Academic Catalog

Pre-Dietetics

St. Catherine University offers a limited number of undergraduate students a dual-degree program leading to the Master of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics. This program is available only to students in the “Applied Science in Nutrition Science (pre-MSDT)  major and contingent on students meeting the MSDT admission requirements. 

Qualifying students will complete their undergraduate major in three years. In their fourth year, while still enrolled as undergraduates, students will begin taking MSDT courses to earn their Bachelor's degree. In their fifth year, students will complete the MSDT program while enrolled as graduate students.

Please see the next tab for more information about the application process and the program's curriculum.

 
 

Dual Degree (3+2) Applicants

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Junior status at St. Catherine University in the College for Women

  • Declared major in Applied Science in Nutrition & Dietetics (pre-MSDT)

  • Grade expectations: 

    • An undergraduate cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale

      • If their GPA is below 3.0, they can submit an explanatory statement along with their application.

    • A prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale 

      • ​The prerequisites will appear differently on a student's degree evaluation (in major courses or major supporting requirements). Please see the list of prerequisites underneath the curriculum section.

      • Grade of prerequisite courses of a C or higher (Pass/Fail or S/U grading is not acceptable).

      • Only one prerequisite grade in the most recent course is calculated in the prerequisite GPA

      • Strongly recommended that pre-requisite courses be completed within five years of starting the MSND program.

      • Must have completed five out of the eight pre-requisite courses at the time of application. Including "Foundations in Nutrition". All pre-requisite courses must be completed before enrollment in the MSND program.

      • AP Scores accepted for General Psychology & Statistics only. Applicants must submit College Board scores directly to St. Kate's.

      • In-person format courses preferred. Online acceptance from a regionally accredited institution. Admissions will not accept credits from Straighterline/Study.com/SOPHIA

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following application requirements:

  • Apply by clicking on this link. Applications open in August before students start their junior year. The final deadline for dual degree applications is October 1st of a student's junior year. Students will receive an admissions decision by the end of December.

  • If a student is accepted into the dual-degree program, they will begin the following fall of their senior year. Example: If a student applies by October 1st, 2026, they will start the program in Fall 2027 and take a year's worth of graduate classes, provided they are accepted. 

  • No GRE Required.

  • Volunteer Experience - 125 hours of volunteer or experience in a relevant setting

    • Example: hospital diet technician, nutrition assistant, hospital kitchen staff, restaurant kitchen, or wait staff, etc.)

  • Admission Essay

    • The admission essay should be approximately 800 words in length. The admission committee considers both the quality of content and written communication skills. The admission essay should address the following:

      • What drew you to the field of nutrition and dietetics? Please describe some formative experiences that were involved in your draw to the field.

      • What personal skills and attributes have you identified that will likely serve you well in this program and profession?

      • Beyond academic knowledge, what do you hope to gain from this program, such as professional connections, research opportunities, or practical skills?

      • How do you envision using your graduate degree in nutrition and dietetics to make a positive impact in your community or the world at large?

    • In addition to the 800-word essay, please share the following information about your paid and/or volunteer work experience that is relevant to the field of nutrition and dietetics: 

      • name(s) of organization(s)

      • duration of experience(s) (span of dates, for example)

      • The roles and responsibilities that you had in the experience(s)

      • How will the experience(s) serve you in this program and in your career in nutrition and dietetics

  • Transcripts

    • On the application form, list all post-secondary schools you have attended, including St. Catherine University. The Graduate Admission Office will obtain any transcripts currently on file with St. Kate’s Registrar; if any prerequisite courses were taken outside of St. Catherine and the transcript(s) are not currently on file, it is the applicant’s responsibility to have an official transcript submitted to the Graduate Admission Office.

  • Any supporting explanatory statements, if applicable.

    • For applicants with a cumulative GPA below 3.0: Please include an explanation of factors that influenced your previous academic performance, as well as your plan to ensure academic success in a graduate program. This essay should be limited to 400 words and may be included at the end of the Admission essay (as a separate section).

​Once you’ve submitted your online application form, you will have access to your Application Status page to upload any supporting documents (instructions for accessing the status page are emailed at the time you applied). If you are unable to upload electronic documents to your Application Status page, you may send items as an attachment via email to graduateadmission@stkate.edu. Paper documents may be mailed to:

St. Catherine University
Graduate Admission #4027
2004 Randolph Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their application is completed by the deadline. The Admission Committee will not review your application until we have received all required documents. Fulfillment of the admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. No credentials will be returned to the applicant.

 

Before starting the MSDT program, students must complete 95 credits. This includes all MSDT prerequisite courses, liberal arts core requirements, elective courses (if needed), and coursework in Nutrition Science. Please see the curriculum below. 

Students who are admitted into the MSDT program will take graduate level coursework in their senior year, which will count towards their undergraduate and graduate program requirements.

Students will be awarded their Bachelor's Degree at the end of their senior year after completing their year of graduate classes.

Students are encouraged to work with Academic Advising and the Financial Aid Office when planning for their senior year to ensure their eligibility for financial aid.

After completion of their Bacehlor degree, students will complete any remaining graduate level courses to earn their Master of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics. See the end of this section for the list of courses taken in the fifth year.

Students not admitted to the graduate program or who become ineligible to apply will instead complete a B.S. in Nutrition Science.

Applied Science in Nutrition & Dietetics

This dual-degree major is only availble in the College for Women.

Students who do not gain entry into the MSDT program after their junior year complete the remaining course requirements for the B.S. in Nutrition Science.

Required Prerequisite Courses (pre-MSDT)

BIOL 2610
& BIOL 2620		Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab		8
CHEM 1110
& CHEM 1120		General Chemistry I with Lab
and General Chemistry II with Lab		8
PSYC 1001General Psychology with Lab4
or PSYC 1000 General Psychology
BIOL 2200Introduction to Microbiology with Lab4
FSNU 2300Nutrition Foundations4
Select one of the following:
STAT 1090
Statistical Analysis
PSYC 1090
Statistical Methods in Psychology
ECON 1090
Statistical Analysis for Decision Making
HLTH 1090
Biostatistics
Total Credits28

 Nutrition Science Courses

FSNU 2400Food is Medicine2
FSNU 3400Sports Nutrition4
IPE 1030Healthcare Teams Foundations and Medical Terminology2
PHIL 3400Biomedical Ethics4
PSYC 2025Lifespan Developmental Psychology4
PSYC 4450Psychology of Eating with Lab 14
or EXSS 3200 Health Behavior Psychology
Total Credits20
1

Check prerequisites before planning a program of study

Graduate Courses taken during senior year:

FSNU 4300WAdvanced Nutrition 14
NUTR 5100Nutrition Education and Counseling3
NUTR 5300Professionalism in Dietetics3
NUTR 5400Lifecycle Nutrition: Pediatrics3
NUTR 5450Lifecycle Nutrition: Adulthood3
NUTR 5500Medical Nutrition Therapy I3
NUTR 5200Community Nutrition I3
NUTR 5600Foodservice and Nutrition Management3
Total Credits25
1

Takes the place of NUTR 5700 for dual-degree students only.

graduate courses taken after completion of bachelor's degree

NUTR 6200Community Nutrition II3
NUTR 6270Current Issues in Nutrition3
NUTR 6300Food Science3
NUTR 6400Culinary and Experimental Food and Nutrition3
NUTR 6500Medical Nutrition Therapy II3
NUTR 6600Foodservice Operations and Production3
NUTR 6700Applied Research in Nutrition and Dietetics3
NUTR 6800Dietetics Practicums3
Total Credits24