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Mission

The Mission of the Cedar Crest College Master’s in Nutrition is to develop leaders in the field of health promotion and disease prevention by providing the educational experiences that allow you to gain the competencies and skills needed to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate health programing to meet the needs of diverse populations locally, nationally and globally. 

The program’s curriculum will empower Registered Dietitians and other health professionals to take on the many nutritional challenges associated with public health. Graduate students will gain assessment and effective program planning skills through a comprehensive curriculum that prepares them to make a positive impact on the health of the community.

The Master’s in Nutrition (MHSc) Degree Program Description  

The 36-credit online curriculum for the Master’s in Nutrition program is designed around clearly defined competencies for advanced-level application and practice, beyond the Baccalaureate level The curriculum and emphasizing nutrition’s role in population health, education theory and strategies to support behavior change and the monitoring and management of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD). Students have the opportunity to select elective courses that align with further support their career goals.

Graduates are awarded a Master of Health Science degree (MHSc). This interprofessional program focuses on health and healthcare with a strong emphasis on how nutrition contributes to the health and well-being of individuals and our communities  

Graduates will develop and demonstrate the skills and competencies needed through the following program competencies: 

Domain 1.  Advocacy/Public Policy:

  • Influences decision-makers related to public policy, resources, and program services.

Domain 2. Education:

  • Design, develop, direct, plan for implantation/or implement, and evaluate education and training programming in the identified focus area.

Domain 3. Application of Knowledge and Skills:

  • Utilizes principles of cultural competency and ethical practice in program planning and assessment.
  • Translates and applies evidence-based research into program development, implementation, and assessment.
  • Design, develop, plan for implantation/or implement and evaluate programming to meet the needs of a specific population/organization

Domain 4. Scientific Inquiry:

  • Conducts systematic review of the literature that identifies the weight of evidence including areas of consensus, inconsistency, and opportunities for further research, program development, and public policy. 

Domain 5. Communication:

  • Identifies and uses innovative, appropriate communication techniques and the most effective formats for the intended audience

Domain 6. Project Management:

Identifies and applies appropriate planning and implementation strategies to achieve a defined outcome that is measurable

  1. The core curriculum  provides a comprehensive framework aligned with the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing’s (NCHEC) The Eight Areas of Responsibility for Health Education Specialists (https://www.nchec.org/responsibilities–competencies) :

Area I: Assessment of Needs and Capacity
Area II: Planning
Area III: Implementation
Area IV: Evaluation and Research
Area V: Advocacy
Area VI: Communication
Area VII: Leadership and Management
Area VIII: Ethics and Professionalism

II.        The program outcomes for the Master’s in Nutrition are as follows:

III.      Eighty percent of all graduate students will earn >83% (meets expectations) on all graded assignments, identifying program competencies met.

IV.       Eighty percent of all graduate students will complete the Program within 6 months of their initial timeline, as reported on their admission essay.

V.        Upon completion of the Program, 80% of graduates will agree or strongly agree that the Program’s online format proved successful in enabling them to achieve a graduate degree in their desired course of study.

VI.       When surveyed one year after program completion, 80% of respondents will report that the Program was integral to achieving their professional goals.

General Admissions Requirements

Students are admitted to graduate programs at Cedar Crest College on the basis of individual qualifications. Requests for application materials and all correspondence relating to admission should be addressed to:

Cedar Crest College

School for Adult and Graduate Education

100 College Drive

Allentown, PA 18104-6196
Phone: 610-740-3770

Email: 

Fax: 610-740-3786

Online Application Materials: www.cedarcrest.edu/apply

On campus, the main office for the School for Adult and Graduate Education is located in Blaney Hall, Room 212 and is open Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

The program has three semesters per calendar year (Fall, Spring Summer) A rolling admissions policy is in effect for this program. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a continuing basis throughout the year. Students may be admitted officially at the beginning of any academic term, including summer.

