MS in Nutrition and Health Science (Coordinate Program)
Master’s of Science (MS) degree in Nutrition and Health Science and Supervised Practice Experience
The MS in Nutrition and Health Science can be completed alongside the supervised practice hours as a coordinated program.
Applications are currently open with a rolling admission until June 30th. The link to the application can be found on our Graduate Applications page.
For more information or questions on the program, please email the program director,
Sunnie Delano at sunnie.delano@pepperdine.edu.
Coordinated BS/MS/SPE Program*
For Pepperdine University, Seaver College Students Only
Students in the Nutritional Science program at Seaver College, Pepperdine University may apply, by the end of junior year, to the 5th year master's of science degree and supervised practice program (ISPP) add: “experience” to complete their ACEND requirements to be eligible for the registration examination, and if successful, to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). This new seamless program provides students an opportunity to complete their BS/MS/ISPP (replace with SP) in 5-6 years. For an undergraduate at Seaver College, the applications and interviews will be conducted during spring semester of junior year.
Program Accreditation
The Pepperdine University Coordinated Program in Dietetics at Pepperdine University
has been granted accreditation until January 30, 2030 by the Accreditation Council
in Nutrition and Dietetics of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside
Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, Illinois, 60606-6995, 800.877.1600, www.eatright.org.
All program outcomes data is available upon request, sunnie.delano@pepperdine.edu.
Requirements for Becoming a Credentialed Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
The requirements for becoming an RDN include:
- Complete a minimum of a master's degree granted by a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency or foreign equivalent, and coursework through an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics accredited Didactic, Coordinated, Graduate or International program.
- Complete required supervised practice/experience through an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship, Coordinated Program, or Graduate Program offered through an ACEND-accredited program.
- Pass the national exam for registered dietitians. Once requirement 1 and 2 are complete, you are eligible to sit for the national exam for registered dietitians.
- Meet any requirements that are specific to your individual state regarding licensure.
Licensure for RD/RDN and Professional Certification
There are 43 states that have licensure for the RDN, California does not have state licensure. The national Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential – This is a nationally recognized professional credential available through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Note that the CDR allows you to interchangeably use the credential titles RD (Registered Dietitian) and RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist) – these are the exact same thing. State certification that allows you to practice as a dietitian – Currently there are 5 states that refer to their state-level process for granting legal permission to practice dietetics as “certification” – but don’t confuse that with national certification through the Commission of Dietetic Registration. If you live in Connecticut, Indiana, Utah, Vermont, or Wisconsin you’ll hold state-level “certification” to legally refer to yourself and market your services as a Certified Dietitian, while all other states with laws governing the practice of dietetics use the term “license” or “registration.” Regardless of the term the state uses, earning the right to practice dietetics in any state requires that you first earn the national RD credential through CDR.
More information about becoming an RDN and the RDN exam can be found at: www.cdrnet.org/RDN.
What Natural Science Division Grads Are Doing
Employed Full-Time or Part-Time
Admitted to Graduate School
Seeking Employment or Grad School
Why Pepperdine
Pepperdine Seaver College is consistently recognized among the top-ranked universities in California and the United States. We are a Christian university where students grow in knowledge and character. As a liberal arts institution, we focus on providing rich opportunities for intellectual and spiritual exploration for students with a diverse community.
Located in Malibu, CA
13:1 Student-to-Faculty Ratio
80% of Students Participate in an International Program
120,000 + Alumni Network
Contact Us
Natural Science Division
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263
Office: RAC 106
Timothy Lucas
Divisional Dean & Professor of Mathematics
Stephanie Adler
Office Manager
Sunni DeLano
Director, NSCP-ISPP
Daphne Green
Lab Manager
Michael Kruel
Associate Lab Manager
Caleb Garcia
Administrative Assistant