Online Nutrition or Dietetics Master's Degree Programs

The Great Plains IDEA Online Nutrition or Dietetics Master's Degrees are diverse, just like our profession. You will apply cutting-edge information in food, nutrition, food service management, and wellness to enhance your practice. This program will teach you to think independently and critically to evaluate and apply new research concepts and theories to advance your career.

Why study nutrition & dietetics through Great Plains IDEA?

Our nutrition and dietetics master’s degrees are offered completely online which means you can complete your coursework when it’s convenient for you. Listen as graduate Casey Colin explains how the flexibility of this program allowed her to accomplish her goals.

Build your own degree program with two paths to graduation. One option provides those interested in entering the field of nutrition with a foundation in a community-focused, non-clinical program that opens the door to becoming a nutrition professional. The second option provides current Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) with the opportunity to expand their skills in either community-focused, clinical, or a combination of courses that advance your level of practice. Listen as graduate Brooke Noble shares her experience.

In both master's programs, the elective courses provide 21-24 credit hours to craft a program that fits your needs and interests. Whether you want to learn more about medical nutrition therapy, nutrition and aging, supporting public health initiatives, or how nutrition influences chronic disease, you can choose a path to help you make a difference in the lives of others.

Our online curriculum prepares you to integrate and apply nutrition and dietetics principles in biomedical sciences, human behavior, social ecological systems, and program management in order to design and lead effective food and nutrition programs.

Affordable Online Structure Designed for Flexibility and Convenience

Your home university is where you pay tuition, manage your program, receive academic advising, and meet graduation requirements. While you will take courses online from any of the participating universities, your home university will award the diploma at the completion of the program.

Designed for working professionals, the online nutrition and dietetics master’s degree provides flexibility and convenience, as well as affordability through a common price per credit hour through all universities.

"The Great Plains IDEA program has granted me opportunities through online learning that would never be possible in a traditional setting. As a military family, we are required to move frequently and sometimes unexpectedly. There were times when I lived in three different states in a matter of one year. The Great Plains IDEA program allows me to receive an outstanding education regardless of my home state. I have access to classes and universities throughout the United States to provide a comprehensive array of knowledge in my field. The Great Plains IDEA program has proven to be an excellent fit for myself and for my family."
Autumn Laurito, dietetics master's student and recipient of the 2022 Student Excellence Award.

Nutrition & Dietetics Program Formats

Each master's degree consists of a 32-credit hour curriculum that prepares future nutrition professionals and RDNs to practice at an advanced level in one of the most dynamic and versatile of the health-related professions. This interdisciplinary curriculum will provide you with the skills to adapt to the ever-evolving field of nutrition. Students typically finish in two to three years, taking one or two courses each semester.

Curriculum Overview for Both Degrees

Our online programs are tailored for future nutrition professional or current dietetics professionals who seek to develop their knowledge or explore new career opportunities in nutrition or dietetics practices. You can build a program of study that fits your needs and interests.

There are three core courses offered every fall and spring semester. These include current issues and trends, basic statistics, and research methods. These courses will ensure your success throughout the remainder of your program.

You will customize your degree experience through an additional 7-8 courses – 21-24 credit hours – of electives. Our elective courses allow you to choose a focus that best fits your professional needs and interests. 

Option A: Nutrition Master's Degree (Non-Clinical)

This option is for individuals interested in community nutrition, either as a future nutrition professional or current RDN. This program does not lead to eligibility for RDN credentials. In order to become RDN eligible, an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) master's degree and an internship are required.

You can choose from these courses to build out your master's degree program:

• Food Culture
• Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice
• Dietary and Herbal Supplements
• International Nutrition and World Hunger
• Maternal and Child Nutrition
• Micro Nutrients in Human Nutrition
• Advanced Human Nutrition: Macro Nutrients
• Nutrition: A Focus on Life Stages
• Nutrition Counseling and Education Methods
• Nutrition Education in the Community
• Nutrition and Human Performance
• Nutrition Assessment and Evaluation
• Nutrition and Wellness
• Obesity Across the Lifespan
• Public Health Nutrition

Option B: Dietetics Master's Degree (Clinical, for RDNs)

This program is designed for those who are already Registered Dietitian Nutritionists working in the field or those with verification from a didactic program in dietetics (DPD) or dietetic internship program. 

