The Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition program is offered completely online and meets a variety of professional needs. It is a clinically focused program that integrates biomedical and nutrition sciences to develop an understanding of medical nutrition therapy. Required courses ensure expert mastery of nutrition theory, assessment, and therapy. Electives offer the opportunity to explore nutrition epidemiology, exercise physiology, nutrition pharmacology and oncology, and other emerging topics and issues. Journal readings supplement textbooks to enhance instructional materials.

This asynchronous online program is available in a flexible format easily accessed by students of diverse backgrounds. Students with a baccalaureate degree in nutrition, as well as students at all levels of allied health and medical education, can use this program to integrate nutrition into their professional study. This program is also open to students with degrees in other areas who have completed the prerequisites and wish to be involved in nutrition and health careers. The interprofessional relationships facilitated by our courses give students exposure to the best of teamwork situations. More information is available from Program Director Mindy Haar, Ph.D., RDN, CDN, FAND at mhaar@nyit.edu.

Program Overview

Students in the clinical nutrition program learn through web-based coursework that includes frequent interaction among instructors and classmates. While there are no set meeting times, discussion board platforms utilizing audio, video, and text-based posts help maximize a sense of community within each course. The New York Tech library system and the medical library at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine have extensive book and journal collections, online facilities, and interlibrary loan capabilities to accommodate nutrition research.

Coursework is completed online and students are expected to log in to courses at least three times per week at their convenience. As a result, the expense and time of commuting to campus are saved as students benefit from experienced, knowledgeable faculty who are available by phone and email.

Degree Requirements

• Nutrition Science Core: 6 credits
• Clinical Science Core: 18 credits
• Elective Courses: 12 credits
• Comprehensive Exam
• Total Required: 36 credits

Faculty
Students are taught by full-time clinical nutrition faculty as well as adjunct faculty with specialized skills in bionutrition research, clinical dietetics, community nutrition, nutrition oncology, and pharmacology.

Academic Standards

Academic Criteria
The following criteria must be met by students in the clinical nutrition program.

• Maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher each semester
• Have no grade below C in any course; students may repeat the course one time only to raise their grade

Grade Appeal
The School of Health Profession's grade appeal policy can be found on Facilities and Resources.

Academic Probation
Academic probation is automatically imposed when:

• GPA falls below 3.0 in any semester
• Cumulative GPA falls below 3.0

Dismissal/Failure
Grounds for departmental review and possible dismissal from the program include:

• Academic probation in two consecutive semesters
• Failure in any course
• Unprofessional behavior, including cheating and plagiarism, that have not been corrected after intervention by the instructional staff

Maintaining Matriculation and Requirements for Graduation

Students must maintain a B average (3.0) in graduate courses to maintain matriculation. If their average drops below a B, they may continue for one semester on probation to achieve the desired average. If circumstances require that a student not take courses for one semester, that student must maintain matriculation by registering for CLNU 699 Maintain Matriculation.

Graduation with the Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition requires the following:

• Successful completion of required and elective courses with a B average
• Registration for the comprehensive examination (CLNU 799) and passing (75 percent) grades in each of its three sections:
  • Nutrient and Nutrition Pathophysiology
  • Nutrition Assessment, Wellness and Disease Prevention
  • Nutrition Therapy

Comprehensive examinations are given at the end of fall, spring, and summer semesters. Students receive a pass/fail grade for the examination on their transcripts. Students may retake the comprehensive examination one time. If students do not pass the second time, they must demonstrate additional study and/or coursework in the areas of weakness and apply for permission to retake the comprehensive examination.

Detailed information about the program is included in the Clinical Nutrition Student Handbook.

International F-1 students who successfully complete this degree are eligible for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension to work in the U.S. in an area directly related to their area of study immediately upon completing the customary 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

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Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university
• Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.85 with satisfactory preparation in science courses
  • Students with a GPA between 2.50 and 2.84 may be accepted with conditions and upgraded to full matriculated status if they obtain a 3.0 (B) or higher in the first four graduate courses.
  • Students with a GPA of less than 2.5 will be required to complete six undergraduate credits with a B or better (courses to be selected by the student's advisor) to obtain provisional admission.
  • Students who fall into the above categories will not be permitted to continue in the M.S. program for more than two semesters unless they have qualified for fully matriculated status, or there are special extenuating circumstances.
• GRE scores may be required for students whose preparation does not meet standard admission requirements.
• An interview may be required. Interviews will be scheduled upon receipt of all supporting documentation. If the student does not live in the New York area, the interview can be done by phone.
• Complete science prerequisites. Students who are missing no more than two of the science prerequisites may be considered for full admission. These students, at the discretion of the program director, may take selected clinical nutrition graduate courses concurrently with the science prerequisites. The missing science courses must include a lab, be approved by the program director, and be completed successfully before the student continues in the program.
  • Chemistry Prerequisites
    • One semester of inorganic (general) chemistry with laboratory
    • One semester of organic chemistry with laboratory
    • One semester of biochemistry (one semester of bio-organic chemistry may be substituted for organic chemistry and biochemistry)
  • Biology/Physiology Prerequisites
    • One semester of human physiology and one semester of human anatomy or two semesters of combined anatomy and physiology
    • One year of biology is usually a prerequisite for human physiology
    • Clinical or medical microbiology is recommended
  • Nutrition Prerequisites
    • Introductory course in nutrition. Students who have not previously taken introductory nutrition can take the undergraduate course, NTSI 201 F01 Introduction to Clinical Nutrition Practice, available online during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Students who take this course toward the admission requirements may not count it as graduate credit.

Transfer Credits

Credits for relevant graduate courses taken at other accredited institutions may be accepted for transfer based on review and evaluation consistent with New York Institute of Technology standards. Transfer credit is limited to six credits of graduate work and may not have been used for another degree. Courses for transfer credit must have been completed with a B or better. If you have completed the dietetic internship at New York Tech, you will be credited with approximately 11 graduate credits.

Application Materials

• Completed application
• $50 nonrefundable application fee
• Copies of undergraduate transcripts for all schools attended. All final, official transcripts must be received prior to the start of your first semester.
• Copy of college diploma or proof of degree
• Official GRE scores, if required (GRE Code: 2561)
• International student requirements: English proficiency and transcript evaluation
  • As this is an online program, which may be completed in the home country, matriculation in this program does not qualify an international student for a U.S. F-1 visa.