MSPH in Human Nutrition – Dietitian
Offered By: Department of International Health
Onsite | Full-Time | 19 months
About the MSPH in Human Nutrition – Dietitian Program
The MSPH in International Health (Human Nutrition – Dietitian) program is a collaboration between the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Dietetics Education Program at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. This MSPH option offers students interested in nutrition the opportunity to earn both the MSPH degree in Human Nutrition and complete a 38-week dietetic practicum in public health nutrition in preparation for obtaining the Registered Dietitian credential. The full-time program accepts a maximum of eight to ten students annually.
This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the accrediting agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, as a Graduate Program.
This is a STEM designated program. Eligible F-1 visa students can receive an additional 24 months of work authorization, beyond the initial 12 months of post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Mission of the MSPH in IH (Human Nutrition – Dietitian) Program
The program is consistent with the missions within Johns Hopkins Medicine:
- To provide a seamless dietetics education program that includes the foundations of public health nutrition and comprehensive dietetics training in preparation for graduates to become skilled entry-level public health Registered Dietitian Nutritionists;
- To provide the highest quality training in the field of nutrition and dietetics through a strong, interdisciplinary training team;
- To promote the development of dietetic professionals who are able to embrace proven theory, evaluate current research, and communicate effectively to other health professionals, peers, and the lay population.
Accreditation and Additional Information
The Johns Hopkins University/Bayview Medical Center’s Graduate Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190 Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040 ext 5400. Http://www.eatrightpro.org/ACEND.
Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). For information on the requirements and process pathways to become a registered dietitian, visit Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Graduate Program in Dietetics at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
The MSPH in IH (Human Nutrition – Dietitian) meets the educational prerequisites for certification by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) in all states, now and subsequent to January 1, 2024. Requirements for dietetics practice licensure vary by state. State licensure is entirely separate and distinct from registration or certification by the CDR. Information on state licensure is available on CDR's website.
For more specific information regarding this program contact Ms. Marcy Kane, MBA, RD, LDN, the MSPH in IH (Human Nutrition – Dietitian) Program Director and Manager of Nutrition Education and Research for the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center at mkane9@jhmi.edu), Dr. Laura Caulfield (lcaulfi1@jhu.edu), Professor & MSPH in IH (Human Nutrition – Dietitian) Program Advisor and Coordinator for Human Nutrition at (410) 955-2786; or Ms. Cristina Salazar (csalazar@jhu.edu), Academic Programs Manager for the Department of International Health.
Frequently Asked Questions about the MSPH in International Health, Human Nutrition – Dietitian program.
MSPH in Human Nutrition – Dietitian Program Highlights
Graduates of the MSPH in IH (Human Nutrition – Dietitian) program receive a verification statement and are qualified to sit for the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) Exam for Dietitian Nutritionists.
What Can You Do With a Human Nutrition – Dietitian Graduate Degree?
The 19-month graduate-level education program offers students the opportunity to earn both the MSPH degree in Human Nutrition and complete a 38-week dietetic practicum to qualify them to sit for the Commission on Dietetics Registration Exam for Dietitian Nutritionists.
Sample Careers
- Public Health Dietitian
- Program Specialist
- Research Dietitian
- Clinical Dietitian
- Nutrition Specialist
Program Completion Rate and Pass Rate on the RD Exam
- The MSPH in International Health (Human Nutrition – Dietitian) program has maintained a 98-percent completion rate since its inception in 2007, and 100% of graduates have passed the RD exam.
- Additional outcome data is available upon request.
Curriculum for the MSPH in Human Nutrition – Dietitian
Students are guided through a seamless dietetics education program that includes the foundations of public health nutrition and comprehensive dietetics training in preparation for graduates to become skilled entry-level public health Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
In the dietetics practicum, which follows completion of the MSPH course work, students complete the following:
- Clinical, and food service rotations at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and the Johns Hopkins Hospital, including the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Rotations may periodically be scheduled at other Johns Hopkins affiliates in the Baltimore–Washington, DC region.
- Community rotations at sites in the Baltimore area
- An 8-week self-selected public health rotation with a public health program with offices located within the continental U.S. or its territories, such as USDA or WIC. This individualized rotation is developed to suit the student's career interests (e.g., humanitarian assistance, international nutrition, nutrition communications, population research, clinical investigation).
