Online Master's in Nutrition

A master's degree in Nutrition opens doors to a variety of careers. You can explore opportunities as a health consultant, nutrition educator, nutrition manager, research nutritionist, nutrition coach or even engage in food regulation and policy-making. These roles span across diverse sectors, offering a wide range of professional avenues.

The value of a master's in Nutrition largely hinges on your personal career objectives. If you aim to progress in nutrition-focused careers or target specialized positions, the advanced expertise and skill set acquired through a master's program can prove to be exceptionally beneficial.

All online Nutrition master's students pay the say affordable tuition rates regardless of their legal residency. Visit our Tuition & Aid page for details.

UND is committed to assisting students in funding their education, providing over $105 million in financial aid annually. A range of financial aid options offered by UND, including scholarships (merit-based), grants (need-based), and loans, help students alleviate college costs.

An online master's program in Nutrition generally takes about two years to complete, although this can vary. The flexibility of online learning enables students to balance their studies with personal and professional commitments, potentially extending the time needed to finish the program.

No. Even though the online M.S. in Nutrition does not provide a route to the RDN, it does fulfill the educational requirements for the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential. CNSs and RDNs have similar training but often work in different areas in the nutrition space. Both of these credentials require a master’s degree, 1,000 hours of supervised practice experience, and the successful completion of a national exam. CNSs often have their own nutrition practice whereas many dietitians hold positions in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Both careers have broad opportunities in nutrition leading to exciting career experiences.  

One important note is to examine the laws in the state you want to practice as licensure can impact the type of work you can do in the field of nutrition. In North Dakota both RDNs and CNSs are qualified for licensure and able to practice nutrition in very similar ways.

Gaining clarity what you expect after graduation can help you ask the right questions to the program director and also help you see your own career growth. Because this is such an important consideration, we ask our students after graduation if the program has helped them in their career and here are some of their responses: 

• “Yes, I would not have been able to secure my current position without this degree!” 
• “I feel I have more options for growth in my current job but also have the opportunity to expand into new careers.” 
• “HECK YES! Even just part way though the program I found I was more prepared to answer interview questions for outpatient nutritional counseling roles. This only continues to improve throughout the program and after completing it.” 
• “My education gave me the skills, confidence, and understanding to excel in the workplace and communicate effectively with clients and coworkers. I also got offered a promotion.” 
• “I received an immediate and unsolicited raise as a result of receiving my degree. I also feel more confident in my work which will likely lead to further opportunities.” 
• “While the M.S. did not open new doors for me (yet), I feel it has added value and credibility to my name and as a business owner. This is exactly why I pursued it initially. I feel that it may open doors and opportunities that would not otherwise be possible.” 

All of our students need to come into the program with some undergraduate pre-requisite courses in nutritional biochemistry and human physiology. Our advanced graduate courses require these as a foundation to build additional learning, and without the background courses, students struggle and do not get the same benefit from the advanced courses.  

UND offers a variety of ways to take undergraduate courses as a non-degree-seeking student so you can complete courses that will enhance your application without getting an additional undergraduate degree, many of which you can take online.  

For students with a limited science background, the following undergraduate courses are recommended: 

1. N&D 240 – Fundamentals of Nutrition 
2. CHEM 115 – Introductory Chemistry 
3. CHEM 116 – Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry 
4. BIMD 220 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I * 
5. BIMD 221 – Human Anatomy and Physiology II* 
6. N&D 441 – Nutritional Biochemistry* 

*Minimal program requirement