3+2 Program
The EIU Nutrition & Dietetics program is excited to launch EIU’s very first 3+2 program. Students admitted to the program will have the opportunity to complete both their BS and MS degrees in under 5 years, including the 1000 hour required clinical placement.
- The 3+2 Program in Nutrition & Dietetics is a unique opportunity to complete all the requirements for both the BS Nutrition & the MS Nutrition & Dietetics: Coordinated Program, including the 1000 hour clinical placement, and meet all the required standards to be eligible for the RDN credential exam -- all in under 5 years!
- Students accepted into the program will take 18 credits of graduate coursework in Year 4, and double count those hours toward completion of both the bachelor’s and the master’s degree. When you graduate with your bachelor’s degree, you will already have HALF of your master’s degree DONE.
Advantages of 3+2 program
EIU’s 3+2/Coordinated Program offers a number of advantages over more traditional routes to the RDN credential:
Shortened completion time:
Students accepted into the 3+2/Coordinated Program can complete both their bachelor’s and master’s degree, including the 1000 clock hour clinical internship placement, in 5 years – or less.
Clinical exposure prior to clinical internship placement:
Students will have the opportunity for observation and patient interaction in a clinical setting during the two-semester Medical Nutrition Therapy course sequence prior to their clinical internship placement. Selecting a clinical internship site is much easier with some experience to guide the decision.
Completion of 18 credits of graduate work while still an undergraduate:
3+2 students complete 18 credits of graduate work in their 4th year while finishing their undergraduate degree. These credits double count toward both degrees. And…the courses are billed at the UNDERGRADUATE tuition rate and covered by your undergraduate financial aid package.
Taking these courses while still an undergraduate shortens the Master’s degree completion timeline by two entire terms!
Direct Admission to the master’s degree program:
Students accepted into the 3+2 program are direct-admitted into the graduate program (as long as they maintain the required 3.00 grade point average). No DICAS match required!
For more info: Dr. Julie Dietz (undergrad advisor) jcdietz@eiu.edu or Dr. Casey Strawser (graduate advisor) clstrawser@eiu.edu
Accreditation information:
The undergraduate program is currently transitioning away from Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) accreditation. The DPD program will be retired effective May 31, 2026, and currently enrolled students must complete all requirements for their degree before May 31, 2026, if they wish to receive a DPD verification statement. the BS Nutrition & Dietetics remains accredited as a DPD program by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) through May 31, 2026.
The MS Nutrition & Dietetics: Coordinated Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) 120 Riverside Place, Suite 2190 Chicago, IL 60606-6995 (800) 877-1600, ext. 5400 www.eatrightpro.org/acend
In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about licensure per state click here.