Courses Available in the Following Areas:
- Clinical nutrition
- Human nutrition
- Dietetics
Admissions Requirements
For general admissions requirements, please visit the How to Apply page. This specific program also requires:
Prior Coursework
Students must either (1) hold a DPD verification statement from an ACEND accredited program or (2) meet the bachelor's degree requirement and the prerequisite course requirements as described below. Prerequisite courses must be completed at the undergraduate level or higher and must be completed prior to enrollment in the Human Nutrition – Dietitian program. Courses and transcripts to meet these requirements will be reviewed and approved by the University and program staff. Only applications with two or fewer prerequisites pending for the spring/summer following application will be considered for admission. Courses currently enrolled in at the time of application are not considered pending.
7 prerequisite courses: anatomy and physiology (2 semesters); organic chemistry, biochemistry, psychology or counseling skills;
introductory nutrition (3 credits minimum); advanced nutrition (defined as a class that has the introductory nutrition class as a prerequisite, 3 credits minimum
Standardized Test Scores
Standardized test scores are required for this program. This program accepts the following standardized test scores: GRE. Applications will be reviewed holistically based on all application components.
Program Faculty Spotlight
Laura Caulfield, PhD, researches nutrition problems affecting maternal, infant, and child health in the United States and globally.
Kerry Schulze, PhD ’03, MS, studies micronutrient status biomarkers, particularly for mothers, infants, children, and adolescents in nutritionally compromised populations.
Julia Wolfson, PhD '16, MPP, studies individual, structural, and policy factors that influence food choices, diet quality, and diet-related health outcomes.
Yeeli Mui, PhD '17, MPH, examines structural interventions to address food system issues and advance health equity through the lens of urban policy and planning.
Tuition and Funding
The Master’s Tuition Scholarship is available to students in good academic standing in a two-year, full-time master’s program. The MTS is a 75% reduction in tuition for year two of an eight-term program.
Additionally, Johns Hopkins University, thanks to support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, offers need-based scholarships for students enrolled in an MSPH program. These need-based scholarships, which cover up to 50% of tuition costs in the first year of study, will enable the best and brightest students with an interest in public health to obtain the highest-quality professional public health education available. Students who are first-generation graduate students, and have exceptional undergraduate academic records, will be prioritized for this need-based scholarship.
To be considered for an MSPH need-based scholarship, applicants should submit their SOPHAS application and supporting documents by the December 1 application deadline, along with the CSS profile to the Financial Aid Office using code 5315 no later than February 15. Applicants should indicate their interest in the scholarship by answering “yes” to the school specific question in their SOPHAS application for the MSPH program of their choice.
For up-to-date information of tuition, fees, and financial aid, visit the School's Tuition and Fees page.
Additional Fees, Expenses, and Requirements
In addition to the tuition requirements for the professional MSPH degree, students accepted to the Human Nutrition – Dietitian track must pay the $10,000 (effective for the Class of 2024-2026) clinical training fee by September 1 of their second academic year. There are some incidental costs specific to the training as well, including the items with estimates below :
| Health insurance (for the duration of the 38-week practicum) | Varies |
| Car insurance (only if using one for travel to and from rotations during the practicum for the duration of the 38-week practicum) | Varies |
| Safety shoes | $50 |
| AND Student Membership (for the duration of the 38-week practicum) | $58 |
| Nutrition-Focused Physical Exam Pocket Guide, 3rd Ed. Beth Modarski, RDN, LD | $25 |
In order to begin the program, all students are required to undergo and pass a criminal background check and drug screening, have TB test clearance, provide proof of immunizations and have a physical exam performed at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical (JHBMC) Center Occupational Health Department. The student will follow the Johns Hopkins Medicine policies and procedures relating to vaccines and use of personal protection equipment. Clearance to begin the program will be determined by the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Human Resources and Occupational Health Departments. The criminal background check, drug screening, TB test performed at JHBMC, physical exam and annual mandatory vaccines are provided at no cost to the student.
Contact Us
Questions about the program? We're happy to help.
Elisabeth Simmons, MEd
Academic Program Administrator
esimmo15@jhu.edu