

No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality education as any other on campus student.

  • Same degree: All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
  • Same classes: You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time and take the same classes as a student on campus.
  • Real interaction: You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers and professionals in the field.
  • Your own academic advisor: As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future career.
  • Free online tutoring: We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help online study resources.
  • Unlimited academic coaching: Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course? We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory to achieve higher test scores.
  • Full online access: Dig into virtual research at UND's libraries. Improve your writing skills with online help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and military services, financial services and more.
  • 24/7 technical support: UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.
  • Networking opportunities: Our significant online student population means you’ll have a large pool of peers to connect with. UND has numerous online events and activities to keep you connected.

Best Online College

Our high alumni salaries and job placement rates, with affordable online tuition rates make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs rivals all other nonprofit universities in the Upper Midwest making UND one of the best online schools in the region.

UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:

  • Affordability
  • Student satisfaction (retention rate)
  • Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
  • Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Payscale.com)

Request Information

Explore More Options

Connect with the nutrition and dietetics faculty you'll work with at UND or discover similar programs.

  • Department of Nutrition & Dietetics
  • More Nutrition Programs
Department Contact
Danielle Villano, PhD, RDN,  LD
Graduate Program Director
P 701.777.3753
danielle.villano@UND.edu

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.

By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies, Privacy Information.

Ready to Enroll?

  • Request Information
  • Schedule a Visit
  • Apply Now
  • UND.info@UND.edu
  • 701.777.3000
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Contact UND
  • Campus Map
  • Events Calendar
  • Community & Belonging
  • Explore Programs
  • Employment
  • Make a Gift
  • Campus Safety (SafeUND)
University of North Dakota

© 2026 University of North Dakota - Grand Forks, ND - Member of ND University System

  • Accessibility & Website Feedback
  • Terms of Use & Privacy
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination
  • Student Disclosure Information
  • Title IX
©
UND.info@UND.edu
701.777.3000 | 1.800.CALL.UND
UND.edu/programs