Accelerated M.S. in Nutrition, Dietetics and Sensory Sciences

The application process is the same as for the traditional M.S. degree except applicants will select the accelerated M.S. program when applying and must be enrolled in one of the undergraduate programs in the Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health.

Required Application Materials

• Unofficial transcripts (official transcripts will be required upon admission)
• Three completed surveys from professional references (individuals who can speak to your potential success in a graduate program)
• A completed supplemental applicant information form:
  • Graduate faculty meet routinely throughout the academic year to holistically consider applications. To assist us in doing this, we require that applicants complete this form (link sent by email once online application is started) which captures this information in addition to the online graduate application.
  • Please visit the Application Requirements page for further details

Additional Information

• When applying select the appropriate campus before selecting the accelerated MS program. If you select the Manhattan campus, courses are offered in-person on campus. If you select Global Campus, all courses are offered online.
• Students will prepare and submit an accelerated MS program application to the Kansas State University Graduate School and pay the application fee one semester prior to the semester where the student will start to take the "shared" courses. International students also need to complete the Affidavit of Financial Support and language competency exam scores as part of the application.
• Once a completed application is received, applications are evaluated by the admissions committee. If the minimum requirements for admission are met, applications are reviewed by graduate faculty. A faculty member must agree to be an applicant's advisor before a recommendation can be made to the Graduate School that the applicant be admitted. The files of all applicants will be considered for institutional or departmental awards and graduate assistantships. Applications for admittance will be considered for fall and spring semesters, and the summer session.
• All admissions to the graduate program at this point will be provisional. Only once the student completes BS degree requirements will full admission be offered. While the student has been provisionally admitted to the accelerated MS program, their student status will remain undergraduate until full admission is extended.
• Students will take their nine "shared" credits (FNDH 600+ level) after provisional admission to the accelerated MS in NDSS program.
• Questions or concerns can be directed toward the department's graduate student coordinator.

A maximum of 9 graduate credit hours from the M.S. Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health degree can be counted toward the B.S. Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health degree. Students should sign up for these courses as graduate credit. FNDH courses at the 600 and 700 levels are eligible to be shared if taken for graduate credit.

Accelerated M.S. Thesis Option

Of the 30 hours required for a master's degree, at least 18 hours should be at the 700 level and above.

Accelerated M.S. Report Option

Of the 30 hours required for a master's degree, at least 18 hours should be at the 700 level and above.

Accelerated M.S. Course Work Option

30 total graduate credits required (at least 18 credits at 700 level and above)
Oral exam for committee member (following seminar)
Written exam (questions submitted by committee members)

Graduate Catalog Degree Requirements

B.S. in (any FNDH program)/M.S. in Nutrition, Dietetics and Sensory Sciences

*shared courses between the BS and MS degrees; courses must be taken for graduate credit

• Students cannot be in two career programs (undergraduate and graduate) at the same time, even if they are completely linear of one another.
• When students officially start the MS program, their undergraduate career becomes inactive, and they can no longer take undergraduate credits nor courses.
• Once a student is fully admitted to graduate school, they are immediately no longer eligible for financial aid for undergraduate studies.
• Once students start taking graduate credits, they must continue to be in at least one course for graduate credit until they start officially in the graduate program (summer semester exclusion).
• Completing shared courses for graduate credit does not guarantee admission into the accelerated MS program.

Once a student is admitted to the accelerated M.S. Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health degree program, the student should consult the graduate handbook for policies and procedures for M.S. degrees, which include: supervisory committee, final examination, thesis defense, etc. The student will work closely with their major professor to form a supervisory committee and file a program of study. The student's supervisory committee must approve the program of study, which is a statement of the student's graduation requirements. The major professor will supervise the student's academic progress (including thesis, report or course-work only option) for the M.S. degree.

In the event that a student begins the M.S. program, but does not wish to finish the M.S. Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health degree requirements, the tution difference between undergraduate credit and graduate credit of their shared courses will not be refunded, nor would those credits be transferrable to another institution.

Who should consider the accelerated MS program?

Students who are enrolled full time, want to continue their education at the graduate level, and know they want to pursue their graduate degree at K-State right after bachelor’s completion.

Fields of hire:

• Academia (instruction, research, doctorate)
• Industry
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (MS required in 2024)
• Community nutrition/public health
• Private practice/consulting

Who is eligible to apply?

• Applicants must have completed 75 credits towards a degree program within the Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health with a minimum GPA of 3.25.
• Students who have earned previous bachelor's degrees may not apply for this program.
• Applicants need to ensure they meet university requirements for number of K-State credits in order to earn a bachelor's degree from K-State.

How do I "share" courses between the two degrees?

Students must enroll in the shared courses for graduate credit. In order to have this option, you need to be provisionally admitted to the accelerated MS program. If you are not at the time of enrollment for shared courses, enroll as you normally would and once acceptance is offered, a request will be made to change those courses to graduate credit.

How much do graduate courses cost?

Online program tuition information

On-campus program tuition information

Are both degrees conferred at the same time?

No. You will apply for graduation once the BS degree requirements are completed. Then once the MS degree requirements are completed, you will apply for graduation with your MS degree.

How long does it normally take to finish the MS degree?

For those completing the accelerated MS program, you will have 21 graduate credits to complete after BS completion. While highly variable, this averages out to be about three additional semesters beyond the BS degree.

• Students will apply to the accelerated MS in NDSS program via the Graduate School the semester prior to the semester they will be taking shared coursework. Be sure to list the start date on the graduate application as the same semester the student is to start in their shared coursework (courses that will count towards both BS and MS).
• If admission to the accelerated program is recommended, only provisional admission will be offered until the BS degree is conferred and the student maintains all admissions requirements (ex: GPA). Then admission status will be changed to full after BS degree completion.
• Students will utilize this approval to enroll in 9 graduate credits of FNDH 600 level coursework during their BS career. The student must maintain continuity of enrolling in graduate credits until the end of their undergraduate career (example: 6 credits one semester, 3 credits the next or vice versa) with the exception of summer semesters as long as they have not received full admission to graduate school.
• For those seeking undergraduate financial aid, please prompt your academic advisor to email the Office of Student Financial Assistance stating the shared courses are courses required for the BS degree program.