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New concentration will matriculate students in fall 2022 and provide skills to become a Registered Dietitian
The George Mason University College of Health and Human Services announced today that its Master of Nutrition Concentration in Dietetics has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). In 2024, a master’s degree will be required in order to become a Registered Dietitian (RD), and this new concentration allows Mason to help raise the standards across the field.
“Nutrition is an essential component in public health and the fight for health equity. With this newly accredited program, Mason will help future dietitians gain the required knowledge and increased credentials to meet the growing need in the field,” Larry Cheskin, MD, chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, said. “Additionally, we are thrilled to be able to train students locally and in our soon-to-open nutrition clinic in the College’s Population Health Center.”
The program follows the Future of Education model for preparing RDs. To ensure career-ready graduates, the Future Education Model integrates coursework and an internship into a two-year master’s program. Mason is the second college in Virginia to offer this program.
“As a deeply embedded member of the community, we work closely with local Registered Dietitians and clinics that are ready to partner with our students for practicums and internships, which will happen in the second year of the program,” said Program Director and Assistant Professor Sapna Batheja, PhD, RD.
The College will matriculate its first students in fall 2022. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) has approved Mason’s concentration in Dietetics, as well as a concentration in community and a no-concentration option.
Learn more about Mason's Master of Science in Nutrition in Dietetics here.