The mission of the Master of Science in Performance Nutrition and Dietetics program at University of South Carolina is to provide an educational experience that will prepare competent, entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists for practice across regional and global communities. We are committed to providing learning experiences that emphasize the utility and application of nutrition in health and human performance. We aim to provide our community with master’s-prepared dietitian nutritionists that apply evidence-based nutrition and dietetics information in an ethical and responsible manner. We engage in transparent and equitable conduct that enhances student, faculty, and stakeholder morale..

Program Goal 1: Program graduates will have strong feelings of occupational self-efficacy in their ability to practice as an entry-level registered dietitian nutritionist.

Objectives:
1. At least 80% of program students complete program/degree requirements within 3 years (150% of the program length).

2. At least 80% percent of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.

3. At least 80% of program graduates who respond to a post-graduation survey within six months of graduation will rate their occupational self-efficacy as an entry-level registered dietitian nutritionist as average or above.

Program Goal 2: Program graduates will be competent, entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists in a variety of practice settings.

Objectives:
1. The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.

2. Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80% percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.

3. At least 80% of employers who complete a survey on program graduates report that the graduate meets their expectations for professional competency at an “average” level or above.

4. At least 80% of program graduates who respond to a post-graduation survey within six months of graduation will rate their competence as entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists as average or above.

Program Goal 3: Program graduates will apply nutrition care in unique and innovative ways to promote improvement of health and human performance.

Objectives:
1. At least 80% of graduates who complete an alumni survey report that they promote improvement of health and human performance within their professional practice on an “often” or “very often” basis.

2. At least 80% of graduates who complete an alumni survey will provide at least one example of unique and innovative nutrition care that they applied in professional practice.

3. At least 80% of graduates who complete an alumni survey will report engaging in at least one effort that advocates for the utilization of registered dietitian nutritionists that specialize in performance nutrition.

Program outcomes data will be available upon request.

The USC Master of Science in Performance Nutrition (MS/PND) is a two-year (5-semester) academic program in which students complete 44-credits of didactic and supervised experience course curriculum that enables them to earn a master’s degree as well as eligibility to take the RDN credentialing exam. The supervised experience courses are designed to provide 1200+ hours of learning experience in professional settings with preselected preceptors. The program is housed in the Department of Exercise Science in the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. Within the program, students will gain educational experiences on-campus and on-site in professional settings within and around Columbia, SC. The program curriculum integrates supervised experience in which students will be learning in a variety of different settings with RDNs and other interdisciplinary professionals. Nutrition therapy, community, food systems management, research and performance nutrition settings will be included within the supervised experience curriculum.

Please see the MS/PND in the USC Graduate Studies Academic Bulletin for more information including course descriptions and graduate policies and regulations.

The MS/PND program follows the academic calendar posted by the University Registrar.