Requirements and Curriculum

• General Chemistry (two semesters)
• General Chemistry Lab (two semesters)
• Organic Chemistry*
• Biochemistry*
• Human Anatomy and Physiology*
• Microbiology
• Statistics
• Human Nutrition (300 or 400 level)
• Lifecycle Nutrition
• Food Science
• ServSafe manager certification due by June 1 prior to program start

*Lab recommended but not required for admission.

You may complete your prerequisites at most regionally accredited two- or four-year institutions. Applicants are expected to earn a grade of C or higher in all prerequisite courses or their equivalents. Basic science prerequisites must be completed within the past 10 years, and nutrition courses within the past five years.

Applications are reviewed holistically and on a case-by-case basis. In rare circumstances, applicants who do not fully meet prerequisite grade or recency requirements may be considered based on overall academic performance, demonstrated readiness for graduate-level work, and relevant experience.

Applicants who have not completed all prerequisite courses at the time of application may still be considered if no more than two prerequisite courses are outstanding by the application deadline and proof of enrollment in the remaining courses is provided prior to the start of the program. A screenshot demonstrating course enrollment is sufficient.

To discuss course equivalency, please contact Michelle Gimbar (mgimbar@buffalo.edu) 

To earn the Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition and receive a Verification Statement to sit for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) exam, students must complete all required coursework and supervised experiential learning outlined in the program. This is a full-time program completed in a cohort model; there is no part-time track.

Most students complete the program in about two years of full-time study. Progress may vary depending on individual circumstances, and we work closely with students to help them stay on track.

Program completion includes:

• Successful achievement and documentation of all scheduled supervised experiential learning hours
• A minimum “acceptable mastery” rating on all evaluations from preceptors in all rotations; all competencies must be met at an acceptable level
• A grade of B– or better in all graded courses
• A grade of S (Satisfactory) in all clinical core courses
• Submission of all assignments, with work deemed acceptable
• Completion of a culminating event: either a comprehensive exam, research project, or thesis

Students who do not make sufficient academic progress or fall behind on degree audit requirements may experience delays in graduation and the issuance of the verification statement.

Complete the professional curriculum in a sequence. There is no provision for part-time or evening-only enrollment. The curriculum includes all knowledge and practical skills required for your professional credentialing as a Registered Dietician Nutritionist. Successful completion of the program requires didactic coursework, supervised experiential learning experiences, and the graduate comprehensive exam, thesis or project.

The program includes supervised experiential learning in acute care, long-term care, outpatient settings, wellness facilities, and community and industry agencies. 

The PLAR application is designed to grant credit towards supervised experiential learning hours and/or projects based on the qualified applicant’s knowledge and learning, as demonstrated through prior coursework, paid work or volunteer experiences.

To receive credit towards supervised experiential learning hours and/or projects, you may submit a portfolio documenting how your prior work/ volunteer experience helped you meet the competencies required for an entry-level dietetics practitioner as outlined by ACEND.

The portfolio must contain:

• A completed PLAR application form.
• Samples of projects, reports, presentations, and professional practice that demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in dietetics for which PLAR credit is requested.
• Evidence that shows/demonstrates advanced knowledge and skill, not just work history.

PLAR does not award credit for:

• The number of years you have spent in a job.
• The number of workshops attended.
• The level of your position.
• The effort or time you have invested in preparing your portfolio.

Request the PLAR application and portfolio instructions upon admission. Submit the portfolio and PLAR application to the program director by August 1 prior to beginning the program as outlined above.

Upon successful completion of the program, the program director will work with you to complete the eligibility paperwork for the registration exam for dietitian nutritionists (RDN exam).

Verification statements will not be signed until the MS degree is conferred by UB. Degrees are not conferred by UB until the end of the term in which you complete your degree requirements (typically June 1).