Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! The MS in Nutrition Sciences, Dietitian Education Program (DEP) is a Coordinated Program in Dietetics accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The DEP combines the academic requirements and supervised practice experiences needed to qualify graduates to take the Registration Examination for Dietitian Nutritionists offered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration to become an RDN.

Students from all disciplines are welcome to apply to the Dietitian Education Program as long as they have completed the following prerequisite courses: biology, organic chemistry, physiology, microbiology, and the equivalent of a Minor in Nutrition Sciences.

All prerequisites must be completed prior to beginning this degree program. Students who are missing prerequisites are encouraged to find courses at their local university or community college. Those missing the required nutrition courses are encouraged to complete these requirements with a Minor in Nutrition Sciences at UAB.

Students who are missing all nutrition prerequisites may consider applying to the MS in Nutrition Sciences, Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention (LMDP) track. The LMDP track is designed for students with a non-nutrition background interested in pursuing a career in the field of nutrition. Students in the LMDP track are eligible to enroll in the Dietitian Education Graduate Certificate Program upon successful completion of 29-specified credit hours of their LMDP plan of study. Upon completion of the LMDP track with the Dietitian Education Graduate Certificate Program, students are eligible to sit for the national examination to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.

The “Transfer Credit Equivalencies” tool can help you determine if the courses you completed compare to those we recommend at UAB.

Students are eligible to apply to the DEP if they’ve completed all necessary prerequisite requirements. If you’re far from completing all of these, you may find completing the prerequisites required for admission to the LMDP a more expedited option. Both Master of Science tracks require the same science courses to be eligible to apply, but the DEP requires more nutrition prerequisites.

Students admitted to the Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention (LMDP) track are eligible to enroll in the Dietitian Education Graduate Certificate Program (DEP-C) after they’ve completed the 29 specified credit hours of their LMDP plan of study.

The result of either option? Being eligible to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitian Nutritionists offered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration to become an RDN.

Distance-based students are welcome to apply to the Dietitian Education Program. The curriculum is offered entirely online, and practicum requirements can be completed wherever you are located.

Though this Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences track offers coursework entirely online and the option to complete practicums remotely, this is an intensive, full-time graduate degree program. Therefore, students are discouraged from working while enrolled in the Dietitian Education Program or the Dietitian Education Graduate Certificate Program. These programs are accelerated and demand a significant amount of time and energy.

For the most up-to-date information on tuition and fees, please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid “Paying for College” webpage. Our graduate programs can be found under the “Graduate” tab, within the “Health Professions and Nursing” rows. Please note, charges for practicums are based on residency. Online courses are charged at the same rate for Alabama residents and non-residents.

Detailed fees and charges related to practicums can be found in the DEP Handbook.

There are many scholarship opportunities on the UAB campus. We recommend students register for the Blazer Scholarship Management and Resource Tool (B-SMART) upon admission to our graduate degree programs to stay up to date on new scholarship opportunities.

Members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics may also want to explore scholarships available through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation. Students of our MS in Nutrition Sciences programs have been recipients of these in years past.

Information on financial aid available to students is provided by the UAB Financial Aid Office. You may contact them directly for specific answers to your questions.

Dietitians are the food and nutrition experts. Check out some interviews from Registered Dietitians in different arenas of nutrition!

Yes, our program typically consists of about 33% military or military dependents. We recommend you reach out to Veteran Services at UAB for more information at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and to answer all military benefit related questions, once you're accepted into the program.