Admission Requirements

Students interested in the MSNDCP must request admission into the program and will be selected by an evaluation committee based on academic performance, professional behavior, attitude, and their potential to successfully complete the program. As established in the UAGM Catalog, students must meet the following requirements to be considered:

  • Bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics or nutritional sciences from an accredited or recognized university or college
  • A minimum overall GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
  • Proficient in Spanish and English, both oral and written.
  • Complete the application process, which includes an interview and three letters of reference from faculty members.

Reclassification Candidates Program Admission Requirements

  • The same requirements as new candidates.

Transfer Candidates Program Admission Requirements

  • Students may transfer up to nine (9) graduate credits from another program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), provided the courses are equivalent in content, level, and learning outcomes to those offered in the MSNDCP.  All transfer credits must be reviewed and approved by the Program Director and the Registrar’s Office in accordance with institutional policies.
  • All transfer students must complete at least twenty-three (23) credits at Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Gurabo Campus for a total of 36 credits.

Program Completion 

Students are expected to enroll on a full-time basis and complete the program within two years (four semesters). Because courses may not be offered every semester, students are encouraged to maintain satisfactory academic progress, successfully demonstrate the expected competencies, and pass courses the first time they are taken in order to remain with their original admission cohort. Repeating a course may delay progression in the program and may require the student to wait until the course is offered again. The maximum time allowed for completion of the program is five (5) years from the date of admission for full-time students.

Admissions Applications

To apply for admission, applicants must submit their application through the Dietetics Inclusive Centralized Application Services (DICAS). DICAS is a web-based application service that simplifies the dietetics application process by allowing applicants to apply to multiple programs with a single application. Visit the DICAS Platform for more information.

Graduation Requirements

Students are evaluated in writing by a preceptor and/or clinical instructor at the end of each semester. Faculty review students’ grade points and course grades after each semester to determine compliance with program standards. Students who complete didactic and supervised practice components are oriented to complete a form requesting a final course revision by the Registrar’s office along with a fee. Students will receive a certification of completion of requirements and their graduate status.

Students must apply for graduation at the Registrar’s Office during the period established in the academic calendar. To earn the master’s degree, students must:

  • Complete all required courses for the master's degree as outlined in the curriculum with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA based solely on coursework applicable to the degree. 
  • Achieve a minimum score of 80% on all assessments designated for evaluation of the applicable CRDN competencies in order to demonstrate all competency attainment.
  • Complete 1,056 practice hours within their rotations (community, clinical, and administration), with a minimum performance of 80%. 
  • Obtain the Verification Statement, which certifies that the student has fulfilled all didactic and supervised practice requirements and is eligible to apply for the Registration Examination for Dietitians. To be eligible for the Verification Statement, students must complete 36 credits, all competencies and 1056 hours of supervised practice experiences in community nutrition, clinical nutrition, and food service management. The Verification Statement is issued by the Program Director once the Practice Coordinator certifies the supervised practice hours are completed and Registrar’s Office confirms that all graduation requirements have been fully satisfied.
  • Demonstrate compliance with all financial obligations to the Institution.

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, students are awarded the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Program.