Is An Online Degree Program Right For You? Take the Free Degree Quiz

Dietetics Administration, MDA

Stand at the Forefront of Nutrition

The Utah State University Master of Dietetics Administration (MDA) prepares students to lead and manage people and projects, setting them apart as they enter the workforce or in their current career field. The skills emphasized in the MDA program enhance management career options for graduates in clinical, community, food service, and entrepreneurial practice. Nationwide, there is a great need for professionally educated managers and leaders at the local, district, state, and federal levels. Students within the program will build skills in leadership, problem-solving, decision making, financial management, human resource management, business, and more. The hands-on curriculum delivered by faculty gives students the education they need to land the career they want. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The MDA program offers two tracks.

Resources

Admission Requirements
Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Department
College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
Pre-RD Track
The Pre-RD track is for students who have completed undergraduate dietetics education but do not yet hold the Registered Dietitian credential. The pre-RD track provides a combination of coursework and supervised experiential learning to qualify to take the Registration Examination for dietitians (RD Exam).

Pre-RD MDA Admission Requirements
  • Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited nutrition/dietetics program with a DPD Verification Statement OR be in the process of completing an accredited nutrition/dietetics program and will receive a DPD Verification Statement or Foreign Dietitian Education program (FDE) upon completion.
    • Applicants with a DPD Verification Statement more than 4 years old at the time of application may have to meet additional requirements. Please review our Recency of Education Policy.
  • Applicants must have a DPD GPA of 3.0 or greater.
  • No Ds or Fs in any course on your DPD program's course list.
  • Approximately 400 hours of work or volunteer experience is required.
  • Applicants to the USU MDA must secure preceptors and training sites prior to the match.
  • Applicants must have technological competence.


Contact Lacie Peterson if you are interested in the Pre-RD MDA.
lacie.peterson@usu.edu
435-797-4244
Learn More
Post-RD Track

The post-RD track is for students who already hold the Registered Dietitian credential and are interested in pursuing a graduate degree. For students that completed the USU dietetic internship (DI), 25 graduate credits earned in the USU DI are applied to the MDA if the MDA is completed prior to the credit expiration limit of 8 years.  In addition, 12 MDA core credits are required and 6 elective credits for a total requirement of 41 credits.

The MDA is also available to credentialed dietitians from non-USU degree programs or for those whose DI credits have expired.  For students not using credits from the USU DI, 33 credits are required.  These include 12 MDA core credits and 21 elective credits, of which at least 9 credits should be from the NDFS department.

Post-RD MDA Admission Requirements

  • Registered Dietitian Credential through the Commission on Dietetic Registration
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Must meet the requirements of the USU graduate school admissions

Contact Martha Archuleta if you are interested in the Post-RD MDA.
martha.archuleta@usu.edu 
435-797-4239

Is An Online Degree Right for You?

Take the USU "Online Degree Readiness Quiz"

This online quiz takes 3 minutes to complete and you'll get a personalize report indentifying your strengths and social style plus the positions you're best suited for.

Why Earn a Dietetic Administration Degree from USU Online

The faculty teaching courses in the dietetic administration master's program have vast experience in dietetic fields. You will learn best techniques for becoming an adminstrator and leader, as well as discover how to apply what you learn in your current career. Through courses like advanced management in dietetics and current issues in dietetics, you will know how to approach a variety of problems and guide teams to success.

Resources for Online Students

For online students based in Utah, resources such as local support, study spaces, BlueZone WiFi, and testing services, are available at the statewide campus nearest to them. Students both in-state and out-of-state have access to virtual services provided from various organizations and offices based at Logan main campus. See our Student Resources page for more information.

Out-of-State and International Student Disclaimer
Utah is a member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) and Utah State University (USU) is an approved SARA institution, which means we adhere to established standards for offering post-secondary e-learning programs in all member states. Please review our state authorizations to see if this program is offered in your state and our process for student complaints against the university.
International students studying at USU on the F-1 or J-1 visa must have the majority of their classes each semester be face-to-face in order to meet the physical presence requirement to maintain their visa status. Students on the F-1 visa must enroll in classes at the Logan or USU Eastern campuses. Students on the J-1 visa must enroll in classes at the Logan campus.
Getting Started
Tuition & Aid
Online Services
Local Resources

The First Step is a Conversation. Talk to Martha.

Martha Archuleta

Martha Archuleta, PhD
Dietetics Administration Professor
(435) 797-4239
martha.archuleta@usu.edu