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Mission

The Mission of the Cedar Crest College Masters 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 nutrition 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.

Mission of the Nutrition Program

In concert with the philosophy of Cedar Crest College and the Standards of Practice of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the nutrition program is committed to developing competent dietetic professionals who serve the public through the promotion of optimal nutrition and act with integrity and respect for differences.

The Master of Health Science Program Description

The 36-credit online curriculum for the Masters in Nutrition is built on clearly defined competencies for advanced level application and practice, beyond the Baccalaureate entry level health professional.   The nutrition focused curriculum is aimed to address population health, education theory and practice to facilitate behavior change as well as the monitoring and nutrition management of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD). The program allows students and professionals to pursue elective coursework which will further support their professional goals. The Master’s in Nutrition awards a Masters Degree in Health Science (MHSc). The MHSc is an interprofessional course of study with an emphasis on health and healthcare and focusses on the role nutrition plays in the health of 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 evaluates 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:

1. Identifies and applies appropriate planning and implementation strategies to achieve the intended measurable outcome
2. Identifies and applies appropriate planning and implementation strategies to achieve a defined outcome that is measurable

The core curriculum also provides a comprehensive framework which aligns with the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing’s (NCHEC) National Health Educators Job Analysis (HEJA) based competency categories.

  • Assess needs, assets, and capacity for health education
  • Plan health education
  • Implement health education
  • Conduct evaluation and research related to health education
  • Administer and manage health education
  • Serve as a health education resource person. Communicate and advocate for health and health education

Program Outcomes

  • Eighty percent of all graduate students will earn >83% (meets expectations) on all graded assignments, identifying program competencies met.
  • Eighty percent of all graduate students will complete the Program within 6 months of their initial timeline, as reported on their admission essay.
  • 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.
  • 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 105 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 from 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 Masters 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

The Nutrition Department will make final admissions decisions on the basis of the following criteria: GPA, writing sample, letters of recommendation, related experience and background. Candidates will be considered from a holistic perspective. The Nutrition Department reserves the right to ask the prospective candidate for additional information.

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.

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/ Foreign Credit Evaluation

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 entering the program from other health professions or another Masters program may transfer up to 6 credits of graduate coursework.  The transferred coursework, however, must be equivalent to courses competencies in the curriculum. Courses that do not align exactly with the program courses can 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. 

Once matriculated in the program, students will not receive any credit for coursework taken at another institution. Non-matriculated students who take program courses at Cedar Crest may transfer all applicable Cedar Crest courses after matriculation.

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 or withdraw from a course are only allowed to repeat the class one time.  If a student does not receive a grade of B or above the second time that the student takes a course, the student will be dismissed from the program.  Students receiving a grade of F in a course taken for the first time may be subject to dismissal from the program. 

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 may request to do so in writing to the Program Director. The granting of the requested leave is at the discretion of the Program Director and pending approval from the Associate Provost of the School of Adult and Graduate Education.  The time frame associated with a leave of absence is not counted in the seven years necessary to complete the program.  Students who wish to withdraw from a course must consult with their advisor to determine how withdrawal from a course may impact their program completion timelines, Students are also strongly recommended to consult with Student Financial Services to determine any financial implications related to their change in course enrollment. 

A temporary grade of Incomplete (I) is only given to a student who is doing passing work in a course but who, for reasons beyond the student’s control, is not able to complete the course requirements by the deadline for submitting grades. At least 80% of the assigned work for the class must have been completed with a current cumulative grade of B or above before a grade of “I” can be requested.

The student will provide proper written documentation of the reason for the request, must request an Incomplete. The student will also be required to submit a timeline for completion of remaining work for approval to the faculty member prior to approval for the “I” The Incomplete must be approved both by the instructor and by the Director of the graduate program in question.

The deadline for requesting an Incomplete grade is ordinarily the last day of classes for the semester in which the course is taken. However, in cases involving unusual circumstances, such as sickness or injury, a member of the Academic Services Staff or the instructor may request an Incomplete on the student’s behalf. A grade of “I” is not entered on a student’s permanent record.

Ordinarily, coursework must be completed within the first six weeks after the last day of the course’s culminating experience (e.g., final exam, final paper, final presentation). The instructor may choose to indicate in their reply to the Request for an Incomplete the grade the student should receive if no additional work is completed by the deadline specified. If the instructor does not turn in a grade within the six-week period and has not indicated a grade on the incomplete form, a grade of “F” will be recorded for the course

Reinstatement

If a student has been dismissed from the program for any reason, the student can reapply to the program but must wait one full academic year before doing so. Students coming back from a leave of absence will be reinstated into the program and will continue at the point where they left off.

Completion of the Graduate Program and Graduation

To successfully complete the Master in Nutrition a student must adhere to the following:

  • Complete all graduate courses with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (minimum course grades of B). Apply to the Registrar for graduation at a specific scheduled graduation time.
  • Complete all the requirements for the program.
  • Fulfill all financial responsibilities to the College.

Graduate 2024-2025 Tuition and Fees

Master in Nutrition Graduate Tuition, per credit $765.00

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$20.00
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.

Preceptor Tuition Remission Policy

Preceptors for the Cedar Crest Didactic Program, Dietetic Internship and Master in Nutrition Program 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

Students coming into the program will be contacted individually by the program director prior to their first term of academic study to develop a course progression plan. During this time, each student will be assigned an academic advisor who will be a member of the Master in Nutrition program faculty.  Students are required to consult with their faculty advisor prior to registering each term to review their course plan and professional goals.

Graduate Student Handbook

Each student will be provided with a copy of the Master of Nutrition Graduate Student Handbook through the Master in Orientation Canvas Portal. The purpose of the handbook is to provide students with information pertaining to the curricular requirements, policies and procedures associated with the program. Students must affirm their acceptance of all program requirements and responsibilities.  Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves and understanding the information presented in the Graduate Student Handbook. Questions regarding the content of the handbook should be directed to either the student’s faculty advisor or the Director of the Master in Nutrition Program.

Program Requirements

The Master in Nutrition is conducted completely on-line. Students will need access to a computer and functioning internet connection. Students must also be familiar with using the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS). Resources for on-line learning can be accessed on the Cedar Crest web site within the Cedar Crest online link at – https://my.cedarcrest.edu/ICS/Current_Students/Academic_Services/Student_Success_Center.jnz?portlet=Free-form_Content_2020-04-02T15-23-16-67

A total of 36 graduate coursework credits are needed for completion of the degree. 
Students fulfilling curricular requirements for the Master in Nutrition degree 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)

Elective courses from other Master’s degree disciplines may be used to fulfill no more than three credits of the elective course requirement. Courses from other disciplines must have preapproval by the Master in Nutrition Program Director.  Examples of courses already approved include Business Administration – BUA 500 56 2 Managerial and Leadership Skills, and Exercise Science EXS 515 56 2 Organizational Management of Exercise Programs and Facilities

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.  Failure to do so will result in removal from Practicum I or Thesis I.