Note: Prior to Fall 2025, the Pre-Dietetics Certificate was previously called The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Certificate. The program requirement will remain the same. Applicants for Fall 2025 and beyond will be applying to the program under the new name.
The Pre-Dietetics Certificate program prepares students for careers in nutrition and dietetics. Students in the program take up to 84 credits (26 courses). Upon completion of the Pre- Dietetics Certificate Program, students will be eligible to apply for the Masters of Science in Nutrition and Food Science with a Concentration in Dietetics. This program is designed as a Graduate Program (GP) in Dietetics.
Montclair State University has applied to the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) to open an ACEND accredited GP to prepared Registered Dietitian Nutritionists in Fall 2026. Our eligibility application was accepted by ACEND, and we are in the pre-candidacy process for our proposed program. The GP is not accepting applications at this time but will do so upon successful completion of the candidacy for accreditation process to achieve ACEND accreditation. For more information about the ACEND accreditation standards visit 2022 ACEND Accreditation Standards.
Change to Verification Statement
Unlike the AND Certificate program, the new Pre-Dietetics Certificate program is not accredited by ACEND. However, students who complete the Pre-Dietetics Certificate program will be eligible to apply for the GP starting in Fall 2026.
Please refer to our programs of study page for a comprehensive list of all of the graduate programs offered within the university.
The Pre-Dietetics Certificate Program is designed for the individual who has already earned a Bachelor of Arts or Sciences degree in another field, but who wishes to change careers and become a Registered Dietitian. There are no prerequisites for this program, regardless of a student’s previous field of study. Earning the Pre-Dietetics Certificate involves completion of an undergraduate curriculum.
The Office of Graduate Admissions requires the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible to apply for a graduate program. Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the application page for international students to review the U.S. degree equivalency information.
In order to make applying for graduate school as seamless as possible for you, we have created an application checklist. This checklist can be a reference point for you during the application process to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the steps needed to apply, as well as all of corresponding supplemental materials for your specific
program of interest.
Application Deadline: Rolling Admission
Submit Online Application: Please create your online account and submit your application by following the general application instructions and pay (or waive) the non-refundable $60 application fee. Once this step has been completed, the online portal will allow you to upload your supplemental materials.
The following is a list of the supplemental materials that will accompany your application for the Pre-Dietetics Certificate program:
Transcript: One from each college attended.
Statement of Purpose – Please write an integrated essay providing a response to each of the following questions:
What are your goals for graduate study and your future career?
In what ways do your academic background and your professional experiences provide evidence of your potential for success in the program you selected and in your eventual career? Please give specific examples of relevant coursework and/or experience.
Is there any further information we should consider in assessing your candidacy?
Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the US degree equivalency information.
Complete 83-84 semester hours with a minimum GPA of 3.2 to be eligible to apply for the Graduate Program. (Each course must show a grade of ‘C’ or better). For more information, please visit the program listing in the University Catalog.
