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Complete the minimum of a graduate degree. For more information, please refer to

The ¸£Àû¼§ Combined MS/DI Program at ¸£Àû¼§ provides a graduate program combined with supervised practice hours in a dietetic internship.

 There are many pathways to become an RDN.

Meet requirements to practice in your state which may include meeting state licensure Texas requires RDNs to be licensed.

Below are the expected program expenses. 

• Tuition and Fees
• Housing - Residence Life

• Textbooks and Supplies $ 570/year

• Health insurance $ 4858/year

• Parking fees – residents $238/year; non-residents $218/year; available to all $92/year

• Lab fees - $ 8.00 per course with a lab
• Sam Houston Student Dietetic Association (SHSDA) dues  - optional - $ 25.00

• Student Membership at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics – optional - $58

Individual course requirements can be viewed in the

View Financial Aid and Scholarships.

If you already have a bachelor’s degree in an area other than dietetics and are interested in becoming an RDN, you can apply to ¸£Àû¼§ through the Admissions Process as a non-degree seeking student. Admissions advisors and the FSCN Program Director evaluate prior learning on a case-by-case basis. Prospective students are encouraged to make an appointment with an Admissions Advisor at The Sam Center. The student is responsible for contacting the FSCN Program Director for an evaluation and providing all transcripts and evidence of attainment of knowledge requirements (KRDNs) in the form of graded KRDN assignments or a report from the previous institution verifying KRDN achievement. For previous content to be assessed for prior learning, all FSCN coursework at the junior and senior levels must be from an ACEND-accredited program. Also, all coursework must be completed within the last five years. The Program Director will give you a form with the courses that are required to earn a verification statement. Once you complete the required coursework according to the FSCN policy for verification statements, you will receive a verification statement indicating eligibility to apply to a graduate program.

¸£Àû¼§ Food Science & Nutrition Program 2024 – 2025 Handbook 

The FSCN Program follows the ¸£Àû¼§ Academic Calendar.

The mission of the FSCN-DP is to provide quality scholarship and community service opportunities to all of its students in order to complete the standards set by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) so that each graduate is prepared for graduate school and/or supervised practice to become a registered dietitian contributing to a global marketplace that meets individual and family needs in the food or healthcare industry.

Goal 1: Graduates will be prepared to perform competitively in graduate school and/or a supervised practice program.

• At least 50 percent of program graduates apply for admission to a supervised practice program prior to or within 12 months of graduation.
•  Of program graduates who apply to a supervised practice program, at least 30 percent are admitted within 12 months of graduation.
•  The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
•  Of graduates completing supervised practice programs at least 70% will apply and be accepted to graduate programs within one year of completing the supervised practice program.

Goal 2: Graduates will choose to work in nutrition and food related careers upon completion of graduate school and/or supervised practice.

• The program must develop an objective for evaluation of graduate’s performance in supervised practice, graduate program or employment within 12 months of graduation.
•  Fifty percent (50%) of Program Directors will indicate on surveys satisfactory or better performance in the workplace, supervised practice, graduate school, or community service.
• Of program graduates 50% will indicate with “somewhat agree” or better that the DPD program prepared them for their supervised practice and career as a Registered Dietitian, other healthcare industry, food science, manufacturing, or food distribution employee.
•  At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 3 years (150% of planned program length).
•  All DPD program graduates who meet the Verification Statement requirements and who choose not to enter a dietetic internship will obtain a Verification Statement at the completion of the DPD.

The FSCN Program’s outcomes and data are available upon written request to Linda Fergus, PhD, RD, LD at lgf011@shsu.edu.