Integrated B.S./M.S. Plan B Nutrition Degree

Students will complete their 4th year as an undergraduate student and their 1st year as a graduate student at the same time, allowing students to complete an MS degree in a shorter time with less expense. This program is available to current undergraduate students majoring in Nutrition at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus in the Didactic Program in Dietetics or Nutrition Studies track. 

Below is more information about the integrated degree opportunity, along with links to a sample class schedule and recommendation letter form.

Questions?

  • Eligibility for program: your undergraduate nutrition adviser
  • Nutrition Graduate Program: Chi Chen, Director of Graduate Studies in Nutrition 
  • Application Procedures: Andrew Howe [email protected]
  • Requirements to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN): Corrie Marion [email protected] 

Eligibility:

Currently enrolled students in the Nutrition Studies or Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) tracks of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus undergraduate nutrition program

Application process:

Apply to the Nutrition Graduate Program by May 1st in the year before your final year, based on acceptable completion of required courses (see Sample Class Schedule above). Undergraduate adviser can assist you with class sequencing.

Application Requirements

  • Current Nutrition B.S. Student 
  • 3.0Cumulative Undergraduate GPA 
  • Personal Statement 
  • Diversity Statement 
  • Academic Writing Sample 
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation 
    • 1 from Undergraduate Advisor 
    • 2 from Nutrition Course Instructors

Application Timeline: 

  • Prospective Integrated B.S./M.S. Plan B Nutrition Program students submit applications no later than May 1st. Late Applications will not be reviewed or considered. 
  • Nutrition faculty review applications. This process historically takes 3 to 5 weeks. 
  • Admission decision are communicated by the University of Minnesota Graduate School Prior to August 1st. 
  • Admitted applicants must accept or decline their offer of admission to the Integrated B.S./M.S. Plan B Nutrition Program before the first day of fall classes. Additional relevant information will be provided by the Department of Food Science and Nutrition Graduate Program Coordinator. 

Application Review:

The application deadline is May 1st. The Graduate Admissions Committee reviews each application. If you meet the basic admission criteria you will be notified you are “admissible” to the program before August 10. In order to be formally admitted, you must find a faculty adviser. If you are admissible, your name is added to a list of applicants looking for an adviser which is circulated to graduate faculty. Faculty interested in advising you may contact you directly to discuss their interest. Additionally, you should identify one or two specific faculty members with whom you would like to work and contact them directly to discuss your background and why you are interested in working with them. A list of potential graduate faculty advisers can be found here.

Fourth year:

  • Advised by an undergraduate program advisor
  • Complete undergraduate credits for a total of 120 undergraduate credits
  • Awarded a BS degree at the end of the fourth year or admission to the graduate program will be revoked.

Fourth and fifth year:

  • Advised by a graduate program faculty advisor
  • Complete 30 graduate credits and a Plan B research project
  • Serve as a paid or volunteer teaching assistant for two courses (60 hours each).
  • At the end of the fifth year, complete a final oral examination and present a graduate seminar