These courses are available:

• Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy
• Advance Nutrition: Nutrigenomics
• Clinical Aspects of Nutrition Support
• Diabetes Medical Nutrition Therapy
• Nutrition Aspects of Oncology
• Nutritional Therapy for Eating Disorder
• Pediatric Clinical Nutrition

Your culminating experience (3-6 credit hours) will depend on the requirements of your home university. This would be a thesis consisting of a comprehensive paper or project. The Dietetics & Nutrition Student Handbook provides further explanation about the culminating experience requirements for each home university.

Current students seeking supervisory committee members should contact their advisor for a list of available faculty.

Review the Master’s Degree Curriculum

Admission to the Online Nutrition or Dietetics Programs

Applications are accepted year-round so you can start in the fall, spring, or summer semester – whatever works best for you.

To be admitted to this program, you must meet the following requirements:

• Have a bachelor’s degree
• Fulfill (or meet) the entrance requirements for a master’s program at your home university. Typically, this requires a minimum 3.0 undergraduate grade point average or a 3.0 in the last 60 hours of coursework in the undergraduate degree
• The GRE or GMAT is not required by any participating universities
• Option B only: Have the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential (or be eligible to sit for the RDN exam).
• The Nutrition and Dietetics Student Handbook provides additional information.

View the Nutrition & Dietetics Student Handbook

"Great Plains IDEA has so many benefits for its students. The ability to continue my education while working full-time and growing my family has been a huge benefit for me. Earning the Student Excellence Award will greatly benefit my family as we begin our lives with our new daughter because we can use it to pay for the rest of my tuition and will not have to budget in finishing my degree."
Alison Eddy, dietetics and nutrition master's student, and recipient of the 2023 Student Excellence Award

Program Information at Participating Universities

Four universities work together to bring an innovative, top-notch academic experience, allowing you to get the best from our member universities. Learn more about the program at each participating university.

• North Dakota State University
• Oklahoma State University
• University of Kansas Medical Center
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Degree titles vary by university. Review the official master’s degree names at our member institutions in the Nutrition and Dietetics Student Handbook.

Go to the Nutrition and Dietetics Student Handbook

All Great Plains IDEA member universities are accredited by regional agencies, aligning with requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education. This ensures that students pursuing their degree through Great Plains IDEA are met with a high standard of academic excellence. All five member universities participating in the online nutrition and dietetics master's degree program are accredited. Learn more about the accreditation of our member universities. 

Career Opportunities with a Nutrition or Dietetics Master's Degree

A nutrition or dietetics master’s degree will open the door to numerous career possibilities in health-related professions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, six out of every ten adults in the United States have at least one chronic disease, and about four in ten have two or more chronic diseases. Nutrition professionals continue to play an increasingly important role in health promotion and disease prevention and management.

This degree can help you advance in fields such as:

• Public health and community nutrition
• Healthcare administration
• Pediatrics
• Critical care
• Wellness coaching and counseling
• Sports programs
• Employee wellness programs
• Nutrition education

Graduates of this program take diverse professional paths. Some places include:

• Hospitals
• Clinic long-term care facilities
• Private practice
• Community nutrition education interventions
• Nonprofit agencies
• Community or corporate health programs
• K-12 schools
• Correctional facilities
• Retail grocery
• Government programs

Some career paths are only available to those who hold the RDN credential which requires completing an internship followed by passing the RD exam.

Do you still have questions about a career in Dietetics? Find answers to 12 of the most commonly asked questions from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics or contact us with your questions.

Learn how Casey Colin, a graduate of this program, uses the skills and knowledge learned in this program every day in her job.

Collaborate with Expert Faculty

Great Plains IDEA’s Dietetics & Nutrition faculty come from four different home universities, providing a range of experiences and perspectives not able to be offered at a single university. Get to know more about the nutrition and dietetics faculty members at the bottom of this webpage.

Advance Your Career with a Nutrition or Dietetics Master's Degree

Great Plains IDEA’s online Nutrition or Dietetics master’s degree will provide you with the skills and knowledge to excel in your career in this high-demand profession.

Ready to get started? Learn how to get started today!

A master's degree designed to prepare Registered Dietitian and Nutritionists to practice at an advanced level in one of the most dynamic and versatile of the health-related professions.

Course List for Master's Degree