Program Quick Facts
Online Coursework
Flexible, online classes and a one-week in-person clinical bootcamp make it easier to reach your goals while balancing work and family life.
Innovative VR Experiences
Practice clinical skills through proprietary VR dietetics curricula in one of the nation’s only accredited programs with a VR dietetics simulation lab.
ACEND-Accredited
The NMSU Dietetic Internship is currently granted accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.
Earn Your Master’s While Completing Your Supervised Practice
The online Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Human Nutrition and Dietetic Sciences at NMSU Global Campus integrates graduate-level study with a supervised dietetic practice experience. If you’ve completed an ACEND-accredited bachelor’s degree in dietetics, this combined online master’s degree and supervised practice experience program prepares you to pursue credentialing as a Registered Dietitian or Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN).
Through flexible online coursework and 1,000+ hours of supervised practice in clinical, community, and foodservice settings, you’ll build advanced expertise across key areas of dietetics. You’ll also strengthen clinical reasoning through a proprietary virtual reality curriculum, including immersive case scenarios and AI-based patient interactions — cutting-edge technologies used by just a few accredited dietetics programs nationwide.
Upon successful completion of the master’s program and supervised practice experience, graduates are eligible to sit for the national RDN exam and apply for licensure or certification in their state. Faculty continuously refine the curriculum and exam preparation, reflected in graduation and exam pass rates that consistently exceed national benchmarks.
For motivated students who are eager to engage deeply in the full scope of dietetics practice, this combined online master’s degree and supervised practice experience program prepares you to not only contribute meaningfully to the profession, but to lead within it.
Apply NowDietitian Nutritionist Career Pathways
The online Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Human Nutrition and Dietetic Sciences produces graduates recognized by employers for their clinical confidence and well-rounded preparation.
They serve as essential members of healthcare and community teams, working alongside physicians and other professionals in hospitals, outpatient clinics, community health centers, foodservice operations, food banks, and sports nutrition settings.
Completion of the combined online master’s degree and supervised practice experience program, followed by passing the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam, will allow you to seek state licensure and practice as a:
- Registered Dietitian (RD)
- Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
Ready to take the next step?
Request Information“The smaller student-teacher ratios and the flexibility to reach out to my professors within 24 hours or less allowed me to form deep connections with them.”
Patsy G., Class of 2024
The online Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Human Nutrition and Dietetic Sciences is a full-time graduate program combined with a supervised practice experience. Over the course of the program, students complete rigorous graduate-level study in statistics, research methods, advanced nutrition science, and professional seminars while simultaneously applying that knowledge in structured rotations.
Students may complete rotations with partners throughout southern New Mexico, or in approved sites within their home communities across the country. Rotation opportunities span acute care clinical settings, nutrition support, school and child nutrition programs, food banks, foodservice leadership environments, and even in-person work with NMSU athletics. All students also engage in immersive virtual reality simulations using a Meta Quest VR headset, expanding clinical reasoning and patient interaction skills.
The program offers both thesis and non-thesis options to align with varied career goals. Students who choose the thesis option have the opportunity to conduct independent, faculty-mentored research and develop advanced skills in clinical dietetics, evidence-based practice, and hands-on activities. The non-thesis option emphasizes applied research through a focused project and professional conference presentation.
Delivery Format: Online coursework with in-person clinicals and 1-week bootcamp
Program Credits: 38-44 credits
Program Length: 2 years full-time, up to 3 years part-time
Cost Per Credit Hour: $444.40** + $600 program fee per semester***
Active Military Cost Per Credit Hour: $250* + $600 program fee per semester***
College: Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences
Application Deadlines: We are currently admitting students for 2026-2027. Please share your DICAS application with us! The deadline to apply through the online Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS) is September 15 and January 15 every year.
Fill out the form to talk to an advisor.
The online Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Human Nutrition and Dietetic Sciences is completed over two academic years of full-time study and must be finished within three years. A minimum of 39 graduate credits is required for the non-thesis option, with an additional 3-4 credits required for students who select the thesis track.
Students must complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised practice, including 512 hours in clinical dietetics, 320 hours in community nutrition, and 192 hours in foodservice systems management. A minimum grade of B- or higher is required in all coursework and supervised practice rotations.
For students residing within 100 miles of the main New Mexico State University campus, the DI Director will take the lead in requesting supervised practice rotations from partner facilities in the region.
Students who reside more than 100 miles from the NMSU main campus will meet with the DI Director before or during the first week of their first semester to develop a strategic plan for securing supervised practice placements in their local area. Prospective students are encouraged to review detailed information about this program on the New Mexico State University Dietetic Internship website.
The program admits students in the fall and spring semesters. Supervised practice is completed during the academic year, with optional summer rotations available.
| Sample Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| NUTR 5150: Orientation to Dietetic Internship | 3 |
| AXED 5510: Research Methods | 3 |
| AXED 5515: Data Collection and Analysis | 3 |
| NUTR 5630: Community Nutrition for Dietetic Interns | 3 |
| NUTR 5650: Foodservice Management for Dietetic Interns | 3 |
| NUTR 5670: Nutrition Care Process for Dietetic Interns | 3 |
Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree in dietetics from an ACEND-accredited university
- A minimum 3.0 GPA in undergraduate coursework
- A signed verification statement or DPD Declaration of Intent (for students who have not yet completed their undergraduate degree) from an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)
- An accepted internship slot from the online Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS)
- No GRE required
How to Apply
Admission to the NMSU Dietetic Internship requires concurrent admission to the NMSU Graduate School. You’ll need to complete:
- The internship application: Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS)
- Your application to the Graduate School: Apply to NMSU Global Campus
(Students from NMSU’s DPD undergraduate program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher may apply directly to NMSU Global Campus as a first and only application.)
There is a $50 DICAS application fee for the first program, and $25 for each additional program. The Graduate School application fee is waived the first time you apply to NMSU Global Campus.
At NMSU Global Campus, we strive to offer competitively priced tuition to keep your tuition costs affordable. If you need financial aid, we’re ready to work with you to determine the best ways to finance your education.
Financial assistance includes loans, grants, and scholarship opportunities. To apply, use NMSU’s convenient Scholar Dollar$ one-stop scholarship application, which serves all students in the NMSU system.
NMSU and NMSU Global Campus students are also eligible for loans and grants. The first step in applying for financial aid is to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Learn more about financial aid opportunities at NMSU.
Contact Financial Aid
Phone: 1-888-729-6678
Email: globalFA@nmsu.edu
Accreditation
New Mexico State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Specialized accreditation from other accrediting agencies is also granted for some programs. NMSU’s accreditation ensures that your education meets high-quality standards and that your credits are transferable.
*Terms and conditions apply.
**For NMSU Global Campus programs and courses, the per credit hour cost is listed above. Special tuition agreements (Western Undergraduate Exchange, Descubre, etc.) are not applicable to NMSU Global Campus programs. Course fees still apply and are charged separately. Textbooks, uniforms, equipment, etc., are additional program costs. Additional per credit costs might be charged by the program, department or college.
*** In addition to standard NMSU tuition cost per credit hour and fees listed above, there is an additional program fee of $600 per semester (fall and spring) for students enrolled in the online Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Human Nutrition and Dietetic Sciences.