Standards for Admission

  • A Bachelor of Science degree from a regionally accredited college or university
  • Completion of prerequisite coursework: Anatomy & Physiology I and II (or 1 semester of Pathophysiology) and Principles of Nutrition. Anatomy and Physiology I and II (or Pathophysiology) must be completed within 10 years of entering the program and Principles of Nutrition must be completed within 5 years of entering the program. If the applicant is a credentialed health practitioner who has been employed within their health care field since obtaining their practice credential, they may petition for a waiver of the time frame specified.
  • A GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate coursework
  • Two letters of recommendation attesting to the student’s abilities to successfully engage in graduate-level studies.  One letter is preferred by a faculty member who can reflect on the student’s prior academic performance.
  • Current resume that lists all previous professional, job, and volunteer experiences
  • Application Goal Statement describing your professional ambitions, motivation for seeking a Master’s in Nutrition, career goals, practicum interest, and timeline for completion
  • Official transcript(s) from all colleges/universities previously attended (If previous coursework was completed outside of the United States, students should have their academic degree validated as equivalent to a degree in the United States through a non-profit agency, such as World Education Services www.wes.org.) 
  • For international applicants official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Admissions Decisions

Final admissions decisions are made by the Nutrition Department based on a holistic review of each applicant. Consideration will include undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, and relevant experience or background. The department reserves the right to request additional information from applicants as needed.

Cedar Crest Dietetic Internship Credits and Enrollment

Students accepted to the Cedar Crest College Dietetic Internship are also accepted into the Masters in Nutrition. Interns will earn twelve credits throughout the internship that are applied to the credit requirements for the Masters in Nutrition. 

Credits earned in the Dietetic Internship will be applied to the nutrition and/or elective course requirements of the program.

 Pre-Admission qualifiers for Master’s in Nutrition Students:

Please refer to the Pre-Admit section of the Dietetic Internship Program

Must have completed 9 graduate credits

Cedar Crest College Masters in Nutrition, Dietetic Internship Pre-Select

Preselect qualifiers for Master’s in Nutrition Students:

  • Must have completed 9 graduate credits
  • Must have a minimum MHSc GPA of 3.6
  • Must have a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer experience (dietetics or non-dietetics related) no more than one year prior to application
  • Must have successfully passed the NDTR exam* since completion of DPD program. *If NDTR exam taken >1 year before application:
    • Must have a minimum of 50 hours shadowing or work experience in dietetics-related position within the past six months OR
    • Must have a minimum of 10 CEUs per year credentialed outside of the graduate curriculum
  • Must receive “highly recommends” summative evaluation from graduate program adviser
  • Must submit one Pre-Select Reference Form and Waiver from a work and/or volunteer experience supervisor completed within the past 3 months
  • Must provide a professional E-portfolio highlighting academic and work achievements
  • Must schedule an appointment with the Dietetic Internship Director to review their admission requirements and discuss the application process Before October 15th
  • Must attend at least one Open House (On-campus or Virtual) prior to application
  • Must submit unofficial Cedar Crest College transcript that includes Fall semester grades.
  • Must schedule a meeting with Program Director and/or academic advisor Before September 15th to discuss eligibility and receive Pre-Select Application if meets qualifications

Note: requirements for application to the Preselect option are the same for all national DI match applicants, except preselect applicants do not have to participate in DICAS or D&D Digital Matching Students interested in the Pre-Select process must communicate their intent with the Master’s in Nutrition Program Director no later than the start of the semester they plan on applying.

The Spring Match CCC Master in Nutrition Preselect application process closes at 5PM ET on the Monday before Thanksgiving

All Master’s in Nutrition Pre-Select applicants will be notified of acceptance in late December.

Students who are interested in the DI pre-select outside of the current timeline must speak to the Dietetic Internship Program Director.

Accepted Preselect students must begin the CCC DI the following DI cycle , which begins with orientation in the summer. 

