Nutrition and Integrative Health

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health integrates contemporary nutrition science perspectives with traditional dietary wisdom to address the complex role of nutrition in human health. While building foundational skills in the sciences and introductory nutrition, students enhance the scope of their knowledge and skills by selecting an area of concentration in Human Clinical Nutrition (47 credits) or Herbal Medicine (57 credits).

Program Description
The Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health program prepares students to deliver personalized nutrition care to optimize health and manage chronic health problems. The program provides a health and nutrition sciences foundation, builds students' assessment and evidence-based nutrition therapy, and culminates in real-world clinical experience.

The program's integrative approach addresses nutrition, sleep, stress, physical activity, relationships, and environment to identify the root causes of health imbalances. Students learn to develop personalized dietary and lifestyle interventions to support the whole person. 

Human Clinical Nutrition Area of Concentration (47 credits)

The Human Clinical Nutrition Area of Concentration prepares graduates to be clinical nutritionists who apply the scientific and psycho‐social aspects of integrative nutrition and provide individualized and personalized nutritional assessments and counseling for others. It is designed for individuals who wish to work in a clinical setting and pursue the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) offered through the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS).

Herbal Medicine Area of Concentration (57 Credits)

The Herbal Medicine Area of Concentration prepares graduates to be clinical nutritionists who apply the scientific and psycho‐social aspects of integrative nutrition and herbal medicine to provide individualized and personalized nutritional assessments and counseling for others. It is designed for individuals who wish to work in a clinical setting and pursue Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) offered through the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS).

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, Minimum 2.5 GPA
• Resume
• Transcript(s)
• TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (International students)
• Complete essay question(s) in application

Licensure, Certification, and Credentialing Licensure

Licensing requirements for nutritionists vary by state. Students are advised to check and stay apprised of the educational requirements for professional licensure in their state. To learn the most up-to-date laws and regulations, please refer to each state’s
board of nutrition/dietetic practice. 

STATE LICENSURE DISCLOSURES

Licensure

The Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health program is designed to meet the educational requirements for nutrition licensure in Maryland, as well as for independent certification by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists.

The licensure/certification boards in each state are responsible for establishing the requirements for licensure/certification for their state. For students who reside in a state other than Maryland, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity. Seeking information and guidance regarding licensure or certification requirements before beginning an academic program or seeking employment will give you the most up-to-date information and answer most questions.

The table under State Licensure Disclosures on the Student Consumer Information page represents the Nutrition Department’s evaluation of whether the MS Nutrition and Integrative Health program meets state-specific educational requirements for licensure or certification.

Additional requirements. Completing a program that meets educational requirements is typically only one part of the professional licensure requirements. Most states require individuals to meet additional requirements to qualify for licensure, including but not limited to supervised clinical experiences and passing of state or national exams. Other licensure requirements may include, but are not limited to, fees, background checks, references, etc.

Potential changes in requirements. Licensure information is reviewed and updated on a semi-annual basis. Students who plan to pursue licensure should be aware that state licensure requirements are subject to changes. All students are encouraged to routinely review and monitor licensing and certification requirements for the state where they intend to work/practice.
 

Independent Certification

The Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health program is designed to meet the eligibility requirements of several national board certifications. At the time of this writing, NDMU complies with the requirements of each of the professional organizations listed below. However, boards do change their eligibility requirements. Please review certification requirements and contact the appropriate board for the most up-to-date information.

CERTIFIED NUTRITION SPECIALIST (CNS)

The Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) certification is offered through the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS). Graduates from the Clinical Nutrition and Herbal Medicine areas of concentration in the Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health meet the educational requirements to sit for the CNS exam. The BCNS also requires that applicants complete 1000 hours of supervised practice experience and pass the BCNS Certifying Exam. The board reviews each applicant individually to determine eligibility. Coursework in the Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health program includes some supervised practice experience; total hours vary. Interested individuals are encouraged to check for the most recent requirements at theana.org website.

CERTIFIED CLINICAL NUTRITIONIST (CCN) 

Graduates of the Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health program are exempt from taking the postgraduate training offered through the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board before sitting for the exam. CNCB reviews each applicant individually and reviews all transcripts to determine eligibility. Interested individuals are encouraged to check for the most recent requirements at cncb.org.

BOARD CERTIFIED IN HOLISTIC NUTRITION®

Graduates of the Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health program are eligible to sit for this certification exam. The requirements for this exam include at least one herbal course. Interested individuals are encouraged to check for the most recent requirements at https://nanp.org/boardcertification/. 

Note: The Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health is not designed to prepare students to earn the Registered Dietitian credential (RD/RDN) from the Commission on Dietetics Registration.

Program Accreditation 

NDMU’s M.S. Nutrition and Integrative Health program is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Nutrition Professional Education (ACNPE), a programmatic accrediting agency for master’s degree programs in clinical nutrition. For more information, contact ACNPE, 9 East 8th Street, #145, New York, NY 10003; https://acnpe.org.

Program Format

This program is offered in the online format.

Learning Outcomes

Core Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program graduates will be able to:

• Articulate the foundational scientific principles of nutrition, including the interplay between nutrients, human physiology, and biochemistry
• Identify the role of nutrients, foods, and dietary supplements in human health; nutrient requirements, deficiencies, excesses, and sources; and factors that affect food quality and safety and nutrient status and requirements.
• Conduct a comprehensive nutrition assessment, incorporating a detailed health and lifestyle history, dietary assessment, nutrition-focused physical exam, and laboratory reports to interpret nutrition-related factors affecting health status and identify appropriate referrals.
• Provide safe and effective personalized medical nutrition therapy that incorporates whole foods, dietary supplements, and lifestyle changes and includes monitoring and evaluating progress.
• Utilize motivational and counseling skills that honor cultural and personal identities, build partnerships with clients, and optimize meaningful change.
• Summarize the scope of practice for nutrition professionals, practice management skills for building a successful practice, and career and collaboration opportunities, with reference to the role of state and federal regulations and professional and credentialing organizations. 

Learning Outcomes for Human Clinical Area of Concentration

Upon completion of this area of concentration graduates will be able to:

• Serve in leadership roles as nutrition professionals in the field of clinical nutrition.
• Offer services to clients, clinicians, and other practitioners in order to earn a livelihood as a nutrition professional.

Learning Outcomes for Herbal Medicine Area of Concentration

Upon completion of this area of concentration graduates will be able to:

• Serve in leadership roles as nutrition professionals with knowledge of the role of both foods and herbs in promoting human health.
• Work as nutritionists with an herbal background through comprehensive study of herbal pharmacology, herbal pharmacy (herbal preparation), and principles of herbal therapeutics.