Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, Specialization in Dietetics (BSND)
Master of Dietetics and Nutrition (MDN)
Combined Degree Program
Title: Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, Specialization in Dietetics/Master of Dietetics and Nutrition (BSND/MDN)
Sponsoring Colleges: College of Education and Human Ecology, College of Medicine
Description and Rationale: Qualified students majoring in Human Nutrition with a specialization in Dietetics may complete a combined undergraduate/graduate degree program via a 5-year (3+2) Model. Students have the opportunity to complete both the BSND and MDN degrees more efficiently than had the degrees been completed separately. Years 1, 2 and 3 involve completion of undergraduate courses required for the Dietetics major; Year 4 is a combination of undergraduate courses and MDN graduate courses and Year 5 is all graduate coursework. Up to 9 credits of the MDN graduate courses can count toward the bachelor's degree.
Total combined credit hours for dual BSND-MDN Degrees: 170 credits
Credits required to earn the Undergraduate BSND Degree: 120 credits
Credits required to earn the Graduate MDN Degree: 59 credits
Total Credits of Approved Course Overlap in the Combined Degree Program: 9 credits
Estimated Duration and Planned Timeline for Completion of the Combined Degree Program: 5 years
Curriculum/Graduation: The curriculum is structured so that students will fulfill all knowledge requirements for the nationally accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) by combining three years of undergraduate coursework with the first year of graduate coursework. If a student pursuing the BSND-MDN combined degrees decides not to finish the MDN, but only graduate with the BSND, they are still meeting baccalaureate degree requirements and DPD knowledge requirements within a four-year period.
Explanation of Overlap: Combined BSND-MDN Plan of Study (120 BSND credit hours + 59 MDN credit hours, with 9 hours of overlap)
Compared to the "traditional" BSND degree:
Substitute MDN 6000 Medical Nutrition Therapy and Pathophysiology 1 (3 Gr Credits) for HUMNNTR 5611 Medical Nutrition Therapy 1 (3 UG Credits)
Substitute MDN 6050 Nutrition Care Process Laboratory 1 (2 Gr Credits) for HUMNNTR 5622 Medical Nutrition Therapy 1 Laboratory (1 UG Credit) and HUMNNTR 5623 Medical Nutrition Therapy 2 Laboratory (1 UG Credit)
Substitute MDN 6100 Medical Nutrition Therapy and Pathophysiology 2 (3 Gr Credits) for HUMNNTR 5612 Medical Nutrition Therapy 2 (3 UG Credits)
Substitute MDN 6889 Supervised Practice: Foodservice Management (1 Gr Credit) for CSHSPMG 3730 Food Service practicum (1 UG Credit)
Program Advising:
Criteria for application to the combined BSND-MDN degree program are based on The Ohio State University Graduate School Handbook Section 8.1.4 and include:
- completion of a minimum of 90 undergraduate credit hours
- a minimum of 3.5 cGPA in all previous undergraduate work (including credit hours from other institutions)
OSU Human Nutrition Dietetics majors in the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) who copmlete at least 90 UG credit hours of required coursework for the Dietetics major, including MDN prerequisites, with a minimum cGPA of 3.5, are eligible to apply for this accelerated dual degree program. Potentially eligible students will be identified by institutional research staff in the EHE Office of Research, Innovation, and Collaboration (ORIC). ORIC staff will provide a list of potentially eligible students to the Dietetics Coordinator, the DPD Director and the Co-Directors of the MDN, who will notify all potentially eligible students of the opportunity to apply for the combined degree by the end of Spring Term prior to their final year in the Dietetics major.
Upon admission to the BSND-MDN program, students will receive the advising sheet with their plan of study and curricular requirements and the MDN Handbook. They will meet with their academic advisors to review the advising sheet and schedule classes for their first semester in the combined degree, including the overlap courses outlined above. They will have a second meeting with their advisor prior to the second semester to schedule courses required for the dual degrees, including the remaining overlap courses.
Any student who may wish to leave the dual degree program with a bachelor's degree may withdrawal from the MDN at any point after completing the 120 credits for the BS in Nutrition, Specialization in Dietetics, which typically occurs at the end of year four of undergraduate course work (see Sample Plan).
If a student decides to withdraw from the dual degree prior to completing requirements for the BSND, any MDN courses completed with a C- or higher will be counted toward the equivalent BSND/DPD requirements. If the student is interested in completing the BSND and DPD, the student will meet with their advisor to scheudle any remaining undergraduate courses required for the bachelor's degree.
Assessment of Student Progress:
BSND Assessment: During the first year of the combined degree, students will complete their requirements for the BS degree and begin their graduate courses for the MDN. A DPD Verification Statement certifies that a student has successfully completed both a baccalaureate degree and all requirements for the accredited DPD curriculum embedded in the BSND. These requirements are outlined in the DPD Handbook, available at https://ehe.osu.edu/undergraduate/dietetics. For students in the BSND-MDN program, the same criteria for attainment of the BS degree and the DPD verification statement apply, with the exception that completion of the 9 credits of graduate MDN overlap courses, with a C- or higher, will fulfill the requirements for the 9 credits of undergraduate coursework in the Dietetics major and in the DPD curriculum.
MDN Assessment: The MDN is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)as a Future Education Model program. As such, students are assessed on attainment of ACEND-required competencies. Complete details regarding graduation requirements are contained in the MDN Handbook available at https://hrs.osu.edu/academics/graduate-programs/master-of-dietetics-and-nutrition/program-details. In brief, students must complete all MDN course requirements with a minimum cGPA of a 3.0 and demonstrate attainment of all ACEND-required competencies to successfully earn the graduate degree. The 9 credits of overlap MDN courses will contribute toward the minimum cGPA of 3.0 and competencies within these course swill be assessed by instructors and preceptors.