How to Choose the Best Graduate Program for Registered Dietitians
Earning a master’s degree in dietetics can offer several benefits for registered dietitians ( including increased earning potential, more career opportunities, advanced knowledge and skills, and greater professional satisfaction. However, with so many graduate programs in dietetics to choose from, it is important to select the one that is right for you and that will help you elevate your opportunities.
Keep reading to discover how to choose the best graduate program for registered dietitians based on your own goals.
Consider your career goals.
As an aspiring dietitian, you may or may not have a vision as to where you want your career to go. Here are a few questions that might help you determine which types of programs will be best for you.
· What type of dietetic career are you interested in?
· What area of nutrition excites you the most?
· Do you want to work in clinical dietetics, public health dietetics, or another area?
· What specific skills or knowledge will help you advance your career growth?
Once you know your career goals, you can start to narrow down your choices of graduate programs.
If you’re like most people, you may have a lot of interests in the field of nutrition and you’re still not sure how to narrow down program ideas.
Another thing to consider is what types of doors the master’s program will open for you.
What is going to help you stand out as a dietitian in your selected areas of interest?
Explore career opportunities in the field.
It can be helpful to research different career opportunities in dietetics and which opportunities are growing the fastest. While there isn’t career data available on the growth of specific sectors, we have seen a growth in opportunities available in the following fields:
- Nutrition Communications
- Nutrition Technology
- Sales
- Nutrition Informatics
- Private Practice
- Nutrition Writing
- Management and leadership
If any of these areas interest you, consider the skills that you’ll need to be successful in these roles. Focus on master’s programs that will help you develop your knowledge and skills in these areas.
These types of programs will provide you with a depth of knowledge and skills that can be applied to lots of different industries within the health and wellness space.
Look into leadership-based programs.
Leadership is another area within dietetics that offers a lot of career opportunities. Even if you aren’t interested in traditional roles such as a food service manager or a clinical nutrition manager, a leadership-based graduate program is an excellent option for Registered Dietitians.
Komplete Business Dietetic Internship is proud to partner with Middle Tennessee University to offer our intern’s a graduate degree of MPS- Leadership in Nutrition.
Salary research data also shows that leadership roles are some of the highest paid positions in the field of dietetics. Check out this article on the highest paying dietitian jobs.
Leadership skills will help you whether you’re interested in working for a business, starting your own business or just want more experience in various aspects of business leadership.
If business is your passion, consider an MBA.
Think about all of the nutrition products, supplements, technology platforms and businesses that are centered around a health product or concept.
Businesses need nutrition experts (AKA Registered Dietitians) that are also extremely business savvy to lead these products and projects.
If you’re ready to take your business skills to the absolute next level and you dream of working for a business, a Masters of Business Administration is your ticket to breaking into the industry setting.
KBDI has partnered with St.Josephs University to offer a MBA track. This program is unique because it offers concentration areas in Health Care Leadership and Administration.
Compare the curriculum to your career goals.
One of the most common complaints we hear about Master’s programs is that students sometimes feel like the coursework is a repeat of their undergraduate program.
The beauty of the new master’s degree requirement for registered dietitians is the ability to choose a graduate program in any field. You truly have the potential to expand your knowledge in an area that will expand your knowledge and skills.
As you’re researching graduate programs, look closely into the program’s curriculum and course syllabi. If the syllabi are not available online, you can email the program director to inquire directly with them.
At KBDI, we have intentionally chosen graduate partnerships with a unique emphasis. But there are other great options are there that will help you grow a unique skill set.
Other master’s programs to consider are:
- Masters in Public Health
- Masters in Marketing/Communication
- Masters in Integrative or Functional Nutrition
- Masters in Healthcare Administration
- Masters in Counseling
The opportunities are truly unlimited. You really have to reflect on your interests and current career aspirations.
Determine the best program format and length for you.
These days online graduate programs are more readily available and are offered in a variety of formats.
Asynchronous classes are online courses that are self-paced and self-directed. You’ll have required class work, but any lectures will be recorded and typically there is an option to work ahead. If this type of program interests you, always do your research to determine how exactly these classes are supported. Sometimes the faculty can be relatively hands-off, which is always frustrating. I’ve also heard of some programs that don’t have recorded lectures. Make sure to research first!
Other online programs have required virtual class days at set times. These are great options for harder classes or if you just like the accountability of a set meeting time.
If you’re interested in an MBA program, these will often have required class days and you can count on a lot of group projects.
If you’re planning on completing your master’s degree while also completing your supervised practice hours with KBDI, we recommend an online program for the flexibility.
With our program, interns will complete supervised practice hours 4 days a week and will reserve Wednesdays for completing graduate coursework.
Many of the online programs are now offering a more condensed graduate program that can be completed in 12-16 months. These are great if your goal is to enter the dietetics field very soon!
More traditional in-person master’s programs tend to be a 2-year program and many also still offer the option of a thesis. If you’re interested in doing hands-on research, an in-person program may be a better fit for you.
Talk to other people in the program.
Once you have narrowed down your options to your top few choices, make sure to speak with current and former students. What are their experiences in the program? Would they recommend it to others?
I recently chatted with a dietitian who completed at MPH at her local university and she felt like the program was far too easy. She was very concerned having the foundational knowledge needed to be successful in the public health sector. She expressed remorse over her program choice and wish she would have done more research.
Speaking to graduates will give you really valuable insight into the program and it’s worth.
Weigh the cost and benefit.
Many programs are offering discounted online tuition to make programs more accessible. We’re thrilled to over a very affordable graduate program in partnership with MTSU.
With MBA programs, the initial investment is going to be much higher, but this will likely pay off in higher earning potential down the road if you pursue a career in the business sector.
You might be wondering if those with a master’s degree earn more money.
Based on the 2021 Compensation Survey conducted by the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, the average salary for those with a Bachelor’s degree is $69,800. The average salary for a dietitian with a Master’s degree was $72,300 in 2021. This is for all dietitians regardless of years of experience.
While the difference is currently small, we suspect that this will change once the Master’s degree requirement goes into effect in 2024.
Take your time to decide the best program for you.
Choosing the right graduate program is an important decision and can help you accelerate your career as a registered dietitian. It is important to reflect on your own personal career goals and your areas of interest.
By following these tips, you can select a program that will help you achieve your career goals.
About the Author
Kelan Sarnoff, MS, RD is a registered dietitians with over a decade of experience in nutrition. She has worked in academia for the past 4 years and taught graduate level courses including medical nutrition therapy. She loves helping future dietitians and interns discover their passion.