For more information about the CCC DI Please visit our website at http://www.cedarcrest.edu/di    

Acceptance of Transfer Credits/Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Credits

Transfer Credit

Students entering the program from other health professions or another Master’s program may transfer up to 6 credits of graduate coursework. The transferred coursework, however, must be equivalent to course competencies in the curriculum. Courses that do not align exactly with the program’s courses may apply these credits towards their elective requirements for the program. Transfer courses must have been completed within five years of the date of enrollment in the program (the first day of classes of a student’s first academic year), and have earned a minimum grade of B

Students entering from other health professions or from a different graduate program may transfer up to 6 credits of graduate coursework. Transfer credits must align with the competencies of the program’s curriculum. Courses that do not directly match core courses may be applied toward elective requirements.

Transfer courses must:

  • Have been completed within five years prior to enrollment (defined as the first day of the student’s first academic year),
  • Have a minimum grade of B.

Once matriculated, students are not permitted to transfer credits from other institutions. However, non-matriculated students who take courses within the program at Cedar Crest College may apply all eligible Cedar Crest coursework toward their degree after formal matriculation

PLA Credits

Students with the RD/RDN credential who completed a post-baccalaureate Dietetic Internship or post-baccalaureate /graduate Coordinated Program may waive nine credits from the nutrition /elective course requirements. Students must provide a copy of their current RDN credentials to receive the PLA credits.

Foreign Credit Evaluation

If previous coursework was completed outside of the U.S, students should have their academic degree validated as equivalent to a degree in the U.S. through one of the following non-profit agencies:

World Education Service Credentials Evaluation Services, Inc

P.O. Box #745 P.O. Box 66940

Old Chelsea Station Los Angeles, CA 90066

New York, New York 10011 1-310-390-6276

1-212-966-6311

Education Credential International Education Consultants Evaluators, Inc.
P.O. Box #248233

P.O. Box #92970 Coral Gables, FL 33124

Milwaukee, WI 53202-0970 1-305-666-0233

1-414-289-3400

International Consultants Foreign Educational Document
of Delaware, Inc Service Credential

914 Pickett Lane P.O. Box #4019

Newark, DE 19711 Stockton, CA 95204

1-302-737-8715 1-209-948-6589

Association of International Evaluators

P.O. Box #6756 

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

1-888-263-2423

Matriculation

Accepted students are matriculated into the program once they have registered for classes during their first term of academic study.  Any post-baccalaureate student wishing to register for a program course may do so without matriculating.  Only matriculated students, however, can file for a degree

Requirements for Continued Matriculation and Completion of Program

Students must complete every class with a minimum of a B. Students who receive a grade of B- or below   are allowed to repeat the class one time.  If a student does not receive a grade of B or above on the course repeat, the student  may  be dismissed from the program. Students are limited to no more than two course repeats.

Maximum Period of Candidacy

Students must complete the program in seven academic years beginning from the first term of matriculation. 

Leave of Absence Policy

Students wishing to take a leave of absence from the program must submit a written request to the Program Director. The granting of the requested leave is at the discretion of the Program Director. The time frame associated with a leave of absence is not counted in the seven years necessary to complete the program.

Reinstatement

Students who have been dismissed from or leave the program for any reason may reapply; however, they must wait one full academic year before submitting a new application.
Students returning from an approved leave of absence will be reinstated into the program and may resume their studies from the point at which they left off, subject to course availability and curriculum updates.

Completion of the Graduate Program and Graduation Program Completion Requirements

To successfully complete the Master’s in Nutrition, students must:

  • Satisfy all financial obligations to Cedar Crest College.
  • Earn a minimum GPA of 3.0, with no course grade lower than a B.
  • Apply for graduation through the Registrar’s Office during a scheduled application period for graduation.
  • Complete all program requirements as outlined in the curriculum.

