M. Sanchez, D. L. Pucciarelli
for associate and bachelor degree programs which were released in February
2017. In addition, FEM developed accreditation standards for graduate pro-
grams, which are restricted to early adopter demonstration programs [6].
In April 2018, ACEND released a Standards Update report, which announced
that the Academy accredited Rutgers University Master of Science in Clinical
Nutrition program as a demonstration program under the FEM accreditation
standards for graduate degree programs [7]. Thus, Rutgers University Master of
Science in Clinical Nutrition program became the first and, so far, only program
to be accredited under the Future Graduate (FG) accreditation standards in the
U.S. [7] [8]. The benchmark year, 2024, is fast approaching and to date only one
graduate program has been awarded accreditation.
Over the past two decades, assessments conducted on practicing dietitians and
report findings demonstrate a repeating pattern of concerns. The 2008 Needs
Assessment report, which included 6955 participants (Academy members and
CDR credentialed practitioners), outlined the most common challenges facing
the dietetics field: recognition of the value delivered to the larger society (77%),
public awareness of the field (75%), reimbursement for services (74%) and
compensation (74%). Dietitians continue to express concern on three main
areas: respect, recognition, and rewards (also known as the three R’s) [3] [9]. To
mitigate these concerns the Academy is raising the educational credential re-
quired for all new RDs.
The VR provides direction for preparing students in the future and is not in-
tended to impact current practitioners [3]. To meet the increased demand for
Masters level credentialed RDs, programs must be available to incoming stu-
dents seeking the credential in addition to current RDs practicing in the field
who may want to adopt the new standards to stay competitive. Master level nu-
trition programs exist in the U.S., but are not standardized or accredited by the
Academy unlike four-year degrees. Some programs offer a Master of Arts (M.A.)
degree while other programs offer Master of Science (M.S.) degree. Within the
M.S. credential there are programs that require a thesis to be written while in-
creasingly more programs require additional classroom-based education credits,
better known as a M.S. with non-thesis option. If one of the goals for the ad-
vanced degree is to increase respect for RD practitioners, will other medical pro-
fessionals and the general public accept or value the varying, non-standardized de-
gree options? Classically within the sciences a M.S. required a research project
that cumulated in a thesis, whereas this study will demonstrate the nutrition
academic field is moving towards a non-thesis option. Most students seek edu-
cational programs where they reside; regionally, are there enough nutrition pro-
grams available for new and existing RDs who may be interested in completing
an advanced degree?
The main objectives of this study were to: 1) quantify and describe the availa-
bility of Master level nutrition programs regionally; and 2) examine the current
M.A. and M.S. program requirements for a nutrition graduate degree in the U.S.
DOI: 10.4236/fns.2019.101001 3 Food and Nutrition Sciences