Graduate 2025-2026 Tuition and Fees

Master in Nutrition Graduate Tuition, per credit $780.00

All Undergraduate Evening/Weekend/Online courses $475.00

Undergraduate Tuition rate per credit, daytime students $475.00

Audit Fee (non-refundable) per credit $158.00

Full-Time/Part-Time Student Activity Fee/semester$25.00
Full-Time Technology Fee, per semester $125.00

Part-Time Technology Fee, per semester $75.00


Note: The College reserves the right to change fees and charges as necessary. Books, supplies, lab materials and other program costs are not included in the tuition.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are designed to support the educational mission of the Master’s in Nutrition by providing students with opportunities to engage in meaningful instructional, research, and programmatic activities. These assistantships are intended to enhance students’ academic development and professional preparation in the field of education. Graduate assistantship applicants must meet all eligibility criteria as outlined in the Cedar Crest College Graduate Catalog.

Purpose

Graduate assistantships promote the mastery of knowledge and practice by allowing students to work closely with faculty and administrative staff. Through these roles, students gain hands-on experience in teaching, research, and academic program support.

Responsibilities

Graduate assistants may be assigned to individual faculty members or administrative units and may be responsible for a combination of the following duties:
Instructional and Academic Support

  • Assist in the design and delivery of undergraduate coursework.
  • Develop classroom activities and instructional materials.
  • Serve as a substitute instructor in the event of faculty absence.
  • Lead instructional segments (“mini-topics”) within larger course content areas, as appropriate.
  • Conduct literature reviews and provide background research for faculty projects.
  • Support data collection, analysis, and dissemination of research findings.

Programmatic and Administrative Support

  • Assist in the coordination of program events, workshops, and student engagement initiatives.
  • Support accreditation processes through data collection, documentation, and reporting.
  • Contribute to community outreach efforts and partnerships with local organizations.
  • Assist with the program’s social media presence and digital communications.
  • Maintain program websites, newsletters, and promotional materials.

Application and Selection Process

Graduate assistantships are awarded by invitation and are based on faculty recommendation to the Director of the Masters in Nutrition and/or demonstrated evidence of academic excellence.
Final selections are made by the Director in consultation with faculty. The number of assistantships available and the stipend awarded may vary by semester. All decisions regarding assistantship awards are final and not subject to appeal.

Preceptor Tuition Remission Policy

Preceptors for the Cedar Crest Didactic Program, Dietetic Internship are eligible the equivalent remission of one credit hour for every 300 hours of precepting service for these Cedar Crest programs as follows:

  1. The primary preceptor for any site is the person designated by Cedar Crest College Department of Nutrition as the person who earns the credit hours. The primary preceptor may, at their discretion, assign earned credits to other staff members who precept Cedar Crest students (“their designee”) with approval of the Chair of the Nutrition Department.
  2. The credit hours earned are for service to the Program, not individuals. A preceptor will receive the equivalent remission of one credit hour for every 300 hours of precepting service for the Program, regardless of whether there is one student or more than one student at the site.
  3. The credit hours earned through this credit remission process must be used within three years. They will expire at the end of year three corresponding to the term or semester in which the credit hour remission was initially earned. 
  4. The primary preceptor or their designee may use the credit towards a class for credit or to audit a course for the purpose of continuing education units.
  5. The courses that may be taken by the primary preceptor or their designee with their credit can ONLY be used within the Nutrition Department at Cedar Crest College. However, they may be used for either graduate or undergraduate level courses.
  6. The primary preceptor will be responsible for submitting ongoing preceptor hours to the Department of Nutrition.
  7. The Department of Nutrition will be responsible for keeping a record of total hours and credit remission earned for primary preceptors or their designee(s).
  8. The primary preceptor or their designee must accumulate 300 hours of preceptor time in order to be granted 1 credit of tuition remission. Tuition remission cannot be granted for less than 300 hours of total preceptor time.
  9. For non-matriculating students who simply choose to audit nutrition courses for CEU credits, there will be no need to satisfy program prerequisites.  For those preceptors who intend on pursuing the Master of Health Science degree at CCC, they will need to apply to the program first.

Advising

Incoming students will be contacted individually by the Program Director prior to the start of their first academic term to develop a personalized course progression plan. During this process, each student will be assigned a faculty advisor from the Master’s in Nutrition program.

Students are required to meet with their faculty advisor before registering each term to review their academic plan, assess progress, and discuss professional goals.

Graduate Student Handbook

Each student will receive a copy of the Master’s in Nutrition Graduate Student Handbook through the program’s Orientation Portal on Canvas. The handbook outlines the program’s curricular requirements, policies, and procedures.

Students are required to acknowledge and accept all program requirements and responsibilities. They are also expected to read and understand the contents of the handbook.

Any questions regarding the handbook should be directed to the student’s faculty advisor or the Program Director of the Master’s in Nutrition.

Program Requirements

The Master’s in Nutrition program is delivered entirely online. Students must have access to a computer and a reliable internet connection to participate fully in all course activities.

Familiarity with the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) is essential, as all coursework, communication, and assignments are managed through this platform.

The Master’s in Nutrition, MHSc degree requires the successful completion of 36 graduate credits. To fulfill the curricular requirements, students must complete the following courses:

Core Courses (15 credits)

MHS 600 Health Statistics/Epidemiology (3 Credits)
MHS 601 Health Policy and Advocacy (3 Credits)
MHS 602 Evidence Analysis (3 Credits)*
MHS 603 Health Program Planning and Management (3 Credits)
MHS 604 Culture and Ethics in Healthcare (3 Credits)

Capstone Courses (6 credits)

MHS 630 Practicum I (3 Credits)
MHS 631 Practicum II (3 Credits)
Or
MHS 632 Thesis I (3 Credits)
MHS 633 Thesis II (3 Credits)
MHS 635: Culminating Project: Maintenance of Candidacy (1 Credit)

Nutrition Courses (9 credits) (for students in the DI or who are receiving PLA credit, these courses may be used to satisfy your one elective course)

MHS 610 Health Education: Throughout the Lifespan (3 Credits)
MHS 613 Nutrition and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) (3 Credits)
MHS 614: Lifecycle Nutrition (3 Credits)

Electives (6 credits(for students in the DI or who are receiving PLA credit, these courses may be used to satisfy your one elective course)

MHS 620: Advanced Concepts in the Treatment of Disordered Eating (3 credits)
MHS 621: Applied Sports Nutrition
Advanced Topics in Nutrition (Independent Study) (3 Credits)

Cedar Crest College Undergraduate DPD Students who have successfully completed NTR 350 will have met the MHS 602 course requirement and will complete the MHSc degree with 33 credits. 

Students may apply three credits of elective coursework from other graduate programs at Cedar Crest College toward the Master’s in Nutrition elective requirements. All elective courses outside the Nutrition Department must receive prior approval from the Program Director.

Examples of pre-approved interdisciplinary electives offered at Cedar Crest College include:

  • MPH 571 – Introduction to Healthcare Systems (Public Health)
  • BUA 500-56-2 – Managerial and Leadership Skills (Business Administration)
  • EXS 515-56-2 – Organizational Management of Exercise Programs and Facilities (Exercise Science)
  • MPH 570 – Foundations of Public Health (Public Health)

Practicum or Thesis Summer Seminar (no credits)

All students entering the Practicum or Thesis sequence must participate in the Pre-Practicum or Pre-Thesis Workshop/Seminar and complete all associated work. Students who are registered for the Summer Capstone-I course of their choice will receive an invitation to the Pre-Captone Workshop. Failure to participate and complete all Capstone Pre-work will result in removal from Practicum I or Thesis I. This Pre-Capstone Workshop is held on the Microsoft Teams Platform.